Jake started the Turbo’s engine and set the acceleration lever on top speed—in reverse.
He jumped down and watched the giant silver machine pick up momentum. “When this end smashes into the cars Matt left stranded on the tracks it should make quite a mess. Maybe it’ll give the CCR something to think about so they won’t have time to worry about us.”
“How far is the prison camp from here?” Nick asked.
“It’ll take a few hours of hard driving.” Jake turned to Cody. “Did you make that call to your pilot friend?”
“It took a bit to get her—she hadn’t heard from me in so long she thought I was dead. But Toni said she’ll be watching for our signal.”
“I guess that’s it, then.” Jake let out a deep breath. “The rest is up to us.” He climbed into the driver’s side of the jeep and waited for the others to find room around Cody’s arsenal.
They drove at breakneck speed across the open desert through the greasewood and yuccas. An hour away from the tracks Cody noticed a cloud of dust coming toward them. He looked through his binoculars.
“It’s a patrol, Jake.”
Jake glanced around, looking for cover. There wasn’t much. He whipped the utility vehicle into a shallow gully and ordered everyone to spread out.
Cody reset his laser gun for a bigger target and waited.
Three Republic trucks were coming straight for them. Cody took a bead on the first one and fired. The truck was instantly incinerated, melted to a puddle. Quickly he took aim at the second one. The soldiers inside leaped clear just before he fired.
The third driver threw on his brakes and the troops in the back dove off the sides, shooting wildly at everything in sight. Matt and Nick returned their fire, making them run for cover.
Cody aimed and the last truck disappeared.
“Everybody back in the rig,” Jake ordered. He fired a barrage of bullets to keep the soldiers busy as G Company made its way down the gully.
Keeping low, Cody crawled into the driver’s side and started the engine. Matt dove into the back and Nick landed on top of him. Jake ran backward to the door, shooting as he came.
When Jake jumped in, Cody mashed the gas pedal to the floor. A hailstorm of bullets chased them as they plowed down the sandy gully and out the other side.
“Whew.” Jake wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “That was close.”
“I think we’re getting good at this line of work, Major.” Matt pushed Nick off him. “Either that or it’s just our lucky day.”
“Luck is great,” the major said softly. “Just don’t count on it.”