Adam understood how quickly news spread, even in the absence of phones and internet, and within a few days, everybody who was interested would have heard about the murder of an innocent young family by crazed outsiders driving a red-and-white Ford Bronco. People up north would have had a chance to see the Bronco, but people to the south would not. Thus, the decision for that first turn was simple. Where the road would take them wouldn’t matter for a while.

“Hey, Em. Are the hubs locked?”

“I don’t remember.”

“Is there an indicator light or something?”

“It burned out years ago. This is a vintage truck. We didn’t do a lot of hard-core four-wheeling in it. Maybe we should turn off the lights as we get close to where those people lived. They said they saw us drive by.”

“Do you remember seeing houses along the way?”

“I know I saw some. But I didn’t pay attention to where they were.”

“Me too. It can’t be too far.”

Adam’s palms were soaked with sweat and his heart was hammering the “Wipe Out” drum solo as he advanced down the mountain toward the road. It was like walking into a cave when you knew an angry bear was waiting for you.

“It would be over quicker if you drove faster,” Emma said through a tight throat.

“Yeah, but if I hit something and we get stranded here, it will be really, really bad.”

He goosed the gas a little, then backed off. It wasn’t worth the risk.

He slowed even more when he saw flickering light moving through the trees up ahead.

Emma saw it, too. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s people with lanterns. Maybe flashlights.”

“What are we going to do?”

“Drive past them.”

“Do you think those people back there belonged to these people here?”

“That’s exactly what I think.”

Emma reached to the floor and lifted something. “Is this already chambered?”

“Unless you unchambered it.” He turned his head to glance at her, but she was barely an inkblot in the darkness. “I hope there’s no need for another gunfight. But if it comes to that, be sure of your target before you shoot anything.”

“I won’t shoot myself,” Emma said.

“Don’t shoot me, either.”

As they approached the cluster of people ahead, Adam drove with his left hand and raised the Bushmaster’s buttstock to his shoulder with his right.

“We can’t just keep shooting people,” Emma said.

“I don’t want to start a fight.”

They got closer. Adam could hear the people yelling. He rolled his window down and was greeted with victory whoops.