The Last Gallon (10 page)

The man disappeared and Cindy gave him a little nudge. “Wait ‘til I tell your son that I’m your
pussy” she joked. Mark laughed and said “I can handle him, just don’t tell Kara, she’ll kick my ass!” They both laughed and waited for the man to come back. Minutes later he did and produced a beautiful example of an early Mustang starter. “This is perfect” Mark said. The man was proud that he could help and told them it was an honor serving such fine upstanding folk.

Mark thanked him and leaned in and said “I have one more project; honestly I am a little embarrassed about it. This church up the street from me has a van that is broken down and I have been trying to get it running but it desperately needs a fuel pump and a
carb.” The man waved Mark off. “Ain’t nothin’ to be ashamed of helping out a church, why’d you say that?” he asked. Mark laughed. “It’s not the church, it’s the vehicle. It’s one of those damned hippie vans” he told the man.

The man laughed. “Shit, I should be ashamed too; I have 4 of those damn ugly things in the back. I’ll get your parts but I would tell them church folk to get a Chevy and get out of those hippie mobiles before they catch some disease. Those damn dirty things are worse than dogs, I bet they got fleas!”

Mark acted like he was wiping his brow as the man disappeared to get his parts. Cindy widened her eyes and nodded. She knew the difference between being this guy’s friend and enemy was a very thin line and a barrel full of rock salt. The man returned shortly after carrying the two parts. He handed them to Mark and said they were on the house. Mark said he couldn’t do that but the man insisted. He told them that they were the best customers he had in a long time and they were welcome back any time they needed parts. Mark thanked him and shook his hand.

Mark went to the car and popped the trunk. He pulled out a bottle of moonshine and ripped off a chunk of the tobacco they had purchased. He gave them to the man as payment for the Mustang starter and the man did another little dance of thanks for the “baccy and booze” as he put it.
As they pulled out of the junkyard Mark noticed a very similar looking Dodge Charger parked behind the main building and laughed out loud. He had certainly taken a bit of flesh off the KKK’s ass on this day, even if it did cost him a little ‘shine and smoke.

Cindy accompanied Mark to the garage to deliver the parts. Mark gave the man the stuff he needed and also gave him the Mustang starter since he had no use for it. The man was beside himself and thanked Mark
at least a dozen times for the parts. He promised to deliver the gas to the Armadillo that evening. He was one of the few that could drive within the city since he always repaired things for people. Mark felt that he could trust him so he just shook the man’s hand and they went on their way.

“You’re just
gonna trust him?” Cindy asked. “Why not?” Mark answered. “I know where to find him.” He explained. Cindy laughed and said “True. Now where are Kara and Joey?” she asked. It was close to dinner time and they were both famished. They walked around the blocks of the shopping district and finally spotted the two sitting at a bar. “Look at ‘em just lounging while we have been working hard” Mark said.

The two took seats next to their partners and proceeded to give them hell. Joey showed off his new hat. He was very proud of it. It was a black cowboy style hat that frankly looked kind of ridiculous, especially naked but the boy was happy so who could judge?

The bar had a cafe so the family just ate there so they wouldn’t have to walk around and look for anything else. Mark informed Kara that they would be topped off so they now had enough gas to make it to the cache even with a couple more incidents like today. Kara seemed very relieved and frankly ready to go. The sun was going down and it was starting to get very chilly.

As they were finishing up dinner an announcement was made on the city intercom. “The gate is closed for the day and will reopen at
8am.” They all looked at each other and said “Shit!” Mark said “well it looks like we are spending the night; we should probably go find a room.” Everyone agreed and they started down the street.

A couple blocks up the road was the inn district and the family was just about there when out of nowhere a man pushed
by them and began running down the street laughing manically. “He took my hat!” Joey yelled. “That bastard took my hat!” and started to chase the man.  The rest of the family looked at each other then took off after Joey and the crazy guy.

The man ran all the way to Aston Park
and disappeared into the huge crowd gathered there. The family stopped with Joey and scanned the crowd. It appeared the man was lost. Joey stomped his foot clearly pissed off and was cursing under his breath. Mark looked around and noticed there was a band playing further back into the park. It looked like a little festival was going on and there were drink, food, and drug stands all around. Mark looked at Kara and she shrugged her shoulders. They didn’t even have to speak but basically gave each other permission to go enjoy the show.

They held hands and walked off towards the stage. Cindy grabbed Joey’s hand and did the same. He resisted at first and then realized that she was holding his hand and slowly rubbing it so
he calmed down. “Just a stupid hat’ he kept telling himself while trying to concentrate on not getting too excited in public.

As they were walking by another pair of couples one of them called out to them “Hey you guys
wanna hang out?” the guy said. The girl laying next to him added on “Yeah, come hang out, it’ll be groovy”. Again with the look and shrug and Mark and Kara were soon sitting on their blanket. Joey and Cindy took up a spot with their kids. Their family was of about the same make up except the girl was theirs and the guy was just a boyfriend. They all introduced themselves and began small talk. Mark and Kara’s equivalent were Jack and Susan. Joey and Cindy’s doppelgangers were Hank and Lucy.

Jack and Susan poured four glasses of hot tea and handed it to the family. Everyone drank up and enjoyed the warmth it gave them on the chilly night. “You’re not used to being naked are you?” Susan asked. They all shook their heads no to which she laughed and said “I knew it,
ya’lls nipples are haaaaard.” Mark touched his and it almost hurt, she was right.

As time wore on the music got better and better. Mark found himself getting lost in the sound and was marvelling in the way the trees seemed to sway with the beat. The ground swayed, the crowd swayed, shit man, everything was just swirling and
twirling and having a good ole time. He turned to Kara and they both burst out laughing.

They began to dance
and melted into each other’s arms. No, more than that, they melted into each other’s soul. They became a part of each other. “My heart is touching your heart” Kara whispered into Marks ear. Mark laughed hysterically. Kara continued “Put your key in my keyhole” Mark leaned in and nibbled her ear and replied “I want a daisy.” They both laughed and decided to stop dancing and roll on the grass.

Cindy and Joey climbed a tree and watched the world swirl below them. “I can’t swim in that” Joey said with a worried tone. Cindy reassured him “I sewed you a life jacket” she said. “You did?” he asked. “Yup, out of teddy bears just like you asked.” Joey breathed a sigh of relief and scooted himself off the branch while yelling “Geronimo.”

He hit the ground with a thud and rolled. He then started swimming in the grass. Cindy walked up next to him after climbing down and he looked up at her puzzled. “You’re not swimming” he said. She shook her head no wildly, her hair tracing and flying in slow motion. “I’m tall enough that I can walk” she explained. Joey was cool with that and swam alongside her wishing he was that tall.

When the festival ended a massive drum circle started. The men were playing a driving,
tribal rhythm and the women were gyrating and dancing wildly to it. Mark and Joey didn’t have drums so they just sat and listened while air drumming at times and just trancing out at others.

Cindy and Kara danced for what seemed like minutes but they could suddenly see each other really well. There was a massive fireball in the sky. “I’ll melt!” Cindy yelled and tried to find cover. Kara stood there laughing and then pranced off after her. Mark and Joey had no idea what was going on but decided it was best to follow the girls anyways.

The guys rounded the corner to find the girls rolling in the grass laughing. Joey was shocked but Mark knew what a crazy woman Kara could be at times. Mark also knew they needed to find somewhere to sleep this off; he was starting to come down and realized they had wasted the whole night away. “Guys, let’s go eat and get a room so we can sleep” he announced. Kara sat up and made a sad face at him. “I wanna play with Cindy” she pouted. He looked down at her and grinned. “Cindy is Joey’s, it’s not nice to play with Joey’s toys” he said sternly. Kara smiled and pounded her fists on the grass playfully while whining “But I wanna.”

The family cleaned up and hit a diner for an early breakfast. They found a spot not too far from the inns so Mark ran down the street and secured a
room after they ordered. He haggled with the innkeeper to let them stay a full 24hrs until this time next morning, it cost him a little extra but not two night’s worth like it should have.

When he returned the family was ravenously scarfing down their breakfast. Mark had a waffle with bacon even though he desperately wanted some sausage. At some point he was going to have to sneak out for a biscuit or just let Kara deal with it. He wanted to respect her and didn’t want her being sick though so he continued with the sausage ban for the time being.

The family talked a mix of nonsense and real talk mixed in as the drugs wore off. Joey shook his head and said “Dad, I learned a lesson last night.” Mark looked at him quizzically and asked what the lesson was? Joey responded “Never accept a drink from a hippie.” Everyone thought it was a pretty funny joke but the rest of the diner gave them dirty looks. Cindy wiped some filth off her face with her napkin and said “Damn right never take a drink from a hippie, Jesus jumping jacks Christ what was that?” Kara told her it was most likely mushroom tea and Mark had to agree.

A very long nap later and the dawn came again. The family was ready to get on its way, get some clothes on their backs and get the hell out of
Asseville. The temperature had dropped to below freezing in the middle of the night and it was a miserable walk to the car garage. When they arrived they found the car fully gassed as promised and a wrapped package was sitting on the roof. Mark grabbed the package and examined it. Everyone stared at him with anticipation. “Well...” Kara said “Open the damn thing!” Mark complied and tore the wrapping paper off. He popped the box open and there it was, Joey’s hat! “Hell yeah!” Joey cried out and immediately put it on his head.

The family was clothed and on their way to the mountains. It was nice being out of the nudist town but they all had to admit it was a pretty fun time in Asheville. Being dosed put them way behind schedule but probably provided some much needed tension relief. Mark had fallen in love with Kara all over again after witnessing her lighter side for the first time in what seemed like years. Sure she joked now and again but she had not let herself go like that since they lived in the mountains. He had to give the hippies some credit; they had all made some serious inroads in their relationships while in town. He didn’t even mind the being nude other than the cold. He definitely decided if he were to return it would be in the spring.

It was just a bit over 100 miles to Knoxville but with the mountain pass it could likely be a long day. They were also officially in the badlands proper after leaving Asheville
so they could be slowed down by any number of obstacles from here out.

About ten miles out of town the welcoming
committee made them feel at home. Mark was cruising at around 70mph when the east bound lane exploded right next to them. Mark instinctively jerked the wheel right even though the explosion wasn’t close enough to cause harm. Shortly after the first explosion another rocked the car from the shoulder of their lane, just behind the car. Concrete, dirt, and rock showered the car with several thuds and Mark moved to the center of the two lanes for the next round.

The car crested a hill and the family could see the roadblock up the road about a mile or so. They had two small mortars, one on either side of the road. That is what they were using to take shots at the car. Mark guessed they were doing that to ensure their surrender when they finally reached the checkpoint. The family had other ideas.

“Joey, two mortars up a mile ahead, frag ‘em” Mark said. Joey flipped his dad a quick salute and popped the turret while Cindy loaded the right belt into the XM307. She patted Joey on the ass when the gun was loaded and even though nobody could see his face they all knew he was smiling. Joey lasered the left mortar and called out “1800 yards, pretty close dad!” in regards to Mark’s estimate of a mile. He pressed the trigger and sighted the second installation and fired at it too.

When he saw the flash of the two grenades
Mark punched it and made a bee-line toward the roadblock. Joey and Cindy mounted up in the turret with their long guns and Kara readied her carbine in anticipation for the battle. Mark could already see the muzzle flashes from the survivors as they peaked out from behind cars to take shots at the approaching interlopers.

The family taught the thugs that cars weren’t good cover in short order. Joey opened up with a couple bursts from his M4 and Cindy dumped a couple slugs into the fender of the old Town Car they were trying to hide behind. The carnage made the survivors panic and jump up out into the open. Joey took them out with a precision that impressed Mark. Cindy ducked into the car and loaded up some buckshot for the next volley.

Mark stopped the car about 100 yards out and slid it to a stop sideways. Now Kara and Cindy could fire from the gun ports, Joey could fire from the turret and Mark could get out and shoot from behind the car that offered much better cover than one made of thin rolled steel. They scanned for movement and couldn’t find any but Mark didn’t trust that the checkpoint was over-run that easy. Kara watched for a few more minutes and they determined their foe was either more patient than them or dead.

Mark pulled up within 100 feet of the roadblock and got out to inspect. Joey had him
covered from the turret and the girls had him covered as well. A quick scan of the area revealed that the defenders were in fact, all dead. Mark searched the bodies and came up with a few mags of 5.56 to take back to the car. He also found some chump change that could be used for barter.

Behind the mortar Mark spotted a couple ammo cans. He was about to open them when a couple shots whizzed by his head from the left. He ducked and looked to see dust on the horizon; it appeared the welcoming committee had some friends coming. Mark grabbed the two cans and was surprised by their weight. He ran as fast as he could with the extra weight and Joey fired some bursts at the coming attackers to try to keep them from firing back. When he got back to the car he went around to the safe side and put the cans in Cindy’s foot-well. Kara climbed over the console into the driver’s seat so he could just get in and be safe.

Kara sped off and drove around the defeated roadblock. Mark turned around to Joey and told him that the mortar station on their left had a stack of mortar rounds sitting out in the open. “Put an HE round right in there” he suggested, “but wait until those assholes arrive.”

Joey did just that, he saw the car get onto the interstate right before the roadblock and he thumbed the laser and squeezed the trigger almost
simultaneously. The grenade fired itself right into the stack of high-explosive mortar rounds and blew the roadblock sky-high. The family could hear the rounds cooking off after it had long disappeared out of their sight.

Kara swapped back out with Mark when they hit the mountains, she didn’t want to drive an unfamiliar car in such terrain. Mark didn’t blame her, the car could torque steer like crazy with all the added horsepower. It reminded him of his old Taurus SHO from the 90s. If you floored it from a standstill it would try to torque you off the road instead of driving. Luckily this car had the rear motor but it wasn’t always functional if the batteries had drained too low, that’s when the car got really fun to handle. The bright-side of mountains is the downhills allow you enough braking to recharge the batteries that you drain going up. You net zero in the whole transaction but a net zero is better than a loss any day.

As they ascended the weather got worse. At the bottom of the mountain it had been lightly drizzling which then transitioned to sleet and now was full blown snow. Mark had both hands firmly on the wheel and had used the manual dials to make sure the car could not engage any more than 30% power. This would help him not spin the car unintentionally but he hoped he wouldn’t need a burst of speed because he certainly wouldn’t get much; he was pretty much driving a stock Prius now as far as the power went.

Soon they were driving in near white-out conditions. Mark turned to Kara and shook his head “I can’t do this anymore babe” he informed her and asked “can you find us somewhere to take shelter on your maps?” Kara scanned over while he continued driving at a snail’s pace. A few minutes later she exclaimed “Here! I found one
, there should be a path to the right, I will keep a look-out.”

The path was only 2 miles ahead of where they were but it took nearly 20 minutes to get there in the heavy storm. Kara almost missed it because it was completely snowed over but she caught the trail beyond the road. Mark screeched to a halt and got out to survey the trail. They would need to clear the exit portion but he thought the car would be able to handle the trail itself in full off-road mode. The tires were just like rally cars used when they had to traverse tarmac and dirt stages so hopefully they would do ok in the snow too.

Joey helped him clear the path and he started slowly down the trail. The car handled it masterfully and they were soon traveling at the same crawl-like speed as they were on the real road. The trail took them into the woods so the snow was not nearly as bad as it was out in the open. Kara informed Mark that there should be a clearing about a half mile down and they should see a cavern face from there. Sure enough she was right and they were parked and readying their gear in no time.

“Dad, those cans you stole” Joey reminded Mark. “Oh yeah, open ‘
em up, what’s in there?” he asked. Joey popped the lids and said “Oh YEAH!” loudly. Mark peeked around the corner and saw the rounds ammo, 50cal with a red tip. “Incendiary?” Mark asked. Joey looked on the side of the can and read “M20, Armor piercing incendiary.” Joey smiled and high-fived Mark. The other can contained ammo with a black tip which was M2 armor piercing. The family now had 200 rounds of 50cal to use when they ran out of grenades. They stowed it in the back of the car and headed towards the cave to get out of the snow.