Bitch: Puncture (book 2)

“What?!?” Arlene was startled. “What was it that was outside last night? Did they take Apoc? Well I think we should wait, don’t you? We don’t even know which way he went... oh you do know. Well I won’t be able to help you if you take off into the woods. Maybe I should go call the deputy?”

Just then the 4x4 Bronco raced up the trail, bouncing crazily and slid to a stop. Natalie jumped out, her hair was a mess. “Oh Crudders! You have no idea the crap storm that is brewing in town. I tried calling you like a thousand times on the way here. Get in! We gotta get you all outta here.”

Arlene stopped her with, “I think they’ve already been through here. In fact, she thinks Apoc has gone after whoever was here last night searching.”

“Mother fluffer... I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Well the sheriff said he saw the wolf in the back of your RV and when that hit the airwaves things got crazy. The NSA showed up with an “advance advisory team” late last night. Apparently, the military was doing an secret urban training exercise the next state over, ‘Ruby Circlet’ and they are taking over the investigation from the local sheriff. The sheriff is now only a local advisor on the search.” She waited for Arlene to say something, but Arlene looked confused.

Natalie continued, “So this military group showed up last night. Five big white semi trucks with no logos anywhere on them. According to the story the soldiers look like the death star stormtroopers right out of the movie star wars - they have black armor that covers them from head to toe. They have ninja swords or antenna on their backs, and whole bunch of other stuff that would make Boba Fett jealous. No one has seen any of their faces, heard them talk, or seen them eat or drink. It’s like they aren’t even human. They called them “Mazikin” but the only insignia on their armor says WEGR - which isn’t any brach of the military I know of... And when they communicated no one could hear them. They have these electric ATV’s which are amazing, so cool, and totally silent. But what sealed the deal for my boo — was that Stinger was with them, you know, the NSA advisors, and he seems to be in charge somehow. He was directing the Mazikin on where to search. He didn’t believe you a 100% till he saw that guy in charge. But he really doesn’t want to get into trouble for helping you. So I’m here to help you get outta dodge. They are still searching north of here. If we head west, there is a fire road that I know that connects to the interstate over the hill and you can take that all the way to Canada if you want. But you can’t drive this minibus, they will be looking for it after what the Sheriff said, so it’s gotta stay here.”

Arlene looked upset, so Natalie explained. “They could have satellites looking for this vehicle anywhere in Pacific Northwest. If you drive out from under these trees they’ll spot you in minutes.”

I looked again at the fading trail that Apoc took. It pulled on the very sinews of my body to follow that trail, but I was afraid of what I may find at the trails end.

Arlene saw my look and Natalie followed intuitively. She knelt down next to me and put her hand on my ruff. “I know you want to go after him, but I don’t know if there is anyway for you to help him here. It’s gotten waaaay too hot around here. If he’s smart he’ll lay low. And maybe you’re safer this way. I know you were hoping to find Dr. Shen and the compound, but I get the feeling that there’s just too many of them here. They are not here to talk but they are here to destroy and probably wipe any trace of you off the face of the planet. I mean you are obviously on the right track they wouldn’t go to all this trouble if you weren’t... This just doesn’t seem to be the right time because you’ve lost the element of surprise. If you pursue him now, I can’t see a way that you get out of this.” Natalie finished looking at the ground.

Arlene nodded, “It looks like you’ll need to find another way to expose Dr. Shen.”

I was so pissed. I wrote ‘NOT FAIR’ and then was going to write some some bad words. I only got out two letters.

“C’mon.” Natalie got back into the Bronco.

Arlene went to pack something small. Natalie opened the passenger door with a creak. I jumped in and climbed into the back seat which was upholstered with an old blanket which smelled like Natalie... and sex. Good grief I could smell everything, I felt so embarrassed for her, I felt like I was pawing through her dirty underwear. But I couldn’t find a spot, that didn’t make me feel warm tickles under my fur. I kept turning thinking that the smell would diminish on the other side of the tiny back seat. But apparently her He-man had really gotten her going last night. And before. And ‘HOLY HELL’ did they never wash this blanket?!?

Natalie looked back at me. “Are you ok? You know I am scared out of my wits but this is so exciting in a way too.” She twisted around and cranked down the window. “There you might enjoy a little fresh air.” I gulped it greedily.

I rested my head on her shoulder to try to say thanks. “Awwww you’re so sweet.” She ruffled my hair like a dog and then stopped. “I’m so sorry. I see you and think... you’re a dog. Kinda, I mean. Ugh. Sorry.” I stuck my head back on her shoulder and sighed. “Really?” She turned around and hugged me. She had the sharp tang of fear sweat under her arms, and something sweet underneath. “I feel so much better. I’m more of a hugger than a hand shaker. I think the poets are right and war wouldn’t happen if more people just got enough hugs. That’s what’s missing in this world, love. There - I said it.”

Arlene got in with a very annoyed Miss Cleo in hand and tie dyed drawstring mesh bag. “Said what?”

“I was just saying that all we need to fix this worlds problems is a little love, and maybe some hugs.” Natalie smiled and started the bronco. Arlene smiled back and set the cat carrier on the floor between her feet.

Natalie revved the motor and clunked it into reverse, without putting in the clutch all the way. We lurched backwards and then she hit the gas and spun the tires. Then she slammed it into first, clutching late, again, and we shot off up the trail. It felt like she was inches from losing control, but we managed to make it all the way back to the highway... where she did a no look tire chittering right turn onto the pavement.

I could tell that Natalie was nervous from the way she non-stop chattered. “Yeah he really doesn’t like the way I drive ‘Sheila’ here, he says that I don’t know how to drive stick. And so I had to prove him wrong. I’ve never had an accident, can you believe it?” Natalie didn’t notice Arlene shaking her head. “And I always drive fast. He said to go the speed limit till we are on the fire road. So I’ll keep an eye on it.”

It was hard to keep my head down on the seat. If I was going to die, I wanted to see it coming. I don’t know why, not that there was anything I could have done about it. But I guess it’s those old hardwired instincts that come into play. Like if I saw the head on collision coming that somehow I’d be able to jump out the window just before a truck smashed into us at seventy miles an hour. I realized that it was stupid, but I just couldn’t help myself.

Natalie chattered on. “So this here is a sketch area they like to set up the speed traps here ’cuz they can hide by backing up that hill there. That’s the Millers place and they don’t like the sheriff, ’cuz he knocked up old Mr. Miller’s grand-daughter three years ago. Now Mr. Miller was so PO’d that he actually shot at the Sheriff, but obviously he’s a terrible shot, ’cuz he missed. I know in the big city they frown on that kinda thing but out here, this is like the wild west in some places. You gotta watch your own tail. Whoa, who’s this?”

Arlene reached back and flipped the blanket over top of me. But she talked out loud for my benefit. “Black late model big SUV with black tinted windows, and no chrome... maybe friends of yours?”

Natalie got into it. “Just out for a drive with the Moms! Hey weird people in your creepy car, we got nuthin’ ta hide. Woo hoo! She’s older but she still tries to have fun. Okey dokey, they’re gone. Whew, made my skin crawl.” Natalie banged on her door for emphasis.

Arlene flipped the blanket back off and I could breathe again. I’d never thought so much about dogs ability to smell before... the intimate things that Blossom must have known about me. I shudder to think.

Natalie was juiced, “Man that car felt like there were a million eyes pressed up behind that dark glass, all just looking at me. Such a creepy feeling all over my skin. Here we go.” Natalie wrenched the wheel to the right and the tires chirped until we hit gravel and then the back end came out a little but she gunned it turned the wheel to the left into the skid. We power slid onto the gravel road, rocks flying everywhere crunching under the knobby tires. I didn’t like the sensation that we were floating over loose gravel. It was the ones that whanged against the inside of the wheel well and the back bumper that worried me at first, until I got used to the sound of them pinging off the metal. It was like riding with a stunt driver and we were literally drifting around the corners.

As the road ramped into a hill with a sheer drop off to the south Arlene began to share my fear, I could smell her. Finally, she couldn’t take it any more, “You know dear, none of this is going to matter if we slide off the road and die sliding down that hillside first.”

“Huh?” Natalie said.

“For the love of all that’s holy, please slow down.” Arlene begged. I nodded in the back seat.

“Oh, right right. It’s okay, my real mom doesn’t like to go fast either. But I’m a good driver, always safe. Never faster than what I can control.” Natalie said, and slowed the bronco back down to a relatively unsafe speed.

I looked behind us but there was a brown dust cloud that obscured the road down the mountain.

Natalie’s cell phone rang with the He-Man ring. “I don’t have my ear piece so I have to put you on speaker.” She yelled and switched to speaker. “Hey baby, how’s your day? I didn’t hear what you said.”

The Deputy sounded tight. “I said meet me at our special place and throw your phone out the window right now. You too Arlene.”

“What?!?” Natalie was shocked.

“Throw it. I’ll buy you another one. Now honey. Trust me! You too Arlene, they can track it even when it’s off.”

“Ok. I love you.” And with that it sailed out the window and presumably off the cliff.

Arlene took her’s out, it was an older flip phone, “I’ve had this for five years. My daughter had one just like it... we bought it together.”

Natalie said, “She’d want you to have a new one,” with that she grabbed it out of Arlene’s hand and tossed it out the window.

Arlene laughed. “I feel lighter already.” She shook her head.