Episode: Part 22

The truck was an old military cargo truck, affectionately known as a deuce and a half, which was it"s weight capacity, two and a half tons. The crew loaded into the front and rear of the truck, the girls up front with Larry and the men and boys in the back. The truck had a canvas on the back, so, weather wasn't much of a concern. They reached the highway and started to the northeast.

The truck smelled it's age and it was a very bumpy ride, but, they made good time for quite awhile, passing through Maryland and continuing on into Pennsylvania without incident. They had seen no one walking about looking deceased thus far. In the cab of the truck, Rose and Miss Vivian got to know Larry a bit better.

"I have lived in Virginia my whole life, my family saw something coming and we never doubted that we were right with God. We have always lived simple, honest lives and been kind to people who were in need. I just wish He would have taken all the bad people so we wouldn't have to deal with them. Such is life after the Apocalypse, I suppose. My wife was taken by bandits, and I don't know if she is even alive. They came in the night and took her, tied me up and left me for dead. Lucky I have kin that checks up on each other. They left no trail for us to follow." Larry told them.

"Oh! I am so sorry about your wife!" Rose said. "You are so good, I wish He had taken the bad ones too. When did they take her?"

"About a month ago," he said, sadly, "I wish I knew where to find her, I hope and pray she is still alive."

"I feel like she is." Rose said, resting her hand on his shoulder comfortingly.

He drove on, misty eyed.

"We should get off at the next exit and find a house to borrow, it is going to be dark soon." Larry said at last.

"Let's hope there is no graveyard in this town." said Miss Vivian, laughing nervously.

"I pray not," replied Rose.

The next exit was a looping right corner that descended a few hundred feet at the same time. The exit sign was long gone and there was no indication as to what town they were entering. The trees and wildflowers were stunningly beautiful in the waning sunlight. The smell of the mingled wildlife was intoxicating to Rose, she loved to be in the thick of the woods, she had grown up mostly camping in the forests. It was safer there, most of the population had no idea how to survive, but, her mom learned a lot from her father, Roses grandfather. After the Episode, not many people would venture far from any road and that was her family's security blanket.

As they reached the bottom of the off ramp, they beheld a sight you are going to have to wait until next time for me to describe. Think horrific, then multiply. ;)

Thanks PAL's!