G Hopf - Driver 8 - A Post-Apocalyptic Novel

“That map is bullshit,” Leigh said.

“Let me finish,” Jacob said. “My team has decided to leave this God forsaken place and sail there.”

“Half of your team is going in protest,” Leigh blurted out.

“The reason this is even an issue with our team is because over the past year, The Republic, The Collective, and other countries or territories have aligned under one cause, to wipe out all Leviathan. They’re afraid of us, so they want us all dead,” Crusher said.

“I think my husband mentioned your group to me; I think he told me he killed someone from Leviathan,” Portia said.

The group grew silent and all eyes stared at her.

Noticing the awkward silence, Portia asked, “Did I say something?”

“Your husband killed one of ours?” Leigh asked, her back stiffening.

Noticing everyone’s reaction, Portia said, “He didn’t murder him, it was a fair fight.”

“Give us a moment in private,” Jacob said motioning for everyone to leave the fire.

The three got up and walked away, Leigh giving Portia a hard stare as she walked off.

“How did you husband get into an altercation with a Leviathan?” Jacob asked.

“My husband was…is a driver for The Collective. It was years ago, that’s all I know,” Portia explained.

“He wasn’t operating under orders to kill Leviathan was he?”

“No, not that I’m aware. Like I said, this was a long time ago,” Portia said, fear began to creep in as she realized she might have said the wrong thing.

“Do you recall the Leviathan’s name?”

“No, my husband doesn’t talk to me much about what he does on the road. Listen, I don’t want trouble. I was placed into slavery less than a week ago. I’ve seen horrible stuff and all I want is to find my husband if he’s alive and from there, go somewhere safe.”

Jacob raised his right brow and asked, “Drivers are highly respected. What did you or your husband do?”

“It’s a long story.”

“I’m all ears, I think you have time. We’re not going anywhere until nightfall,” Jacob said crossing his arms.

“Are you going to hurt me?” Portia asked thinking she might as well ask and wanting to steer the conversation away from the current topic.

“No. If we wanted you dead you’d be dead.”

“What do you plan on doing with me?” she asked.

“Don’t know yet, but I can tell you that we’re not heading anywhere close to The Collective. You’re more than welcome to walk out of here now, otherwise you’re coming with us. Unless we can drop you off on our way south.”

“You’re really leaving. You think this place is real?” Portia asked.

“I don’t know, but if we stay we’ll all end up dead. Everyone’s gunning for us now,” Jacob said.

“Why?”

“Because we aren’t beholden to anyone and we’ve been known to cause some problems for the elite. My team has caused quite a stir with our attacks against slavers. The powers that be don’t like that, hence why they’ve all joined a pact to have us all killed.”

“Do you have family?” Portia asked.

Jacob paused. He picked up a stick and began to poke the wood in the fire.

Sensing it was a sensitive question, Portia shifted the topic again. “I need to make contact with someone I know in The Collective, how can I do that?”

“I have a sat phone. You can make a call, you’ll need a clearing as this hillside and the heavy canopy cover will make it difficult to get a signal.”

“Jacob, Gunny here, we’ve got tangos to the north, I count fourteen. They look like Marshals,” Gunny radioed.

Jacob jumped to his feet and cried out, “Team up, grab your shit, we’re outta here in two.” He keyed his radio and replied to Gunny. “Estimated time to contact?”

“Ten to fifteen mikes, over,” Gunny answered.

“Copy. Get your ass down here Gunny, we’re leaving.”

“Roger that,” Gunny said and started down the hill towards them.

“Fuck this, I’m so tired of running. Can’t we just make a deal with these guys? I’m so over this shit!” Chef hollered as he raced to the truck.

“Who are these Marshal’s?” Portia asked now on her feet but unsure of what to do.

“They’re the corrupt lawmen of the Republic. While we’ve been tracking your truck and these Generates, they were tracking us. We’ve kept ahead of them by a day but somehow they’ve locked onto us. I thought we were safe in these hills, miles from any improved road,” Jacob explained. “Go get in the SUV, we’re leaving now.”

Portia ran to the SUV and got in the back.

Leigh was right behind her and got in the front passenger seat.

Crusher, Chef and Gunny jumped into an old Chevy pickup.

Jacob tossed some gear in the back before he got behind the wheel of the SUV. He keyed his radio, “Crusher, you lead us out of here.”

“Roger that, boss,” Crusher replied.

Leigh rolled her window down and stuck out her AR platform rifle. “Why are we always running? We should stay and fight. If we dug in we could take them.”

“There could be more, just keep your eyes open, we don’t need to be racing into an ambush,” Jacob said.

Leigh grumbled.

Portia put her seat belt on and stared out the window.

Jacob caught a glimpse of her in the rear view mirror. A question suddenly came to mind. “You never told me who your husband is. I’m familiar with a few Drivers for The Collective, maybe I know him.”

She locked eyes with him in the mirror and answered, “My husband is Driver Eight.”

He looked away for fear she’d see he knew something. He knew that name and had just heard he was dead. Timing was everything and telling her then that Driver Eight was dead was not the right time.

Five hours and forty-three long slow miles later, Jacob and his team pulled off the back roads and onto a long gravel drive.

“I saw a house, about a half mile in,” Crusher radioed.

“Copy that,” Jacob replied following closely behind Crusher’s truck.

The drive gently winded along a dry creek bed until it stopped at an old cattle guard and gate.

Crusher stopped. He and Chef surveilled the area first before Gunny exited the truck to inspect the gate.

“You sure this is a good idea?” Leigh asked.

“I don’t know,” Jacob replied.

“What’s the problem?” Portia asked.

“Nothing,” Jacob said.

Gunny looked at the rusty gate and found it unlocked and pushed it open. The tired metal screamed as it grinded against itself. He looked at Crusher and waved him on through.

They all passed through the gate with Leigh closing it behind them. Ahead of them sat an old two story house with four outbuildings; one a large barn and the other three were sheds.

Jacob pulled the SUV alongside the front deck and scanned the house and the surrounding area.

Leigh didn’t waste any time, she hopped out and went towards the front door. When she placed her full weight on the first step, her foot broke through the dry rotten wood.

Crusher saw her and began to laugh.

She glared at him and said, “Fuck you.”

“Sorry, that shit was just funny,” Crusher said.

“Your fat ass better watch out then, you’ll fall through the deck,” Leigh shot back. She removed her foot and tried again, this time not breaking through. The house was in bad shape and appeared to have been abandoned for many years.

The team secured the house and out buildings before unloading their gear.

“Let’s get everything inside. I don’t want anything of value in the rigs tonight,” Jacob ordered hauling several packs inside.