Dark Titan Journey: Wilderness Travel by Thomas A Watson Page B

know about the refugees coming in?” she asked.
    “Nope, just moving through,” he said as Ares finally quit drinking.
    “That’s why I was following you. I knew you were leaving,” she said, and Nathan shook his head.
    “No, this is our group. Go join another,” he said, knowing what was coming.
    Jasmine looked him in the eyes. “You’re the first I’ve seen who aren’t a bunch of rednecks, gang bangers, or people who’ve never walked further than the front door of their house. I’m not stupid. I’ve seen over a dozen women raped in the last week, two people shot, one beat to death, and three stabbed. I know what’s going to happen if I stay here longer,” she said.
    “Amanda, get the pack on Ares, we’re leaving,” Nathan said, seeing several people take an interest in the group. “Jasmine, I’m sorry, but we’re leaving,” he said.
    “Fine, I’ll follow,” she said, putting on her sunglasses. Across the street two men came out of a house and pointed at the group. With the grins on their faces, Nathan knew they weren’t pointing at him.
    “Okay, you can come with us but I’m the boss. The first time you don’t do what I say and endanger us I’ll tie you up and leave you behind. If you get one of these kids killed you won’t be far behind,” Nathan said like he was ordering pizza, and then he looked at Amanda as she put the bowl in Ares’s pack.
    Nathan didn’t say anything to them as he grabbed Amanda’s hand and started walking out of the subdivision. Not long after that they came around a curve to a four-lane highway like the one the camp was on. “Ahh, shit,” Amanda said, looking at the road.
    “Amanda, watch your mouth. Enough is enough, you’re a little girl. You’re tough, but still a little girl,” Nathan said, never breaking pace to the highway.
    “Watch my mouth?” she popped back. “That’s a big fucking road. Bad stuff is close to big fucking roads,” she said, pointing with her left hand holding the leash.
    “I’m not kidding on the mouth, I’ll spank your butt,” Nathan said, looking down at her with a gleam in his eye. “I know it’s a big road but you are attracting attention. We want everyone to think we’ve been here a thousand times and know where everything is at,” he reminded her.
    She looked down shamefaced. “Sorry,” she said.
    “You can cuss tonight when we camp, just not too loud or where I can hear it,” Nathan said. Amanda jerked her head up with a smile as they turned onto the highway and crossed over to walk on the southbound lane side.
    They made it another mile only to see a camp on the other side of the road. A group of young men were standing just off the shoulder of the road yelling out stuff no doubt aimed at Jasmine. “Jasmine, hold John’s hand,” Nathan said over his shoulder.
    A few minutes later he heard several “Awws” from the group followed by a few challenges at John. “John, don’t even look at them,” Nathan warned, never slowing pace.
    “Yes sir,” John said and Nathan let it slide, hearing the tremble in his voice. He didn’t know if it was from fear or from holding Jasmine’s hand. Knowing boys, Nathan figured the latter.
    When the sun touched the horizon they were still walking and Amanda looked up at him. “That’s our rally point; we’re supposed to camp,” she said. “That’s the road on the right with the pond on the left with a gentle slope to the southwest.” She pointed off to the left.
    Nathan was very impressed. “You go, girl,” he said. “Yes it is, but look around. There’s too many people still around. We don’t want to head into the woods with fifty people watching where we went in.”
    Lifting her chin up, she said, “I’m not complaining, but I really don’t want to walk all night.”
    “Can’t we slow down? She’s getting tired,” Jasmine asked from behind them.
    “I’m not talking to you,” Amanda sang out. “Nathan, I can keep going. I’m just saying,” she