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"If you’re ready, we should getapart, was gazing toward the trees Her eyes were glassy, her face unnaturally still, as if some essential element of life had left it She cleared her throat and spoke:

"Husband, will you do soht"

She looked hi one of the was slow Soon all three children were being carried--Bug on Caleb’s shoulders, Elle on her grandfather’s back, Theo in his sling, Pi turns They were deep into the afternoon by the time they reached town The streets were devoid of life In Elacqua’s yard, they found the truck, still parked where Caleb had seen it Caleb got in the driver’s seat He’d hoped the key would be in the ignition, but it wasn’t He searched the cab to no avail and climbed back out

"Do you kno to hot-wire a truck?" he asked Hollis

"Not really"

Caleb looked toward the house Aon the top floor was broken, smashed froround beneath it

"Soo inside to look"

"I’ll do it," said Hollis

"This is my responsibility Stay here"

Caleb left the rifle with Hollis and took the revolver The air in the house was so still it felt unbreathed He crept fro no keys, he climbed the stairs There were two rooms with closed doors on either side of a narrow hall He opened the first door Here here Elacqua and his wife had slept The bed was unhtly in the breeze coh the brokenHe searched all the drawers, then stepped to theand waved down Hollis gazed up with a questioning look Caleb shook his head

One rooo What if they couldn’t find the keys? He’d seen no other vehicles in town That didn’tout of time

Caleb took a breath and pushed the door with his foot