Heroes of our Time: The Lieutenant of the Moon

Chapter 8: Problems

Α~Δ~Ω ~ Α~Δ~Ω ~ Α~Δ~Ω

 

July 27, 2012 9:34 a.m.

 

Two hours after we left the motel, the truck started to vibrate way harder than normal. Belle noticed it first. She mentioned this to Venice who said it to Rogelio who slapped Dan in the head and said that we have a flat tire. Dan cursed then parked the truck. The tire at the front right and the tire at the back left was losing air fast. The other tires have holes but not as big as the other two have. Dan looked at the trail behind us and noticed oil. "Hey, Max," he called. "Turn off the engine." Max did so while Dan examined the truck's parts. "Shit." He got back at the driver's seat. In his hand was a piece of paper. He gave it to Max and started the engine.

"What the?" Max said. Drei took the paper and read it aloud.

"'Hope you like our little gift, freaks.' What the Hades?"

Venice snatched the paper from his hand. "It looks like whoever did this has a very serious grudge on us. I mean, who would go through all of the trouble just to sabotage us?"

"The owner of the motel looks evil enough to me," Rogelio jutted in.

"I don't think so. He was sleeping like a bear during hibernation season."

"But maybe he hibernate-walked towards our truck then—-"

"Who hibernate-walks?!"

"The dude at the motel!"

"This is getting ridiculous!"

"I'm just sayin—-"

"Guys, stop!" Max shouted. "Who did this, we don't know. But it already happened. That's for sure. So let's quit on finding who to blame and fix this problem ourselves!"

A moment of silence passed. Then James spoke. "Uhm, so, who here knows how to fix an engine?"

Max threw his hands up in the air. Drei facepalmed.

James looked at them. "What?! You said to fix the problem ourselves so who knows how to fix an engine?!"

"Not in that way!"

"What do you mean not in that way? So, we don't fix the engine?"

"GAH!"

"BOYS!" Kimberley screamed. "Just find the nearest gas station, godsdammit!"

"Good idea," James said. Kimberley rolled her eyes. Max reached out in the glove compartment and drew out a map. James plucked it out of his hands. He spread the map in front of him. "Okay, judging from where we are, the nearest gas station is three kilometers west from here."