To Escape From Gravity

Chapter Thirteen

The low rumble of the DuneTrac was the only accompanying music for the long journey. With her passengers sleeping soundly in the back, Normar didn't have any conversation to help pass the time.

She casually swept the darkness surrounding them, but nothing seemed amiss. An occasional truck or bike would pass them from the opposing direction, but as the night got later, it happened less and less.

Two hours into the monotonous drive, a dot of light appeared in the rear mirror. It was the first sign of life she had seen in nearly an hour, but Normar didn't think twice about it. Some other poor traveler was stuck on this endless road as well.

The light increased in size, until it was prominently behind the DuneTrac and Normar could pick out the additional hum of an engine. She tapped the brake pedal slightly, expecting the upcoming driver to pass the slower vehicle by. But when it didn't happen, and the motorbike remained behind them, Normar's stomach started to turn. Something was off.

Keeping an eye on the rear mirror, Normar reached for the open duffle bag on the seat next to her. She grabbed her rifle and laid it across her lap. The DuneTrac was moving at such a reduced speed, any other traveler would take the opportunity to pass them by.

"Kiado! Graysen! Wake up," she reached an arm behind the seat and shook the shoulder of the sleeping man. He startled awake, causing his wife to rise as well.

"What's happening?"

"I don't know, but I need you awake." Normar didn't let her voice waver, but her heartbeat started to accelerate.

Suddenly, the bike sped up with a roar and raced past them. With the rifle halfway in position, Normar instinctually tapped the brakes, startled at the movement. The DuneTrac lurched in response.

A rapid breath escaped her as she watched the endless road in front of them. "Sorry to wake you, it was nothing after all."

"Better safe than sorry," Kiado said in a hushed tone. But her and Graysen were still sitting rigid and tense.

Normar was still gripping the steering wheel tightly. Maybe the long hours in the darkness were putting her too on edge. It was good to be alert, but she didn't want unnecessary paranoia to creep in.

"The rest of the ride should be quiet," she said back to the couple. "We just passed through Nupek, so we're about two hours away from Wardor. You might be able to get a bit more-"

The front tire under her exploded with an awful pop ringing in her ears. All control of the vehicle was lost, and Normar tried in vain to keep the DuneTrac straight on the road. With a hard yank of the wheel and a slam on the brakes, it skidded along the dirt road as dirt and pebbles assaulted the windshield.

"Close the divider, stay in here," Normar yelled, tossing her duffle bag at the passengers. Graysen caught the bag and immediately slammed shut the metal door between the cab and bed. A solid click followed.

Looking back at the road, Normar scanned the scene for any information. Emerging from the massive cloud of dust in front of them, a single beam of light flooded her vision. The person on the motorbike must have thrown something in the road.

Before the DuneTrac even came to a full stop, Normar had flung the door open and catapulted herself out of the cab. She hit the ground in stride, her rifle firmly leveled at her shoulder.

The motorbike's headlight was even clearer now as the dust began to settle. Normar fired a shot directly at it, causing it to swerve and for the light to be shut off. She could still hear the chug of its engine, but now the only illumination of the scene came from the DuneTrac's beams and the sliver of moon that hung in the sky.