Sail by Night

Part 3

I put the jeep in the correct gear and we slowly drive out of the state park heading through the fields and trees around heading towards town. The horizon starts to light up in the distance as the sky gleams an orange warm hue to the Ohio night sky. We make our way through the small town of Andover and I pull into the family dollar. 

"What kind of food should we get for him? I was thinking dog food but I mean . . . he is a reptile I guess?" I ask staring into my lap as the creature sleeps softly. 

"Beef jerky?" Calla asks shrugging.

"Alright, what do you want? Breakfast is on me. I mean, I know its family dollar but, still." I ask stepping out of the jeep and setting the creature in the drivers seat. Calla pets the dragon like creature cautiously and slowly.

"Just a candy bar." Calla nods as I check for my wallet again I walk into the store knowing all three of the employees my whole life I'm greeted happily. 

I grab some beef jerky near the register and a few Hershey candy bars and stand behind a tall man who looks like he hasn't showered in months. A Humvee pulls up next to my jeep and two soldiers get out armed with rifles over their chests they walk into the store together and walk through the isles grabbing some groceries they join the line behind me. The soldier on the right's radio is on but muffled. 

"I'm reading you loud and clear Sergeant." The soldier mutters into his radio.  

"Roger that, whatever this thing is we can't pick it up on our radars and we lost contact with 0-49 three minutes ago." The Sergeant replies through the radio.

"0-49 was the jet that was sent after it, affirmative?" The soldier asks as I turn my head slightly to see his face in confusion.

"Affirmative." The Sergeant replies immediately. 

The man in front of me takes his receipt and bag full of who knows what and leaves. The cashier puts my things through the register. My wallet slips and I drop it, as I bend over to pick it up the soldier catches sight of the gash around my ankle.

"What happened to your ankle kid?" He asks sternly.

"Got caught on some seaweed when I was kayaking." I reply handing my money to the cashier as she places my things in the bag. 

"So you been out on the lake? Have you seen anything suspicious, we lost a weather balloon." The soldier says in seriousness.

"Do you really think the American people are that dumb to believe it's a weather balloon? If it was a weather balloon then why where you deploying soldiers on the middle island?" I shrug trying not to laugh as I walk out. The soldier turns towards the cashier.

"I agree with the kid." The lady says raising an eyebrow.

I turn back around and walk out hopping into the jeep where Calla sits motionless and terrified.

"You okay?" I ask before hopping into the jeep.

"The soldiers scared the hell out of me. I stuffed the little guy behind my seat and tossed a blanket over him." Calla says as I hand her the back.

"Shit." I mutter as I start the jeep I turn around and lift the blanket, the small dragon peaks its head out and growls at the blanket then stares at me with its huge blue eyes. 

The soldiers hear the growl  I look up and watch as one squints his eyes and starts to walk towards the front doors in the store. I put the jeep in reverse and slam on the gas. Calla searches through the bag taking our her candy bar and smiles as she unwraps the beef jerky for the reptilian creature. She feeds the little creature slowly but he spits out the meat into the road and grumbles looking up at me.