Dark Sky

30 - Gone Camping

Chapter Thirty

Day 12

After the usual questions of why? When? Where? And how? The camper van man had eventually calmed down and listened to Joe and Leila's explanation for stealing his home.

It had taken a while but he eventually accepted that like most they were ordinary people down on their luck and after listening to their plans to get to Gosberton he agreed to allow them to use his camper. On the condition he was the only one allowed to drive it.

It was his home and housed everything he owned, he just didn't trust anyone else with it. After all, as much as he realised they were normal people, it didn't alter the fact they had tried to take it from him.

He had heard the radio broadcasts telling people to get to the bunkers but had made it clear to his new passengers that he did not intend to go into one. He didn't mind driving them there but that was it. He preferred to take his chances on his own, having everything he needed right here in his mobile home.

Leila had tried to convince him otherwise, stating that the world was uninhabitable or soon would be but Bill had dismissed it as government propaganda.

"That's what they want you to believe." He had told them. "They just want people where they can control them."

Leila had given up after a while not really caring much if he wanted to or not, as long as they had the comfort of his vehicle to get there.

And it was comfortable, just like being in a living room that moved.

The journey so far had been slow. A lot of the roads were almost un drivable, either very badly damaged or littered with debris of different sizes. Navigating them meant they had to drive with extreme caution.

Joe wasn't worried, they still had seven days to make their journey and he figured even with the supply stops Bill wanted to make, they should still be there within a couple of days. Then they wouldn't have to worry anymore.

They had been driving most of the day now but had only covered around fifteen miles. Their destination was still around another fifty miles away which is why Joe assumed they would arrive in two to three days. It was slow going but at least it wouldn't be life threatening like the last few days.

He hoped.

"There's a partially standing town up ahead." Bill announced breaking the silence. "It will be getting dark soon, so I suggest we park up there and use the time to get supplies."

Joe sat on a long bench seat with Leila cuddled in close to him. He knew it was pointless trying to drive at night but also didn't think snooping around strange places in the dark was a wise either.

"Probably not the best idea." Joe voiced his concerns.

"The deal was that I get to collect supplies where possible," Bill reminded him, "we can do it when we are stopped for the night anyway, or we can delay your trip and do it in the morning."

"Do you have flash lights?" Floyd piped up.

"I have no shortage of those." Bill admitted.

"Then we'll do it tonight." Floyd decided for them all.

Joe sat up frowning. "Is that wise?" He asked in a hushed voice.

"If the place is deserted, then it makes sense to do it now." Floyd surmised. "Then we can be away on time tomorrow."

"If you say so." Joe said sitting back in his seat putting his arm back around Leila.

The camper pulled into the town but only made it a few hundred yards before the road became impassable and so Bill pulled the camper in tight beside a house that had collapsed down one side. Turning off the engine he took in the view.