The Ruins Part 2 (Sequel to The Ruins)

Chapter 57

Sally-Two Knives found her horse drinking from a stream. She clicked her tongue and the big Appaloosa- Posey by name- raised her speckled head and stared. Then she whinnied happily and trotted up the hill to meet Sally.

Sally sheathed her knife, patted the horse's cheek, and kissed her. "You big goof!" She scolded. "You ran off and left Mama out here all alone. What were you thinking?"

"Probably thought you were dead," said a voice from behind her. Sally whirled around, grabbing for her knife. The blade whipped out of its sheath, but the movement tore a cry of pain from Sally.

Despite the pain, she smiled as a man stepped out of the shadows beneath a tall spruce.

He was medium height, built like a wrestler, and his hair as grey streaked. He had a pair of machetes slung over his back and a .45 automatic in a Marine Corps web belt strapped to his waist.

"Damn!" Said Sally. "As I live and breathe!"

The man grinned. "I thought that crazy horse was yours. I tried to ride her but she tried to eat me, so we were both letting things calm down before we had another go at it. Alright, boys. It's clear."

Every truck and vehicle drive inside the forest, revealing itself from their disguise and camouflage through the forest.

Sally Two-Knives gave him a charming, coquettish smile. "Bud... why you and your Saviors are trying to steal my horse?"

Bud opened his arms. "Give us a hug, girl."

Sally did, but gently, hissing a little as Bud gathered her in his powerful arms. When he heard the hiss he let her go, ranging his eyes up and down and finally taking in the sling and the bandages.

"Whoa, now... what's wrong?"

"Well," said Sally, "the old girl ain't what she used to be." She told him everything. Bud and the Saviors listened with great interest. By the time Sally was done telling her story, Bud was nodding. "This all fits," he said, "but it's worse than you know. White Bear'd got more than seventy goons in his crew, and some of them are gangster types. Some are actual gangsters from before the Black Night."

Sally made a face. "Nice."

"Well, now Brother David's place is torched to fuck now. We head over to Wawona. But when heading there, no Bounty Hunters were at the cripple creak spot, only Bear's crew attacked. There's bad stuff happening in the east."

"I know." Sally narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "I've seen Arnica. I heard she gathered half of dozen people."

"Where? And how fast could she get them together?"

"Pretty fast. I know another place to me up in case of emergency."

He grinned and the other Saviors grinned as well. "Tell me, girl."

-:-:-:-:-

"How far is it?" Mal asked, peering ahead to the hazy mass of dark green in the distance.

"We're close to be as eight miles to Wawona."

The thought of the big hotel, with its frequent travelers and patrolled woods, was comforting. Maybe one they regroup, they can finally make a start on finding the new KillGames. "Many travelers go through there all the time."

"Like Preacher Jack," Mal reminded him, then added under her breath, "We'll have to be careful."

He took the last of the Greenman's strawberries and gave Mal half of them. "Not bad. But I rather cook up a big steak so rare. I do love me some meat."

"You do cook very good," Mal said. They walked, Mal keeps on thinking about the hotel. "Is it safe?"

"It's safe. Been there once, but there's no one leading the place. It's come and go."