Saints Astray

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ONE

The world was a very, very big place.

That was Loup’s first impression as the sun

rose over northern Mexico. By the time it had

cleared the horizon and begun to cast strong light

over the landscape, they’d been driving for an

hour. Still, the road stretched before them, empty

and endless.

And except for Pilar, fast asleep with her head

on Loup’s shoulder, everything and everyone in

the world Loup had ever loved was behind her,

behind the vast concrete wall that sealed off the

U.S. border and sealed in a town once known as

Santa Olivia, known in Loup’s lifetime only as

Outpost—Outpost 12.

The thought made an empty space in Loup’s

heart. In the light of day, the thrill of their daring

escape through the excavated smugglers’ tunnel

had worn off. If she were capable of feeling fear,

she was fairly sure she’d be feeling it now.

Pilar yawned and lifted her head. “Are we

almost there?” she asked sleepily.

Behind the steering wheel, Christophe laughed.

“Not even close.”

Pilar’s hazel eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Oh, yes.” He glanced over at the girls. “It’s

over a thousand kilometers to Mexico City. Over

six hundred miles,” he added, seeing their

perplexed looks.

“Wow.” Loup tried to think about what that

meant and couldn’t. She knew miles as units

measured on a treadmill, going nowhere, not as

actual distances to be traveled. It was only the

third or fourth time she’d ridden in a car, and

never farther than a few blocks before. “So a few

more hours, huh?”

“More than a few.”

“How many?”

The cousin-of-a-sort she’d only just met

squinted at the convertible’s speedometer. “I

drive fast. We ought to be there by late

afternoon.”

“Shit!” Pilar said in dismay.

Christophe slid her a laughing glance. “Big

world, eh?”

“Yeah, no kidding.” She turned to look at the

empty highway behind them. “So we’re safe? No

one’s after us?”

“I imagine the army is tearing Santa Olivia

apart searching for Loup, but no one has the

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⏰ Last updated: Nov 13, 2012 ⏰

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