Greg has no way of knowing what the status is of the two men following. For now, they’ll have to fend for themselves with regards to gathering fuel. Any delay will allow the ones behind to close in on them. Another hour will bring total darkness. They’ll have to stop soon after night falls to refuel their own tanks and then, hopefully lose their pursuers. The road ahead consists of two lanes leading through a mountain pass. It won’t be hard to guess which way they went, but there are a few choices farther along. That may slow down or lose their pursuers altogether, and they can opt to turn off onto one of the dirt roads leading into the hills. Greg is hesitant about that option as there is only one way in or out.
Angling farther up the ridge, Greg eventually loses sight of the town and of those chasing them. As they finally scale the climb and turn due west, the deepening shadows slow their ability to advance due to the diminishing sight distance. Not wanting to turn on their own black-out driving lights, they use the day-night thermal imaging in order to stay on the road, which is difficult to keep track of as the dirt covering the surface blends with the surrounding terrain.
Cresting the ridge, the road levels and crosses an upper plateau which allows the Stryker to pick up speed. At the end of the tableland, Greg comes face-to-face with his first big decision. The road splits; one road continuing west through rough terrain, the other heading to the northwest. It’s not a matter of whether to abandon the mission or not, that is no longer a factor. It’s a matter of which direction will help them the most.
If they turn to the northwest, they’ll be on a route back to the compound. Even though that trip will take days to accomplish, every mile will bring them that much closer. The route to the west will allow them to eventually make their way back to the south, which will put them closer to the route given to Jack.
Greg knows that Jack is a man of his word. He will be returning to pick them up as soon as he can. That could be any time now and may mean getting their butts out of the fire more quickly. Even though it’s the more obvious route, being part of the major highway, Greg decides to continue their flight west. If they need to, they can pick up a road farther on that will take them to the northwest.
Greg brings the Stryker to a quick halt and hops down. The two men in the truck pull up next to him. Without wasting words, Greg explains their situation to the two bearded men. He points up the road leading to the northwest and gives directions to the compound at Cabela’s. He can’t take the time to shepherd the two and directs them to take the road that will eventually lead them to the northwest.
With a word of thanks, the men take the suggested fork. Climbing quickly back in the Stryker, Greg orders the driver through the intersection. They will be heading west where the road begins a winding climb into yet another mountain pass. With the engine laboring up the incline, Greg looks back to see very faint lights emerge over the crest of the ridgeline behind. Although the other group hasn’t closed any distance, the team hasn’t gained any either.
The winding road traverses a ridgeline. A steep embankment on one side of the road drops off into a ravine, its depths hidden in darkness. On the other side, the land climbs sharply to the top of the ridge where stunted firs are only a shade darker than the surroundings. If they had more firepower, this would be the ideal location for an ambush. Situated on a corner, they would be able to hold this stretch of road indefinitely.
Instead, they must pass one ideal location after another. Their only measure of safety at this point is distance. Greg has no doubt at this point that the group following them is hostile. There is no other reason that he can think of for them to have followed for so long and so far.
Coming out of a ridgeline, they transit another small valley and enter into the mountains in earnest. Sheer, darkened mountainsides rise directly from both sides of the road. The result is that the ravine through which they are traveling is cast in darkness. Only the deep blue of the twilight sky above gives any indication that the sun hasn’t sunk below the horizon.
Just before entering into the pass, Greg stands in the frigid air to get a look behind. Sure enough, he is able to make out very faint lights from the hostile group to the rear as they drive along the meandering highway. Looking at their pursuers, Greg, for the first time, wonders if the choice to follow along this road in pursuit of him and his team is coincidental or if there is something else going on.
The highway follows the path of a river flowing adjacent to the road. The twists and turns as the stream follows the low points—the road following each change of direction—blocks any further view of their pursuers. The constant curves don’t allow the Stryker to get up to full speed. Greg hopes that the speed they are maintaining is faster than that of those following them. Traveling in a convoy generally lends to a slower pace which alleviates Greg’s apprehension to a degree. However, without anything to verify this, a gut-wrenching anxiety remains.
The small team, along with those they rescued, is all alone and traveling through an unknown mountain pass, far from home. If the ones behind them manage to catch up, it will be over in minutes except for the bleeding, screaming, and pain. They will just be bodies lying in or near a burnt-out hulk in the middle of the mountainous terrain. Perhaps never seen again, or become a place that kids come to explore and play on the wreckage.
Looking inside to see how everyone is doing, he observes that a couple of soldiers are napping with their heads tilted back against equipment behind them. The people they rescued are doing what they can to get comfortable within the cramped quarters, shifting to new positions frequently. Lacking is the normal murmur of whispered conversations when any group of people gathers.
The one thing Greg notes with satisfaction is the absence of panic in the eyes of those awake. There’s a measure of trepidation for sure. Not being able to see the entire picture outside as well as Greg, they are placing their faith in his ability to see them through this. Looking at them, he feels a tremendous weight. Having rescued them, he is responsible for their safety and he isn’t sure that he can provide that for them. That adds to the anxiety of the present situation. There isn’t any surprise tactical card he can play nor take any action that will turn the tables. They can only run and hope it’s enough.
Night finally falls in full force near a widening of the road at a place called Texas Creek. It’s really nothing more than a bump in the road with streams coming out of the mountains on both sides of the town to join with the river.
Having to rely on the day-night thermal imaging camera hampers their ability to progress quickly. Greg is apprehensive about using their lights to navigate with even though it will be just as easy to spot them should the group behind catch up.
No use making it easier for them, Greg thinks as they drive through the small opening in the terrain.
The highway is desolate with only an occasional small settlement breaking the starkness. Single gas stations with family-style restaurants next to them, their dirt and gravel parking lots empty, slide to the rear as the Stryker motors past them in the dark. These are towns which are likely to hold a few survivors but Greg has no time to stop and find out.