We walk back to the group as Davis is helping Sylvia into our car.
“I’ll drive Nancy’s car so we all don’t have to be cramped in one,” Rover says.
“I can drive,” Nancy says.
“Not an option,” Rover says. “Where are the keys?”
“In the ignition,” Harding says.
I help Moose into the car with Sylvia. Then I get into the backseat of Nancy’s car as Davis gets into the passenger seat of the other car.
Harding pulls onto the highway first and leads us back to the field where we originally flew in. There is no plane in sight, but there is a car with a man standing next to it. She parks behind it, and Rover pulls up behind her.
The man greets Harding as she exits the car. She opens the back door and bends down.
“Give Moose the backseat,” she says.
We exit the car and stand next to Sylvia.
“Moose, Arnie is a doctor. Arnie, this is Moose. Can you fix up his leg?”
The man nods and gets to work. I watch as he cuts off Moose’s pant leg at the knee. Next, he gets out a large bottle of vodka.
“Everyone,” Harding says to get our attention, “the plane should be here in five minutes. As soon as Moose is patched up, we are out of here. If you see anyone coming up this road, make sure you are on the other side of the cars.”
“Got it,” Rover says.
“Ah, fuck!” Moose yells out.
I turn and see the doctor pull the stick out and pour the vodka over the wound. Poor guy. I hope we can get him back to the States tonight.
The roar of an engine catches our attention, and we all glance up to see our plane coming in for a landing.
“How’s it going?” Harding shouts to the doctor.
“Almost done!” he yells back.
Once he lands, Vlad steps out all smiles. “Good morning! Are you ready?”
I want to smack the smile off of him. If only he’d been here last night, Damien would be alive and Moose wouldn’t be injured. We would be on our way home by now.
Davis steps up to Vlad. “Almost.”
Tires screech from down the road. We all turn to see a vehicle rounding the corner and coming our way at a high speed.
“Everyone take cover now!” Harding yells out.
We all jump or run behind the cars. Rover grabs Moose and gets him out of the backseat and behind the vehicle. His lower leg is now covered in gauze.
As the other vehicle draws closer, the window rolls down, and the barrel of a gun peaks out.
“Gun!” I shout. I grab Nancy, who, for some reason, stood up, and we fall behind the trunk to protect ourselves.
A passenger in the backseat gets several shots off as it drives by. Harding fires back and hits the shooter. Rover carries Moose, and we all run onto the plane as our attackers attempt to turn around on the skinny road.
“Go, Vlad! Now!” Davis says as she latches the door.
The rest of us are in our seats but ducked down. I’m at a window watching the gunman. Another window rolls down.
