Chapter 29

“Only kind I have,” he said.

“Smartass. I was being nice.”

“So what do we do now?”

“We sit here awhile and get warm.”

“And then?” he said.

“I’ll think about it tomorrow.”

“It is tomorrow, Scarlett,” he said. “That’s the problem.”

“Later, Rhett. Warmth first, plans later.”

“Works for me,” he said.

The diesel engine churned away behind us, the warmth it generated began to fill the shed, and we dozed off.

Somewhere in the mountains22 December 2010

The Thugs

IN THE REMOTE house, Fat Thug was the first to wake. He went outside, relieved himself by watering the nearest bush, and started the motor of the car. Back in the cabin, he said, “Time to get up. I’ve got the motor running and the car’ll be warming up.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Skinny Thug said, “I hear you.”