“I have a feeling they'll be filled. ”
Katarina smiled and watched the spread of road before the gates.
***
Katie led the four trucks straight down Main Street, toward the new truck. It didn't see the Hummer until it crested the hill. Katie didn't swerve an inch.
“Shit,” Travis muttered.
The oncoming truck did a sharp swerve to the left and clipped a street lamp. It shimmied, then came to a sharp stop. Meanwhile, the four bandit trucks slammed on their brakes and nearly piled up.
Wrenching the wheel to the left, Katie turned down a side street then hit Morris St. “Fuck the gate. Let’s ditch the Hummer. ”
“I am all for that,” Lenore agreed.
“We're taking the side door,” Travis said into the mouthpiece as the Hummer roared up to the hotel.
“Understood,” Peggy answered. “I'll let them know you have a delivery. ”
Travis was sure that Peggy's years as a dispatcher was coming in handy today.
The Hummer drew up to the service entrance. The heavy iron door slid open. Jumping out, the four of them made a run for it. Two guards emerged from inside and watched the road.
“Hurry up!” Bill was just inside, waving at them.
After scrambling up onto the dock, Travis reached back and pulled Katie up. She spun around her heel, looking back to make sure Ken and Lenore were following.
Ken easily pulled himself up onto the dock and turned around. He promptly began to wave and urge on his best friend.
“I’m coming. I’m coming. Hold on!” Lenore, being quite large for her height, huffed behind the rest. She was almost to the loading dock when a truck came squealing into view.
“Lenore!” Ken sounded frantic and almost jumped back into the street. Travis barely caught him in time.
The young woman turned and fired with seamless grace. The arrow drilled into the front tire, blowing it out. The driver lost control and slammed into the Hummer. The screech of metal and the smell of burnt rubber filled the air. The Hummer groaned as it was shoved a few feet over. Lenore jumped out of the way with more agility than one would think.
A huge man, disgustingly dirty, staggered out of the truck, bleeding fiercely from a wound on his forehead. Lenore seemed to use this as a target. The man fell back, the end of the arrow protruding from between his eyes.
Two more men were still in the truck, but they ducked down.
For their guns, Travis thought.
Katie shouted, “Hurry, Lenore!”
Lenore shrugged and hauled herself up onto the loading dock.
“White people,” she muttered slipping past Katie. “Always screaming about something. ”
Ken threw his arms around her and dragged her inside. “Girlfriend, you scared me shitless!”
“Get inside!” Travis ordered. “Let’s not wait for them to find their guns. ”
As soon as they were all inside the doors were sealed shut.
Together, both Travis and Katie made a mad dash for the elevator.
***
Nerit watched as the last four bandit trucks finally found their way down the road. They were moving a little more cautiously than they had been. Their leader was wising up. Peggy couldn't find their frequency. Nerit was sure her opponent had ordered radio silence. She could see someone in the second truck motioning to the others.