Chapter Nine
Chapter Nine
“Joel, I’m freaked out!” Jessie said, still crying, still more or less hysterical. “And I’m scared. How can you want to keep going?”
Joel looked down the mountain again before replying.
“Backward is no safer than forward now, Jess. I see lights in the distance from here, and this road does appear to be mostly visible and open on down.”
“Those lights might be fires,” Archer said.
Good, maybe Archer was regaining his composure. His tone remained stoic, but at least he was talking.
Debra faced Archer, wide-eyed and still clutching the rifle, saying nothing. Archer didn’t hold his gaze on her for more than a few seconds at a time. It seemed to Joel that she was studying him and seeking a specific gesture, perhaps leadership, reassurance, consoling, or vindic
