Hope and Undead Elvis - By Ian Thomas Healy Page 0,62

her other senses had grown uncanny and sharp.

Then, in the trees beyond the far river bank, she saw flashing lights. They weren't the red and blue of an approaching fire engine, but the flickering amber of a service vehicle instead. "Come on," said Hope to Rae, and led the young woman up the slope beside the bridge. She didn't think the approaching vehicle was of the Righteous Flame, but would risk anything to avoid being eaten by the wolf pack.

The rattling roar of a Diesel added itself to the flashing lights and a moment later a beat-up red tow truck rolled out of the trees and onto the bridge. Its roof lights flashed bright but one headlamp was out, and Hope felt an irrational urge to yell out, "Padiddle!" like the game she'd played with her brother whenever they spotted cars with headlights out as children. Instead, she put on her best smile and stuck out her thumb.

Rae shrank against her as the driver pulled over in a heady cloud of black smoke. The dingy, flaking paint on the passenger door was still legible enough to read—Light of God 24-hour Wrecker Service—and went on to inform that Visa and Mastercard were cheerfully accepted, but no checks, please. The windows were down and he leaned across the seat to look at the two women. Hope regarded his black hair, mustache and stubble, and dark eyes set deep in his olive-hued face, which gave him an exotic look. "May I help you?" His voice was a cheerful tenor.

Hope noticed he kept one hand well out of her view. She reached behind her to feel the comforting handle of the Shepherd's pistol against the small of her back. "We're stranded," she said. "Wrecked our car days ago. And there are bad men in the forest. And wolves. Can you please help us? Please?" She knew she sounded frantic, but any pretension at being suave had disappeared with the realization that despite the dingy appearance of the truck, he appeared to be neat and clean. His skin gave off the shine of regular bathing and his work shirt, though rough and patched, wasn't sweat-stained. She could even smell a hint of his soap underneath the odious Diesel fumes, and beyond that some other sweet, spicy scent that made her stomach do delirious flip-flops.

He smiled. "Wrecked car? Maybe I've found it. I've been salvaging wrecks I find ever since everything stopped."

"Do you have any food?" asked Rae. "You smell like rice and curry and vegetables. And soap. I'd love a bath. A real one." She bowed her head, demure. "I would pay whatever price you require."

"Rae, no," whispered Hope.

The tow truck driver's eyes grew wide. "No, of course I will help you. I've seen enough hatred to last several lifetimes and I'm not going to be the one to perpetrate it further." He paused and met Hope's gaze. "A lot of folks assume that I'm a terrorist or worse because of my lineage. Are you planning to shoot me?"

"Not if you're not going to shoot me either," said Hope. Her skin crawled as she sensed rather than saw the gun in his hidden hand.

"I'd rather not," he said.

Rae squeezed Hope's arm. "I don't think he's dangerous," she said, loud enough for him to hear.

He shrugged a little and showed his hidden hand. It was empty. Hope wondered if he'd even been armed at all. She left the Shepherds' pistol where it was and showed her own empty hand. "I'd rather not shoot you either," said Hope. "Will you help us? Any… any price you'd like. Charge it to me, though. Not to her. She's—" She swallowed, the fresh memory like stepping on a sticker weed in the dark. "—been traumatized enough."

"I'm no rapist," said the driver. "And I'd welcome the company. I've had nobody but God to talk to for months now, and I'm not even sure He's listening any longer." He reached down and unlatched the passenger door.

Hope extended her hand to him. "I'm Hope, and this is Rae."

"Nur," he said. "Nur Salaam. Nice to meet you. I've got some food and clean water back at my little shop if you want to go there."

"That sounds lovely," said Hope. She rubbed her swelling belly and marveled that it seemed to have distended further even in just a few days.

Rae fumbled her way into the cab before Hope could stop her. The young woman settled herself in and smiled in her unnerving, unfocused way. Hope