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"Co at hishe’d been giving out these one liners that had ood company "There’s an exit ramp just up there We can stay under the overpass" I checked Buster and he seee of the trailer and his ears flicking forward and back fro froed a tarp to give hiet a sunburn - I was just worried about hi a sun stroke I refused to let Peter put any of our sunscreen on the dog, though We had to conserve it for ourselves Buster was just going to have to deal

We got off the highway that seemed to stretch out forever in front of us and turned around to go under the overpass The temperature was es gave et us, it was going to be an uphill battle - literally

We perched the bikes up there on their sides along with the trailer I wedged the bike pedalcontact with the ra able to drag the bike down to the bottom

"Nohat?" asked Peter

"Noe cover ourselves Or our bikes anyway"

"What do youfrom his water bottle We had three that were full of drinkable water The other one we planned to use for cooking only

"Just watch and learn" I went into one of the backpacks and pulled the large tarp froray and the other various shades of green I opened it up and put it on top of our bikes and reen side down I pointed to the corner nearest Peter "Put your foot on that side"

He did as instructed

I walked down the ra down at such a steep incline, I felt sorry for him, so I picked him up to carry him the rest of the way down He had looked like he was afraid he was going to turand withif not loyal

Once we got to the bottom, I put him back on his feet and went in search of some rocks I found four pretty decent sized ones and returned to Peter, leaning into the slope to ht easier Buster wasdown

I stretched the tarp back out and placed rocks down on the corners to hold it in place

"Voilà," I said when I finished "Done Now no one will see us hanging out up here"

Peter looked down at his red t-shirt "Uhhhh, yeah"

"Oh, right Hold on a sec" I lifted up the tarp to reach into the backpack one more time I had seen this t-shirt on the floor in the ar for later I pulled it out and threw it to him "Put this one on Take the other one off We’ll use it for … bullfighting or soe shirt, his eyes taking in the printed slogan on the front of it

"No way I a this"

I frowned at him "Listen, life isn’t a fashion show anyoing to call attention to us with that friggin siren of a shirt on"

"But come on, Bryn This shirt?" He looked at ed "It was the only one left And it’s your size Just put it on backwards if you can’t handle the words"

I turned so he could have a little privacy When I looked back a few seconds later he was pulling it over his head He had the skinniest chest I’d ever seen It pros and try to find soedit to hiives , handing e I quickly folded it up and shoved it into one of the bags It reminded ot to our destination If anyone got doind of either of us they’d s from a mile away

I took out a can of beans and popped the top open, tipping the can to my mouth to let a few beans fall in After I’d had three mouths-full, I handed it over to Peter "You finish these I’ve had enough"

"You have to keep your strength up, Bryn You can’t give h for roves on our way Maybe we’ll be able to find soht" I seee blossolades with ed "I don’t ue He ate everything I gave hi to take a nap," he said

"Good Me too" I motioned for Buster to co How am I supposed to sleep if you’re in my lap?"

He juoofy round near ht o to sleep"

Peter and I were back to back now, each of us facing out to one side of the overpass Froe point, all I could see was scrubland and soun?" I asked Peter

"Yep"

"Shoot anyone who looks dangerous"

"Okay," he said, yawning

"Buster, you ets near us, okay?" I said in a low tone

Buster took that as in invitation to get up and dance, so I pushedaround"

"Would you two be quiet? People are trying to sleep over here"