Green Desert - Chapter 3.5.5 - Umo

I got back in the car. Lango opened an eye. “Well?”

“Main turns into East Crater Road.” I popped it into reverse, glanced in the mirror, gunned it in a sharp corner. Tires squealed. Into drive. Tires squealed again as we bumped back onto the street, turning south and barely missing a semi. “Hold on.”

Lango gripped the panic handle above the door. His face was frozen wide-eyed and mouth open. I smirked.

Green light. Left turn. “Look for addresses.”

Lango lowered his hand and closed his yap. “Um. . . 113.”

Still a ways to go. I hoped we wouldn’t be too late. The tow truck was supposed to be there a couple hours ago. If we hadn’t gotten lost here in town . . . or in Sukı‘ırupı . . . or accidentally gotten on the freeway in Paradanga. . . I sighed. Hopefully the small-town tow truck would be running late, too.

“901.”

How far out was 5430? We’d already left the “downtown” commercial district behind. Nothing but houses on both sides of the street. The speed limit raised ten. I was already going faster than that. So were all the locals, though, so at least this wasn’t a speed-trap town.

“2309.”

Semi-industrial area. Car lot full of pickup trucks. Cement factory. A plant nursery called “Downtown Floral.” The speed limit increased again. A tow truck came from the other way, rolling by with. . . “Isn’t that the car?”