With the jeep parked well off the road the four travellers scrounged around for some kindling and warmed themselves with a small fire. July fished his coat from the back of the car, rubbing his arms briskly. He tossed a blanket to Charlie, who used her pack as a pillow, then settled down next to Tom and Biscuit, leaning against the wheel. A can of soup glowed over the fire.
Charlie watched curiously as July removed his prosthetic leg and relaxed the stump. “How’d you lose it?” she asked.
“Car accident. Courtesy of this idiots driving.” July nudged Tom and they laughed.
They divided the warm soup between the four of them and ate in silence. When they finished, July grabbed an old Sony Walkman and Creedence cassette from his bag, put the left earphone in and handed the other to Tom.
Again, Charlie eyed it curiously. “You really like music, don’t you?”
July shrugged. “Helps me think. Helps me relax. Reminds me there was a time before all this.”
He closed his eyes and the lyrics filled his mind:
Put a candle in the window
'Cause I feel I've gotta move
Though I'm goin', goin'
I'll be comin' home soon
Long as I can see the light
July fell asleep with his head resting on Tom’s shoulder.
ns 172.70.38.7da2