Dark Titan Journey: Finally Home by Thomas A Watson

Germany,” he said and continued scanning and found four more. “That’s German, Belgian, Russian, and French armor,” he said stunned.
    “How can they get tanks and heavy vehicles here so fast?” John asked.
    “I don’t know,” Nathan shrugged.
    “There was already a lot here,” Tom said.
    “What?” Nathan asked.
    “There was already a lot here,” Tom repeated.
    “I heard you the first time. I know we had U.N. troops in America but not armor and armored vehicles,” Nathan said, putting away his tablet.
    “On the web there was talk of several massive depots of foreign equipment. One in Mississippi had a thousand Soviet vehicles,” Tom said. Nathan lay down, looking at the sky.
    “And you just found this on the web?” Jasmine asked.
    “No, one of my buddies told me and sent me the link,” Tom said.
    Jasmine shook her head. “I’m not stupid. Those vehicles cost millions. Why would they just park them over here?”
    “Positioned before they were needed,” Nathan said, and everyone looked at him. “This changes nothing; we still have to get home.” He sat up. “We are waiting till dark before crossing and we have to head a mile north to cross.”
    “Why can’t we cross right over there?” Amanda asked, pointing toward the interstate.
    “There is a concrete divider between the lanes. I don’t think we can pick up the animals and put them on the other side,” he said in a slow voice.
    “Oh,” Amanda said, realizing she was getting on Nathan’s nerves.
    They packed up and headed north to another ravine. Nathan taught more survival skills as they waited till dark. When the sun touched the horizon, they headed to the interstate. It was dark but the sky was clear as they rushed across, trotting down a dirt road.
    When they were several miles away Jasmine moved up beside Nathan. “You know, I never realized how big this country was and how many dirt roads there were until I met you,” she said.
    “I’m glad I was able to show you,” Nathan replied and looked over to see Chip was asleep. Jasmine had tied him to her so he could sleep as they rode. “He still hasn’t said anything?” Nathan asked.
    Jasmine let out a long sigh, “No, I’m worried,” she said.
    “Don’t be. It’s not something you can fix,” Nathan said.
    “What if he saw something horrible and needs professional help?” she asked.
    “Oh I’m sure he saw something horrible. But professional help is bullshit. You can work through anything with family and friends,” Nathan said. “Jasmine, what do you think the pioneers did when bad things happened? What about third world counties? They move on and continue to live. In America everyone wants a pill to fix it.”
    “America had the best in psychiatric care in the world,” she said.
    “Of course. They were naming mental disorders that nobody knew they had till they made up a name for it. People have been working through their problems since we were fighting sabertooth tigers,” Nathan said.
    Gradually they rode out of the plains into farmland. They rode in silence till Jasmine gathered the courage to ask, “Nathan are you sorry you took us along?”
    Startled, “What?” Nathan replied with a jump, and saw her take a breath. “I heard the question, but what do you mean? I’ve told you I like having you guys along.”
    “I’ve seen how you ride. We are holding you back. I’m sure without us you’d be almost or at home.”
    “Maybe, maybe not. You might look at it as holding me back. I look at it as making me think before I act,” Nathan answered.
    “You don’t do anything without thinking it through,” Jasmine stated as fact.
    “Shit, ask my friends when we get there,” Nathan scoffed. “I’ve never had to think about more than myself, if I made a bad choice I was the only one who paid. Just to let you know, I’ve made plenty of them.”
    Jasmine listened and was amazed that suddenly she could see into Nathan’s life. “Thank you,” she said, for