The Dust: Book Two - Pursuit by David H Sharp Page A

said.
    ‘If I go, then you're coming with me. You are not staying here with them.’ Iris motioned towards Archie and Lonny Gold who had both fallen asleep. She couldn’t locate the other boy, he hadn’t been there when she had woken up twenty minutes before.
    ‘Okay, if you want.’ Hannah was scared but she wanted to go wherever Iris was going. She felt safer with her.
    Taking Hannah’s hand they got up slowly and made their way over the sleeping bodies towards the men. Hannah tugged on Iris’s hand not understanding why she was going towards them.
    Iris pointed at the glinting keys that were lying on the floor on top of Lonny Gold’s crumpled jacket.
    Hannah shook her head, it was too risky.
    Iris placing a finger over her lips stared into Hannah’s eyes as if telling her to trust her instincts. Hannah’s shoulders dropped and she moved slowly to the perimeter of the sleeping women.
    Iris looked down as she moved over the women and straight into the eyes of Sarah Hardcastle. They were staring straight back as if to ask what the hell she was doing?
    Iris mouthed slowly to her that she was leaving. She also added for her and Naomi to come along too.
    Sarah shook her head, she was too scared and tears fell from her eyes. The stuffing had been knocked out of he, she physically couldn’t move, she was a beaten woman. She nudged her daughter to get up and join Iris but Naomi was going nowhere without her mum, she clutched at her arm to show her. Iris couldn’t look anymore, it was too upsetting. As she tried to move away Sarah held her ankle, Iris stopped and looked down once more. Sarah pointed to a sleeping Alice, she then mouthed up to Iris to take her. Iris nodded in agreement. Sending Hannah back to pick up the little girl Iris made her way across the wooden hall floor and was soon in touching distance of the keys. Crouching as low as she possibly could, she made her move, gently picking up the bunch of keys, they made a small noise as she moved them and Iris not wanting to disturb the two sleeping men stayed as stilll as a stone statue. Her heart pounding so heavily she thought it was going so spill into her mouth. Lonny Gold continued to snore but the young, horrible lad fidgeted in his wooden chair. Iris closed her eyes squeezed the keys into the palm of her hand silently prayed. The next few seconds felt like hours but the sleeping keepers of the keys stayed dead to the world. Iris as quick as she could scurried back across the hall and grabbed Hannah by the arm. Alice was being held by the girl but hadn’t woken up yet. The three then moved with speed back across the floor, past the sleeping Lonny Gold and to the main door, it was ajar so Iris slowly pushed it open letting a small stream of daylight in. She looked behind her and could see Sarah Hardcastle watching their every move. Iris smiled at her and Sarah smiled back, then as quick as a wisp they all disappeared out of the door and into the main road.
    Running as fast as they could whilst carrying a small child, Iris made for the big army truck.
    ‘Get in and get your head down.’ She shouted across to Hannah as they reached the cab.
    Iris pulled open the heavy door and clambered up onto the well-worn leather seat. She could smell the cologne that Gold had been wearing, lingering in the air as if to remind her of his repulsiveness. Iris opened the window to rid her nostrils of the stench. ‘Are you in?’
    ‘Yes, please just leave, now!’ Hannah had her arm round Alice who was now awake but said nothing. She just stared at the dusty old dashboard not knowing what was going on.
    Iris jammed the key into the ignition and turned. The engine burst into life and roared, she knew this would wake everyone up in the village and she acted super-fast. Crunching the gear stick into first she released the clutch and the huge wheels turned as the truck rumbled down the road towards the village hall. Iris knew she wouldn’t have the time to turn the big