Restitution: A Post-Apocalyptic EMP Survival series (The Dark Road series Book 8)

to make their move. And just like that, Ben knew they needed to be ready to put this plan into action the next time the guards came back, whenever that was. Maybe he could pry a little more information out of Rita. He’d keep the questions generic and try not to get too personal.
He wasn’t sure what the other prisoners here had been through, but he knew it wasn’t good. And by the sound of Rita’s voice, he assumed they were just about at their limit, mentally and physically.
“Rita… Rita.” Ben spoke as loudly as he dared. Not only was he worried about being heard by one of the guards, but he was leery about the lone guy in the far container.
“Yes.” Her voice cracked. Ben felt sorry for bothering her, but there was no time for that.
“Will they come back tonight?” he whispered.
His biggest worry was that the guy who kept telling them to be quiet would give them away to the guards if he learned that Ben was going to try something. Under pressure, some people would do anything to gain favor with their captors, even if it meant turning on a fellow hostage. And for that matter, he decided to keep his ideas about escaping a secret from Rita and her husband Carlos as well. Not so much because he didn’t trust them but because he was afraid the other guy might hear.
“They might, but if they do, it won’t be for anything good. Trust me, you don’t want them coming around later anyway.” Ben heard Rita’s labored breathing.
“Why do you say that?” He noticed that Rita’s voice had taken on an ominous tone.
“Because they get out of their minds at night on the moonshine they’re making. They’re running a still over on the far side of camp.” Rita’s fingers poked through the drilled holes in her and her husband’s container as she pulled herself closer to the wall and paused to catch her breath again. “You’ll see tomorrow. I’m sure they’ll put you to work with the rest of us, tending the crops they grow to make their hooch. You might even get to see the still if you get lucky enough to haul water to it.” Her fingers disappeared, and for the first time since they started talking, Ben caught a glimpse of her face as she adjusted herself to lean against the wall of her container. She brought her mouth and nose close to the drilled holes and inhaled deeply.
“Thank you for talking to me.” Ben was grateful for the information and appreciated Rita’s willingness to risk her safety and share what she knew with them. Ben had no intention of working their fields or carrying water to their still. By this time tomorrow, they would be well on their way back to Colorado. He wasn’t sure exactly how yet, but he was determined to make that happen any way he could.

Chapter Four
As the late afternoon dragged into early evening, the occasional voice or bout of laughter came from inside the camp. The kids were all awake now, but no one was talking much. Ben had filled them in on his plan to get out of here, and everyone was ready to play their part. They just needed the right opportunity.
Of course, they had no way of knowing when that opportunity would come. Worst-case scenario, they would be stuck in here until morning. Ben hoped one of the guards would come back to check on them before then, and he wondered if there was a way to make that happen.
He stayed close to the front of the container, always sure to keep one eye on the trail the guards used. If the younger guard came back, he was going to use Allie to lure him into their trap, if possible. He hated the idea of using her like that, but if it provided them with a means of escape, it would be well worth it. Besides, Ben had no intention of actually letting the guard get anywhere close to her.
Joel wasn’t crazy about the idea, but then again, Ben didn’t expect him to be. Joel knew as well as the rest of them that it was their best chance, and he finally agreed, not that he had much of a choice. Now they just needed the guards to come back around. Unfortunately, it sounded like all hands were on deck for the bonfire and drinking extravaganza going on a couple hundred yards away.
Ben couldn’t see very much from their container, but he could make out the glow of a fire rising above the other containers that made up the main camp. The talking turned to shouting, and the occasional laughter was replaced with outbursts of arguing and loud whooping.
There was no doubt that the lot of them were getting drunk, and Ben couldn’t have been more pleased. Maybe the best thing to do was wait this out. As long as all of them didn’t drink to the point of passing out. They needed at least one of the guards sober enough to open the container, though with all the noise, Ben wasn’t sure he could get the guards’ attention right now even if he wanted to.
Of course, there was the chance of the moonshine working against them if one of the gang drank himself into a bad mood and decided to take matters into his own hands with Ben or the others. In a group like this, there was always one who felt like he had something to prove, and this bunch was no exception, based on some of the looks Ben had noticed earlier. The old man seemed pretty well in control of his flunkies, but adding moonshine to the mix meant all bets were off.
Ben, Sandy, and the kids sat and listened as the party raged on. Ben was glad that there were no noises from either of the dogs and told himself it was because Gunner and