While the faceless captain attempted to steady the ship the gooey creature grew larger. The bucket lay at the foot of Ella's bed. Its stench gripped her like a vice. She desperately wanted to hide her nose under her covers. However, her arms hung like two dead carp.

The slimy intruder smelled like rotting fish and something more familiar. Ella tried identifying it with her remaining senses. Gangrene! A limb smells like that before it needs to be amputated. Unfortunately working in a city hospital,in post apocalyptic times, Ella had smelled a lot of this.

Not only did the thing reek, its noxious odors made Ella's cloudy eyes water. Her nose stung and she had difficulty breathing. She wheezed like an asthmatic who's lost her last inhaler.

Ella reasoned in her mind, "I'll knock the bucket away from me with my foot." She concentrated until she managed to topple the bucket. It fell on top of her. Now, the leech-like slug had grown to become the size and weight of a cast iron tea kettle. It began creeping across the rough brown blanket until it landed on her chest like an unwelcome fat cat.

Ella passed out.

---

Marina took the Sarge aside and explained how her bunker had been leveled. "We no longer have a shelter. Maybe I could salvage enough room for the 8 of us..."

As Marina explained the dilemma Devin and 36 more tweens and teens happened upon the scene.

Devin spoke up, "Sorry Sarge, the natives were restless."

"45 people..."  Marina thought, "How am I supposed to hide 45 people?"

The Author spoke directly to her heart. You're not. I am.

Tommy picked up a fistful of the white manna and squished it between his fingers. "Hey this isn't snow! It's food!"

Marina breathed a sigh of relief. The King always kept his Word. He provided in His own way and in His own time.

As the boys were about to delve into the fluffy goodness Marina cleared her throat and said, "Around here before we eat; we give thanks."

The boys dropped fistfuls of food and bowed their heads.

"Circle up," Marina ordered. Human and beast made a sloppy circle around the heavenly snow and thanked the King for his good gifts." Afterward they enjoyed a meal with no end. Each and every dog, bear and person ate until they were full.

The majority of the former Unity Campers had only tasted the heavenly food mixed in the oatmeal mush Alfred and Tommy had concocted. Now they were eating foods they'd never tasted before. Foods like; homemade pumpkin pie with fresh whipped cream, rich dark chocolate brownies with crunchy walnuts, striped sea bass smothered in butter and garlic and more!

Marina enjoyed watching the boys eat. It reminded her of a time when she'd had plenty. Sunday dinner at Nana's with lasagna, meatballs, garlic bread and delicate Italian pastries.
It just so happened that was exactly what her meal tasted like. She even had the juicy ripe plumb at the end of supper as her Nana had insisted. Marina remembered her grandmother saying, "Fruit helps with digestion..."

---

Once again both cattle cars were on the move. Izzy woke up first and made her way to the driver's seat. It was empty. "Whew! At least a child's not driving!" The truck maneuvered by automatic pilot down the winding mountain road. In faith Izzy left the driver's seat and made her way through the sleeping children to the rear window. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the second cattle truck following at a safe distance.

JM woke up and whispered, "Izzy, what's going on?"

Onyx opened her eyes and for the first time could see as clearly as a healthy 10 year old. "Oh goodie the food's back. May we eat some Izzy?"

Izzy zigzagged through the sleeping children to be close to her special friends. She took their hands and prayed, "Dear mighty King. We trust you. We thank you. Amen."

Onyx asked, "Where do you think we're going Izzy?"

Izzy closed her eyes then said, "Woodsburgh. We are heading to Woodsburgh on Long Island."

JM's big brown eyes grew larger. "How do you know that Izzy?"

Izzy smiled. "The Author tells me things."

"You can hear Him?" Onyx asked.

"Sometimes it's like I'm talking with you girls, other times..." She pointed to her heart, "He speaks to me in here."

JM and Onyx readily agreed. They too had experienced the leading of the Author's Spirit.

Over the truck's speaker the girls heard a staticy hissing sound and then, "Izzy, Izzy come in. Over."

JM gasped and asked, "Is that the King?"

Onyx giggled.

Once again the voice spoke. "Got your ears on? Radio check? Break!"

"That's not God ladies. That's Murdok! And he'd better NOT be driving that rig!"

Izzy gently made her way to the truck's cabin. She found the CB radio and tried to communicate with Murdok. By this time he was chattering away. Izzy could tell he was entertaining the Tunnel Children in Truck number 2.

Over the speaker Murdok asked, "What does a cloud wear under his pants?" He paused then answered his own joke, "Thunder-wear!" He started laughing then all the kids joined in.

He continued, "What do you call two birds in love?... Tweethearts..."

Izzy interrupted, "Ratchet jaw, over." (One who talks too much.)

Surprised Murdok answered, "Izzy, is that you? How do you know CB terms? Over."

"My Grandpa taught me. Over."

Murdok asked, "What's your handle?"

Izzy became embarrassed. "Runs like the Wind, over." She heard laughter over the radio. Then she became annoyed. "Okay enough Wolf Boy. Tell me you're not driving that truck!"

Silence.

"Come in Murdok!" Izzy became frantic.

After what seemed like forever Murdok broke the silence. "Nah... I'm not manning this Cattle Cruiser,  only its radio. Over."

Izzy gulped. "Thank goodness! Well it looks like we're about to go 'Through the Woods.'" (Which meant they were leaving the Interstate to travel through secondary roads.)

Murdok replied, "Rodger. Is there any way we could, "Power Up?'"

Izzy answered, "Negative. We are on a 'Downstroke.' The Author has us at the safest speed possible."

Murdok replied, "Okay this is Wolf Boy signing off. Over."

Izzy could smell the ocean. "Over and out."

They were nearing Woodsburgh.

-End of Chapter 43-

Author's Note: I'm nearing the end of this book! Thanks for all your ❤️ and support!