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without wrecking the camper.
    I slowly backed up. The truck moved forward to match my progress.
    "The guy behind us is backing up, too," Roger told me.
    We continued moving, blocked between the two trucks. Maneuvering around the first corner was tricky, but I did it without us going off the road.
    "What do we have in the way of weapons?" Samantha asked from above.
    "Not much," I said. "Unless somebody packed a machine gun without permission."
    "Stay up here, honey," Samantha told Kyle, before jumping down. "I'll see what I can find. We've at least got the fishing poles if we get really desperate."
    "They're packed at the bottom," said Helen.
    Fishing poles. The weapon of choice for the traveler in distress. We also had lots and lots of marshmallows. Maybe we could immobilize these guys with sticky gooey goodness.
    It was a long, scary drive. Roger returned to the front while Samantha gave us reports from the rear. Helen and Theresa moved up to the top bunk with Kyle. Joe slept on the floor. The trucks maintained their close proximity to us, never giving me an opportunity to slam on the gas and speed ahead of the one in front, even if there'd been room to get past him.
    "You know, we could've handled the
Wreitzer
Park
earwigs just fine," Roger remarked, forcing a smile.
    "I think we're almost back to the store," said Samantha. "Do either of you remember if there was a phone inside?"
    I glanced at Roger. He shrugged. "We're not sure," I admitted.
    "I can't imagine that there wouldn't be." Samantha looked through the open window on the left side of the camper. "When we get just a little bit closer, I'm gonna jump out and make a run for it."
    "The hell you will," said Roger.
    "We have no idea where they're taking us or what their plans are. What if they're just forcing us to some abandoned area to butcher us? This may be our only chance to get help."
    "What if they have guns?"
    "I've gotta risk it."
    Roger took a deep breath, looking distressed. "You're right, we have to try something. But I'll do it."
    Samantha shook her head. "I can run the fastest. Don't worry, I'll be okay. I promise."
    "You should take my cell phone," said Helen. "Maybe it'll work outside the camper."
    "No. If something happens to me, you'll need it."
    "But nothing is going to happen to you."
    Samantha considered that, and took the cell phone. "Thanks."
    I have to admit, sending our phone along with the woman who would soon be in serious danger didn't sound like a very good idea, but I didn't protest.
    Samantha gave Roger a quick kiss then placed her hands on the window sill and prepared to leap out. "Andrew, when I tell you to, stop the camper just long enough for me to jump."
    I felt sick to my stomach. Sure, I didn't like Samantha, but I certainly didn't want her to put her life at risk! Though she could technically make it into the woods in just a few strides, it would be at least another twenty or thirty feet before the trees became thick enough to hide her.
    Roger looked as if he wanted to grab her arm and hold her back, but after a moment of indecision he went to the rear of the camper.
    "Stop!" she said.
    I applied the brake.
    Samantha leapt out of the camper.
    Goblin braked to a halt.
    He reached down for something.
    Samantha darted toward the woods.
    "The one in back has a gun!" Roger cried out.
    Goblin raised a gun of his own. A shotgun. He pointed it out of his passenger side window and quickly took aim.
    Samantha hurried off the road.
    I slammed my foot on the gas pedal.
    The camper bashed into the truck, throwing me against the steering wheel. The shotgun fired, but the shot went wild.
    Another gunshot went off behind the camper.
    I put the camper into reverse.
    " Shit !" Roger screamed.
    I slammed the gas pedal again. The camper smashed into the truck behind us as a third gunshot fired.
    "Did he hit her? What happened?" Helen demanded over Theresa and Kyle's screams. Joe ran from one end of the camper to the other, barking furiously.
    "He got