The trench ended beneath the front tires.
The convoy stopped.
Nobody spoke.
Snow drifted lazily across the road, slowly filling the enormous groove carved through the earth.
It was far too wide to belong to a vehicle.
Far too deep to have been made by people.
Bill climbed out first.
His boots crunched into the snow.
For several seconds, he simply stared at the trench.
Harry joined him.
"So?"
Bill crouched.
Ran two fingers along the frozen dirt beneath the snow.
Fresh.
Very fresh.
Whatever made it…
It had crossed only minutes ago.
He stood again.
"…I don't like it."
Harry looked toward the tree line.
"You don't like anything."
Bill ignored him.
Behind them, Aubrey shifted against the ropes binding her wrists.
She watched the two men carefully.
For the first time since she'd been captured…
Neither of them looked confident.
That meant something.
Terri leaned closer beside her.
"What're they looking at?"
"I don't know."
