As they drew closer to the Mississippi River, Bob was starting to believe that they had left their troubles behind them. They had pulled all three vehicles to the side of the road for a rest break, just before a curve. Alex had gone into the brush to relieve himself, and now came out of the bushes in a hurry.

"Dad. I think we have a problem."

"What would that be?"

"I went kind of deep into the bushes to, um, well, you know. Anyway, I heard something. I went a little deeper and I found out this road makes a hairpin turn. On the other side of the curve is a check point."

"Kathy, Tim stay here with the children. Show me Son."

Together they quietly worked their way to the spot where Alex had seen the checkpoint. Sure enough, it was there. Three men with body armor, automatic weapons, and a four wheel drive S.U.V.

"What do we do? We have to go down this road or turn around."

"We can't turn around, Son. We've been led here for a reason. Let me think."

Bob looked at the scene. Soon he had an idea. The S.U.V. wasn't blocking the entire road. These men clearly thought that just by being there with weapons would intimidate any who came down the road. That was their mistake.

"Alex listen closely. Behind the drivers seat of my truck you'll find a small white box. Grab three of the soda cans in it, and bring them to me."

"You planning on bribing they with soda?"

"Just get them Son."

Alex soon returned with the cans.

"Are these what you wanted Dad?"

"Yes. Thank you. Now here is what I want you to do."

"Wait a minute Dad. Why do these cans have fuses sticking out of them?"

"I'll explain later. I want you to drive my truck. Have Tim drive you mothers car, and Kathy drives your car. I want you guys to pull up to the checkpoint nice and slow. Just like nothing is wrong. When I make my move, hammer down and swing around their 4X4 and don't slow down."

"What move? And what about you?"

"Don't worry about me. Just get moving."

Alex knew better than to argue when his father spoke in that tone of voice. He got back to the others, relayed his fathers instructions, and not waiting for an argument, climbed into the truck and started the engine.

The three vehicles pulled slowly up to the checkpoint. Alex tried to look for his father, without looking like he was looking for him. As he looked at the brush out of the corner of his eye, he saw one of the soda cans come flying out of the woods with the fuse burning. Even before it hit the ground, a second can came from the same place. Then a third. He hit the gas. As the truck lurched forward, he saw smoke start to pour out of the first can, then the second. A cloud appeared from nowhere. It only got thicker as the third can began to fume. He followed his fathers orders and kept moving around the S.U.V. and didn't look back.

They were ten miles down the road before Alex pulled over. The others did the same. As they got out to talk about what to do. Before they could even get started the S.U.V. from the checkpoint pulled up behind them. Alex, Tim, and Kathy all grabbed weapons and prepared to fire.

"I hope you aren't going to shoot me." A familiar voice called out to them.

"Dad?"

"It's me Son."

"What happened back there Bob?" Tim asked.

"And what were those cans?" Alex chimed in.

"As you guys got close, I threw the smoke grenades. That provided cover for you. While they were choking on the smoke, and trying to figure it out, I 'borrowed' their 4X4."

"Where did you get smoke grenades?" Kathy wanted to know.

"I made them. First I got some of those half sized soda cans. Then I picked up what the local fireworks store called smoke grenades. Really they aren't. They don't make large enough amounts of smoke. I sliced them open and put the tablets inside them in the empty cans. Add the fuse that came with them, and seal them with duct tape. Each can had about the equivalent of four of the store bought grenades. Makes a lot more smoke that way. Come on. Lets' get on down the road. It won't be long before they start looking for this car, and I want to be long gone before they find it."


BW, Vietnam Vet