Algorithm - Book 1 - The Medallion

Chapter 7

Hedda surged past Adam with surprising speed and jumped into the backseat of his car. Adam followed close behind, slipped into the driver's seat and turned over the engine. He moved the car out slowly to avoid attracting attention, but he had only gone a few car lengths before the museum door flew open and two men came running out, shouting for them to stop. As he accelerated, he saw a third, shorter man, catch up to the now moving black sedan. The chase was on.

A couple of blocks down the street Adam tried the usual maneuvers-sharp turns, left and right, all with the only perceptible effect being that the pursuers were steadily closing in. The problem was that in this part of town, Main Street was about all there was and side streets were only a block or two deep. Adam had to get uptown, to the middle of Pittston where there were bound to be more people, more traffic and a better opportunity to shake the pursuit. He floored the car. Light traffic made it possible to ignore a few traffic signals, but the limo kept up with him. Its tinted windshield made it impossible to see inside. There was no siren, no blinking headlights, no screeching car horn. The scene was surreal, as if taken from some action movie without the sound running. Adam approached midtown and traffic picked up. Instead of offering a chance to slip into a side street, the cars and trucks on the narrow, single lane Main Street soon led to congestion. Fighting against a surge of panic, Adam saw an opportunity arise at the next intersection a few car lengths ahead. Spotting a yellow reflection on a traffic signal side shield, he made an abrupt turn into the empty oncoming lane, accelerated to the head of the line, and darted back into his lane across the intersection just as the light turned red. Luckily there was no cross traffic. The limo, which had been only seconds behind, now found itself facing oncoming traffic and an assortment of screaming brakes, horns, and angry shouts.

Hedda cupped her hand over Adam's shoulder. "Take the next right."

Without hesitation, Adam made a right while checking his rear view mirror. Hedda positioned herself between Adam and Linda, and continued in a steady voice. "Now, take the second right."

With no limo in sight, Adam made the turn and asked, "Where are you taking us?"

"One more right … the next one. Then head over the bridge, and make the first left you can. It'll be dirt road."

"That takes us across the river, but to where?"

"You'll see."

The dirt road led them south along the other side of the Susquehanna river, a route parallel to Main Street on the museum side. Adam noticed the river islands, or aits, left over from the time of the mine flood. Desperation had driven the mining community to attempt to plug up the whirlpool draining into the mines with all kinds of debris, including railroad cars. Now all that remained were several uninhabited mounds in the river. Judging from the tall grass and the vague hint of wheel ruts, the road had seen little traffic in recent years. 

"There's a gate ahead."

A few minutes later, they reached a rusty chain-linked gate with a weathered sign hanging askew on one surviving rivet. Adam craned his neck to the side and read out, "River Slope Mine – No Trespassing."

Linda asked, "Hedda. Why did you take us here?"