Jackknife 9
Chapter 9 Departure Day
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The day of departure arrived early after Cray successfully coupled and uncoupled from several trailers flawlessly.
Cray had to admit the truck made it easy with highlighted camera screens, laser measurements and an auto-coupling feature he was required to use at least once. It was very strange watching the truck maneuver itself for the coupling as well as he could do it. Truckers’ days were numbered, he thought.
The orientation crew held a short debriefing, wished Cray luck, and then disappeared, leaving him alone with his escorts Ken and Bill. They looked a little more serious than usual, and Cray was about to find out why.
“Alright, let’s get to it. Cray, first order of business is moving out of your room and into the truck. We’ll meet you in the garage for the next task.”
Cray wondered what was affecting their moods so much on his way to the room. Ken looked hardened and Bill looked like he was going to be ill. Maybe it was related to why the orientation crew disappeared so fast.
There was ample space in the truck sleeper for his two bags. Cray had them stored in no time. When he exited the truck, his escorts were waiting nearby.
“We have the orders. Pull out and uncouple the trucks in spaces four and twenty.”
Cray shot a look at Ken.
“Do you know what that means?”
“Yes, and it isn’t funny. The loading crew is up for a talking to. Let’s just get it done.”
It better not be what I am hauling, thought Cray.
Cray ground his teeth and went to work. He pulled out the first truck, uncoupled the trailer and drove the truck to the parking lot. Next he got back in his truck and coupled to the first trailer, pulling far enough to one side to get the second truck out. He repeated the maneuver with the second truck, easing it past his She Beast, where Ken and Bill were connecting some cables from the first trailer to the cab.
“What’s with the cables?” Cray asked when he got back from the parking lot.
“Camera extensions, so you can use the rear view camera on the second trailer.”
Cray went to work coupling the second trailer. Couldn’t imagine it being easier. Kudos R&D group, he thought.
“We’re ready to roll,” said Ken, breathing like he had done all the work himself. “Take the first on ramp to the highway and pull into the first truck stop you come to. We’re a little early but arrangements have been made.”
“How early?” Cray asked with a smile
“Three days optimistic case, just over two weeks pessimistic case.”
Not bad, thought Cray, not bad at all. He climbed into the cab and pulled out of the hangar for the last time.
He turned on the GPS, suspecting correctly that the route and destination were preloaded. There must be some specialist personnel slinking around the compound they weren’t talking about.
Other truck stops were advertised that Cray recognized and were showing vacancies but he didn’t want a long discussion at this point and just followed the directions.
The truck operated like a dream on the road in traffic. Not just sensing and warning of the truck’s own lane position and other vehicles’ proximity, but marking cars that showed signs of erratic driving. Couldn’t maneuver away from them much but it would make for excellent court evidence in case of an accident.
With plenty of time remaining Cray was in no rush. Traffic was thickening from the after work crowd. He looked around at his surroundings, trying to acclimate. It wasn’t long before he spotted the sedan trailing him. Two nondescript people visible inside. They worked their way up and rode a little too close to his tail for comfort but Cray knew why observing traffic. There were a lot of aggressive lane changes where there was barely room to fit much less fit safely.
As Cray slipped into driving mode, the free part of his mind marveled at the sheer pluck of Silver Label hiding the secret cargo in the hangar. That was some serious brass. How did none of the orientation crew know? Or did they and just kept quiet?
With that kind of stunt, what else could they be capable of? More importantly, what did they have going on that he hadn’t picked up on yet? Lots to be sure. Cray’s instincts were screaming about it, but he couldn’t make out the words, just the urgency.
The secret load, the withholding of the automatic overrides information, the expanding of the rules after the contract was already signed, it all bothered him. But what really left him salty was him letting them get away with it. Because of the pay. And they knew it.
He wished he had a separate inner voice that could filter the stream of thoughts, pick up all the clues, and summarize it for him. But he was stuck with memories of the old mentor, Ian’s ravings and his own internal dialogue, pessimistic and crude, too often arriving at a conclusion too late. Was it any wonder he was always down to his last shot?
Classic “Last Chance Cray,” his own nickname for himself. This job was a perfect fit for him. No other alternatives. Deliver or die. It was almost comical, only not to him.
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