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When the lorry came through the mountain pass, the driver had to slam the brakes to avoid hitting the two sitting on the road playing cards. It didn't take long before the card players were surrounded by a group of mercenaries with heavy weapons being pointed at them.
"Rude," Nile said when a gun barrel was pointed at her. She pushed the gun barrel to the side without blinking. "And you're still cheating."
"Am not," Joe protested. "You're only saying that because you're losing."
"MOVE YOUR ASS OF THE ROAD," One of the mercenaries shouted. "OR ELSE WE'LL SHOOT YOU BOTH."
"Still rude," Nile replied as she looked at Joe. "And I'm the one who is winning."
"Oh, so you're winning," Joe replied. "What do you call this winning hand?"
Joe showed Nile his cards.
"A royal flush," Joe said. "You owe me 100 dollars."
"That's not a royal flush," Nile replied. "You don't even have any royals in that hand. Only low cards in three different colours."
Nile showed Joe her cards.
"This is closer to a royal flush than your royal flush," Nile said. "Only missing one card."
"And thanks for showing me your hand," Joe smirked. "That was easier than I thought."
Nile stuck her tongue out, and so did Joe as a reply.
"Cheater," Nile accused. "I'm going to tell it to your hubby."
"Leave him out of it," Joe replied. "It is not his fault you can't play poker, but you're still young, so one day, you'll learn it."
"MOVE YOUR ASS OF THE ROAD," The mercenary shouted from before. "NOW!!"
"You're still rude, and just a moment, then it will be you and your merry little gang's turn. I need to deal with the cheater first," Nile replied. "I know very well how to play poker. It's you who are making up your own rules."
"That's the best way to win," Joe laughed. "Make up your own rules."
Nile groaned as she looked up at the mercenary.
"You asked us to move our asses off the road," Nile said. "We can't do that."
"Not yet," Joe said, looking up at the sun to tell the time. "That is why we're playing poker."
The mercenary looked at his men, then at Joe and Nile.
"Because the others needed time to get into position," Nile added. "If you haven't figured it out, this is an ambush."
All the mercenaries laughed.
"You got humour. I give you that," The mercenary said. "You said your men needed to get into position. I can only see you two, and we're twenty-five."
"Oh, we're more than you think," Nile said. "So, if you value your kneecaps, I suggest you let us have the lorry."
"Good one," Joe replied. "Our new friend with the gun is right. You do have humour."
All the mercenaries laughed once again as they loaded their weapons.
"Boss?" Joe asked. "How much more time do you need?"
"Less than a minute," Andy replied. "Someone decided to use his head for once."
Joe and Nile saw Booker head-butt one of the mercenaries.
"Very funny," Booker said. "And shouldn't you be dealing with your lot?"
"Is that your way of asking for help?" Nile joked.
"No," Booker replied. "I just think you should do your part."
"Oh, we did that when we stopped the truck and entertained the mercenaries," Nile replied. "And..."
Suddenly two mercenaries pulled Joe and Nile up before placing their weapons against Joe and Nile's temples.
"Bad move, mate," Nile said.
"SHUT UP," The mercenary shouted. "IF YOU DON'T LET'S LEAVE WITH THE LORRY; YOU CAN BURY YOUR DEAD FRIENDS."
"Remember I mentioned my friend's hubby?" Nile asked. "He doesn't take lightly to threats against the man he loves."
Suddenly the two mercenaries dropped dead on the ground while the remaining mercenaries who were still alive dropped to the ground screaming when a bullet hit their kneecaps.
"Thanks, Babe," Joe said in the walkie-talkie as he looked up some trees on the mountain. "Are you enjoying the view?"
"It is not worse," Nicky replied. "Better get moving. The other lorry is moving."
Before joining Joe and Nile, Andy and Booker blocked the road with a rock slice to separate the lorries.
"Nile, you cover Andy while she drives," Joe said. "Booker and I'll have a look at the hand grenades."
When the lorry started to move, Booker and Joe opened one of the four crates in the back of the lorry. Booker let out a frustrated groan.
"That bad?" Joe asked, and Booker nodded. "I'll tell Andy to drive smoothly."
While Joe did that, Booker started to secure the hand grenades.
"We're going to clear more space before we blow the hand grenades up," Booker said. "And we can't use them. These are worse than the hand grenades from the '70."
Andy looked over at Joe and Nicky, who were hugging each other.
"Enough of that," Andy said. "Use your energy to clear a bigger sight than agreed. Take north and west, while Nile and I take the rest. Booker, be ready when I give the signal."
Three hours later, Booker blew up the hand grenades before he joined the others.
"Let's get over the border before dawn," Nicky said. "We need to lay low for a time."
"I'm going to Australia," Nile said. "I have never been there."
"There was an idea," Joe said as he looked at Nicky. "Should we go to New Zeeland? In case of Nile or we need help, it's good if someone is nearby."
"Sounds like a plan," Nicky replied. "And you? Where are you going?"
"Got the bike," Booker replied. "And the open road."
"Not telling," Andy replied. "Somewhere private."
They all respected Andy's wishes about privacy, but as Andy promised Nicky a long time ago, she would check in with him once a week and only with him. Most of all, because Nicky could keep a secret or two.
"Oh, Nicky that reminds me," Nile said with a smirk. "Joe is cheating in poker again."
"Am not," Joe protested. "I played after the rules."
"Joe?" Nicky asked. "Did you cheat in poker?"
Joe stared daggers at Nile for telling before he started to tell Nicky that he didn't cheat in poker.