Chuckaboo: an Appalachian Trail novel

Nobody expects a runaway to hide on the Appalachian Trail.

Don Gallagher, 16, hitchhikes toward the trailhead in Georgia.

Motorists ignore him on the roadside. Hours pass.

A sedan slows down. The driver wears a suit. Possibly a

businessman. Not someone to worry about. Still, a hitchhiker can

never be sure. Running away from home involves risk.

And staying away requires a plan. Don's strategy hinges on the

Appalachian Trail. There, he'll blend in with hikers. Just another loner

trekking northbound. They’ll never detect a runaway in their midst.

First he must reach the trail. That means entering a stranger's car.

The sedan glides to a halt.