Kelso is an old railroad depot and supply cache that marks a dangerous stop on the expedition’s route east. Though it offers shelter from the open desert, its lack of water and exposure to attack make it a temporary refuge rather than a safe destination.

Location and Route

Hollis identifies the depot as a second supply cache, beyond the bunker that marks the farthest point he has traveled. For a journey toward Colorado, he advises avoiding Interstate 40 and heading north toward Interstate 15; the route through Kelso is rough, but Peter’s father had reached at least that far. Kelso therefore functions both as a practical resupply point and as evidence of the earlier journey the expedition hopes to continue.

The group arrives on Day 18. The depot is the only building in a landscape Mausami describes as nearly lifeless, with lizards and large spiders among the few creatures she sees. Its doors and windows have been boarded up, but the structure still feels exposed after the relative security of the bunker. A pump stands nearby, but it provides no water, leaving the travelers dependent on their carried supplies in the heat.

Attack and Aftermath

During the night, three virals enter through the roof, breaking through the boards. Two are killed; the third disappears. In the confusion, Hollis is shot in the upper arm. Alicia believes she may have fired the shot, while Hollis says he accidentally shot himself while loading a pistol. The wound is described as slight, but the group recognizes that any injury is serious so far from reliable shelter and supplies.

By dawn, no one has returned to sleep. The travelers plan to leave for Las Vegas, hoping to find shelter before nightfall. The attack turns Kelso from a waypoint into a warning: beyond the bunker, the expedition has no dependable refuge, and even a brief stop can bring danger and consequences for the group.

Significance to the Expedition

Mausami’s account of the stop records more than its tactical risks. The group has begun to feel like a family, and the hope that their journey might matter changes how they bear their fear. Their destination remains uncertain, but the expedition’s shared purpose gives the danger meaning; as the journal puts it, the Army they had waited for has become the people traveling together. Kelso is thus a fragile pause on the route and a point at which the expedition’s solidarity becomes as important as its supplies.