Sunday, May 18, 2003
The desert sun scorched the barren earth beneath it, drying the world and depriving it of all comfort as the afternoon trickled by in a haze. Little happened here but for the skittering of desert animals at night and the rare rainstorm. Only the sun and the cracked dirt existed here, only the wind and the rattling of parched remains made any sound. Silence reigned only second to the intensity of the heat and sunshine.
But for all the usual quiet that filled this world, this patch of desert's routine shifted as the sun neared the three-quarter's mark. Not an abrupt change or one that could immediately be detected, it began with a soft thumping in the distance, so soft that it hardly stirred even the lightest of sleeping critters in their burrows. But the creatures grew used to the strange noise long before the hissing gasps accompanying it could be heard. Not even the rabbits lifted their heads when two sets of feet finally thundered above, their owners panting with the exertion of their sprint through the emptiness.
Dorothy Ann Robinson and Carlos Ramon ran as fast as their legs could carry them, neither looking anywhere but directly ahead. Without pausing, Dorothy Ann leaped over a small cactus instead of swerving to avoid it.
Far in the distance, the distinct rumble of an engine could just barely be heard.
Her chest ached from the furious pounding of her heart, her lungs burned enough to burst, her legs screamed as though her muscles were tearing apart, but still Dorothy Ann ran. A half-step ahead of Carlos, she ran with all she had. She ran with her life and his hanging on the dim hope that there was safety somewhere in the Arizona desert.
The engine was still soft in her ears, but Dorothy Ann knew that it had already drawn closer.
Only the past several days of being on constant alert gave Dorothy Ann's eyes the sharpness needed to spot the cliff in time. She skidded to a stop just inches from the ledge, holding out her arm to keep Carlos from toppling over it as he, too, came to a sudden halt. Their ragged gasping filled the silence around them as they stared out over the edge, easily a drop of 200 feet or more.
Dorothy Ann swung her head left and right. There wasn't a way down. It was as though the world was sliced away with a knife. Frustration swelled in her as she turned her attention to Carlos. He looked just as terrible as she felt; his skin was flushed and literally dripping with sweat beneath his filthy, ripped clothes. His deep brown eyes came to meet hers, harshly-etched bags hanging underneath and lids hooded in his exhaustion.
"Which..." Dorothy Ann gasped, panting heavily. "Which way should...should we go now?"
Carlos swallowed, cringing as he did so. He had to be just as parched as she was, throat just as dry.
"We..." He licked his lips. "We still have...I know you...don't wanna...but...but we still have the-"
"We...are...not...using it!" Dorothy Ann hissed. "How could...how can you...you even think...of trusting her? After...after what she did? What's she's...done?"
"Dorothy Ann..."
"No."
"But-"
"She...LIED TO US!" Dorothy Ann's throat burned in protest as she screamed. The fury bubbled deep within her, erupting unexpectedly. "She...lied to us for TEN...YEARS! We can't trust...a damn thing...she's told us! She used us! All we've been are...are PAWNS!"
Carlos just nodded, still gasping for air, obviously too tired to argue.
The engine was definitely louder now. Dorothy Ann glanced behind them. A dust cloud was growing on the horizon of the desert, waving in the heat, as a dark speck drew closer. They were likely minutes away from being spotted.
"We have...to go," Dorothy Ann sighed. Between the running and the heat and her sudden wave of rage, nothing sounded more horrible than to push back into motion. But they had no choice. She turned to run left, knowing Carlos would follow.
He didn't. Dorothy Ann didn't take even one step before a hot and sweaty hand gripped hers, pulling her back as their fingers locked together.
"They're...going to see us in a minute anyway," Carlos said, voice soft against the rising engine. "We can't outrun them. Not...not on foot. Not like this. We...we can either keep...running and get caught, or we can...take...a chance. I think any chance to...get away and save the others is...is a chance worth taking. Don't you?"
Dorothy Ann's chest ached then, although this time it came not from their marathon but from deep emotion; deep emotion that tore through her heart, emotion for what had to be done, what she had been willing to sacrifice in her anger. Tears sprang to her eyes despite her dehydration. Dorothy Ann glared at the dusty earth below. Not for the first time that week, hopelessness threatened to swallow her up.
Carlos' free hand came up and bumped her chin, guiding Dorothy Ann to look at him. They were both breathing unevenly and through their mouths, hair plastered to their faces and bodies yearning for rest. Through the tears clouding her vision, Dorothy Ann could see the determination on Carlos' face. His eyes were searching hers, asking a silent question that only she could hear.
"Together?" she asked softly, voice nearly drowned by the approaching engine's roar.
Carlos leaned forward then, and he pressed his forehead to hers.
"Of course."
Dorothy Ann dropped her eyes to their intertwined fingers. Nothing seemed very real anymore.
Carlos reached into his pocket, and Dorothy Ann's eyes followed. From within the torn fabric of his pants, Carlos produced a tiny device no larger than an ordinary chicken's egg. It was sleek and gray with a pop latch that he easily opened with the pad of this thumb. Hidden behind the minuscule flap were two buttons, one large and yellow, the other small and black.
Dorothy Ann felt Carlos' fingers leave hers to reach up and grip her shoulder. She looked away from the device between them to find Carlos' eyes again. He was already looking back at her. She saw his lips move, but the vehicle had nearly reached them and Carlos' words were lost to it's impossibly loud engine. Dorothy Ann knew, however, and she nodded once before closing her eyes against the inevitable.
Without needing to see, she knew he had slammed his thumb on the yellow button in his hand. For exactly three frantic heartbeats, nothing happened. The world was frozen. Then Dorothy Ann felt Carlos' arms wrap around her, drawing her into his chest as he threw them both over the edge of the cliff.