They approach Lincoln City and are quick to take note of a larger congestion of traffic up ahead. While the rest of the highway behind them had vehicles on them, they were never numerous enough to oppose their drive. It was simply a matter of swerving around them. Here on the other hand, there is more traffic.
"We may have a problem gettng through that," Rory said.
"We may have to ditch the bus and take what we can and walk through that mess," Youji grumbled.
As they get closer, they begin to notice something.
"It looks like most of it was pushed aside," Lelei said.
"Yeah, I know what you mean," Youji said. "It looks like somebody got their hands on something to push through all that traffic."
"They noticed that the vehicles were all moved aside by something," Eric said to Samantha.
They drive pass vehicles that have scratches and gouges in their sides, crushed bumpers with broken head or tail lights, and deeply dented doors. Whatever was used, had enough power to push them aside, and had tractor treads as the scuff marks on the asphalt show.
"It looks like a bulldozer was used," Eric said, then said it to Samantha.
"Then it can only mean that as the other survivors were fleeing, one of them got ahold of a bulldozer and used it," Youji said. "A large group must have gone through, otherwise if it were only one person, they could've simply just walked around the traffic and take another vehicle later on."
For what must have been five miles, they pass through a trail cleared through the traffic. They come to the end of that stalled traffic and encounter what had been used: a large yellow bulldozer.
"It's just like the ones that were used to build those buildings back in Alnus," Tuka said.
Their journey continues onward as the morning passes into noon. It is during that time they cross a long causeway. There are some stationary vehicles upon it, but none interfere with their travel.
"Straight up ahead is Astoria," Samantha announced and Eric translated.
"And it is in there that we must make our decision of which route to go," Eric said.
"Hmm, well," Samantha said while studying the atlas as she scratches her head for a moment. "Why not keep driving along the Columbia on the Oregon side?"
"That's one way," Eric answered. "But we could also take the bridge across the Columbia and turn east."
"What's wrong with staying on the Oregon side?" Samantha asked, her tone bearing a hint of annoyance.
"Well," Eric began, "what if a bridge further down is out? Because if it turns out to be so, then we would have to turn around and drive all the way back."
"What's going on?" Rory asked. "It sounds like you two are having an argument."
"We're trying to figure out which route to take once we enter Astoria," Eric answered. "I suggest crossing the Columbia River via the bridge in Astoria, but Samantha suggested that we should continue east on this side until we reach further inland."
"Let's try crossing the Columbia River first," Youji said.
They enter Astoria proper as they weave their way around various vehicles. The typical scenery of damaged buildings and strewn odds and ends is consistent. They see the huge bridge up ahead over the buildings.
"That's quite an impressive bridge," Lelei mused with a hint of awe.
"The route is just up ahead," Samantha said and Eric translated. "It should be obvious when you arrive."
They arrive at the turnoff to the bridge in question. It loops around back rising ever higher as it leads the driver to the bridge.
"The Columbia River," Samantha began with Eric translating, "makes up most of the border between Oregon and Washington."
"It's like the Rho River," Yao said, remembering back on how she had to cross one of the largest rivers on the Falmart continent in order to get to Alnus.
"I don't see anything wrong upon it," Lelei said. "So I guess we can cross."
They drive across the bridge that spans the huge Columbia River. It has only a few vehicles still there, with none of them blocking the road.
"Eric, tell them we are about to enter the State of Washington," Samantha said to him, and Eric told them, as he can see the sign up ahead above them. Moments later. "Okay, we are now in Washington."
They see the end of the bridge, and up ahead where the highway splits in two with one side leading west and the other east.
"Lelei, go east," Eric said. "Anotherwords, right."
Lelei does so upon reaching the turnoff and they travel onward. Over ten minutes later down that road, they are forced to stop.
"Ah, fuck it!" Samantha growled loudly. "The bridge is out!"
They all get out and look. The bridge that spanned a stream is now gone.
"There was a huge flood here," Tuka said.
"She's right, there are mud stains and twigs on the road," Yao added.
"So I guess we have to go back to Or-ee-gone and travel along the other way then," Lelei said.
"That we will," Youji sighed with a growl as he stares at the missing bridge with one eye closed and rubbing his head in annoyance.
"I wonder why they didn't put up some sort of sign stating that the bridge would be out?" Rory asked.
"Maybe this happened only recently," Youji suggested. "After all, there was that huge rainstorm two days ago."
"Man, it looks like I was wrong about this side," Eric fumed.
"It can't be helped, Eric," Rory said.
"No, I guess not," he sighed.
"You're just upset that the route you wanted us to take turned out to be a dead end," Lelei said.
Blunt. Youji, Kamikoda, and Kurihama thought simultaneously. In Japanese culture, such an observation would not be verbalized as it would have been considered rude. Samantha of course was left wondering what that exchange was all about.
Fuck this language barrier. She cursed inwardly.
They return to the state of Oregon and drive along the Columbia due east. They pass through the hamlets and villages along the highway, and even the vehicles that are by the side of the road. After an hour of driving, they reach a village named Rainer, where they encounter another bridge to take them across the Columbia. The drive across it is uneventful and they encounter no vehicles upon it.
Once again they enter the State of Washington, and at the same time enter a large town named Longview.
"Okay," Samantha said while staring at the atlas and Eric translates, "there's a chart at the top of the page that shows the distance between certain places within a state. It just so happens that it has it between Seattle and Longview."
"So what is it then?" Youji asked through Eric.
"One hundred and twenty-nine miles," Samantha answered through Eric.
"What about in kilometers?" Youji asked through Eric.
"It doesn't say."
Youji makes a mental calculation. "So that must be around two hundred and seven kilometers," he finally answered through Eric. "And given the cruising speed we've been going at, and factoring in the traffic we might be encountering along the way, we should reach Seattle in two or three hours."
The drive through Longview is somewhat tricky as it is a town that once had some thirty thousand people in it, so there are plenty of streets and turnoffs that don't lead directly to where they want to go. As expected there are vehicles in the roads and off them, crashed or not, abandoned or still with their rotting passengers. And the varying degrees of looting and vandalism throughout the town.
"That sign up ahead is pointing the direction to Seattle," Samantha stated, of which Eric verfied.
"Since there are no vehicles moving around," Lelei said. "I'm taking a shortcut to get to the highway that will take us to See-at-all."
She turns the bus down a road meant for oncoming traffic only, bypassing a complex set of roads that would have led them onto Highway Route Five below.
"That . . . was direct," Samantha mused.
They head north to where Seattle and Apreggio await them. They continue driving along passing more traffic and even swirving around it.
"Hey guys," Eric spoke up. "I think Samantha should know about the origin of Hardy's Plague because she will be finding out one way or another."
Eric proceeds to tell Samantha the origin of the so-called Brazilian Flu. After his explaination, Samantha gapes with shock as she is pie-eyed and her irises are pinpricks. She tries to speak, but is so overwhelmed at what she had been told that all she can do is work her mouth instead. She turns back in her seat and faces forward, leaning up against the window as she rests her arm up against the window with her hand pressed against her forehead with fingers perched.
"I know the feeling," Eric said.
They travel north in silence as they look out the windows. Tuka takes out her lute and begins playing and singing once again in her native tongue. This time it is a different song, but no less melodic and serene. Samantha listens intently as if spellbounded.
Tuka eventually finishes and Samantha sighs with wonderment.
"That was incredible! The entertainment industry would have loved to get their hands on you!"
"I don't think Elves sing for entertainment," Eric said. "I was told that they are not even taught that. They just pick it up and learn by imitation. Kind of like walking. It's because they are so long lived."
"They're still incredible though," Samantha said as she looks ahead.
She notices a sign and reads it.
"Mount Saint Helen's National Volcanic Monument," Samantha read.
"She read the name of a volcano that erupted over forty years ago," Eric informed the others. "It leveled a whole forest and snowed ash for miles around."
"So this world has volcanoes as well," Rory said.
"That it does," Eric answered. "Some are active, some are dormant, and some are extinct."
"Japan has volcanoes as well," Youji said. "A lot of them too. Mount Fuji is the most famous."
"Oh, that huge snow-covered mountain we saw just outside of Tokyo," Rory said.
"Talking about volcanoes?" Samantha asked Eric.
"Yes, about Mount Fuji."
"Translate the following to them," Samantha said and Eric begins. "Before we enter Seattle, we will be passing through Olympia, the capital of Washington. It will be there that we might be encountering a lot more traffic and other acts of vandalism."
"That is something to consider," Youji said, of which Eric translated to Samantha. "Although if another bulldozer was used further north, then the vehicles might be pushed aside, at least the smaller ones like the cars and trucks."
"That's the hope," Samantha answered through Eric. "Since you guys found me . . . What if . . . ? What if there are more survivors around here who didn't leave? What if we encounter them?"
There is a moment of silence as the group are pondering that.
"Then we will just have to take them in since we have a bus now," Youji answered with Eric translating.
There is more silence as the language barrier between Samantha and the others proves tedious, especially for Eric since he has to be the translator. They continue to travel onward without anyone speaking. It is a long time before anyone speaks because of something that inevitably elicts remarks.
"Olympia, two and a half miles," Samantha said, of which Eric translated. "Then we turn right and pass through a city called Tacoma. And finally, it's Seattle."