The Scenic Route – Part 2
January 21, 2000 11:27 PM
The wind is howling on the west side of the mountains creating a very dangerous and blinding situation, snow is whipping through the trees. Nathan kept the van rolling down the road through the white out, rather unnerved at this point, the head lights hardly able to clear a path through the flying powder. The only indication that Nathan was still on the road was the fact that he has not plowed in to any trees yet.
With variable speeds between 35 MPH and 45 MPH he has left the rest of the trucks far behind in the mountain pass. Although he couldn't see, Nathan could hear everything, the variable revving of the engine, the howl of the wind, the suspension and axles as they groaned over the rough snow. Making for a bumpy ride and also the tiny ping of snowflakes smacking the side of the van as Nathan pushed south west.
There is a glimmer of light ahead, shining through the curtain of fluff, it quickly flickered though what was most likely trees as the road took a leftward bend. There was a small sign off to the right, the information snow covered, the van nearly bottomed out in the snow as the road surface changed. Nathan realized he had brough everyone out from the cover of the trees, the wind now slightly rocking the van, he took it slow, seeing the faint light off to the right, the light multiplied and what had looked like a single light before was really many lights. Nathan concluded that he might be on a bridge, a rather small one as the road surface soon became what it once was, back in the cover of trees again.
They were not alone, trucks are parked off the side of the road, their amber lights shining the way around a right curve, a few buildings could be seen behind them, this place seemed to be a rest stop, a very crowded one as the lights of vehicles shined far back in to the forest.
It all soon passes out of view as Nathan proceeds south west along the snow packed highway 37. Up ahead is the flashing amber lights coming around the bend. Nathan lets off the accelerator a bit, slowing down the bouncing van. this causes an awakening as Nathan slams in to a few ruts, the flashing lights getting closer, it's a series of road grader, three to be exact. Plowing the snow away from the road, one after the other in a staggered column, heading north.
Nathan moves as far to the right side of the road as he can. "Hey…." A voice called from behind. Nathan makes an attempt to look back as everything flashes orange as the graders pass by, moving a bit out of the way to go around the van. Dana jumped on the passenger seat just as Nathan moved the van off the snow and on to the freshly cleared gravel surface, making for a smoother ride as the snow continues to blow.
Now having clear cuts in the snow to follow, he can build up a bit of speed, needing to watch out for oncoming headlights as the path way is rather narrow. He was finally able to look over at Dana. "Did you sleep well?"
Dana looked up at Nathan, and spoke softly and somewhat slowly "Kinda, it was ok. Lots of bouncing around."
"Why aren't you talking in my head like you usually do?" Nathan worked around the next bend to the right, the snow still creating a hazard blowing off the trees.
"I don't feel like it." She laid down on the seat as everything shifted around from a rut.
"So how are you feeling about the competition? Feel good?" Nathan looked over at Dana while driving along a straight away.
"Meh…" Dana looked down at her forepaws.
"Nervous? I'm nervous too, there's going to be a lot of people, more then you're used to. More than I've accounted for at least."
"It's not really that, I've been having… thoughts…" Dana sighed and looked up at Nathan.
"Thoughts about what?"
"I know I'm excited to be a part of this team and all, but we are family, and I know I have been acting out lately."
"No kidding Dana, ever since we started this trip you have been really bossy."
"I know, it's just… Nathan, I don't think we should go back. I haven't seen the big city yet. I feel there's more to life than just sitting around in the cold, waiting to freeze to death, I've always worried about Cassandra. We could spend our entire lives in isolation, training for the next big event. I'm just mad because It's not something I want to do, and I have a feeling the others are going to see it the same way when we spend any time in the city."
Nathan reaches over to try and pet Dana on the head, his hand bumps her left ear and it twitches about but Nathan doesn't notice as his eyes are focused on keeping the van in the narrow, quickly disappearing pathway on the road. The plowed section is becoming snowed over once more as the white stuff continues to blow from the mountains and forest, a lot of it easily collecting on the road surface meaning work crews will need to continually clear the road at all hour of the night. The ride gets a bit smoother from the snow padding under the tires, but this also sacrifices traction, making an almost ice-like road surface.
"Is that why you've been pestering everyone really badly?" This time Nathan kept his hands on the wheel.
"I don't want to talk about it, alright." Dana looked out the side window off in to the dark forest. "Let's just enjoy what we have right now. We're gonna go out there and really kick ass, as a team. I know Lily has been practicing some new moves, don't know if you noticed any new life popping up around the house, but she has really been using the dead cold soil to try and grow plants, she has become that strong. The flowers died off rather quickly in the snow, but still it's really cool."
Nathan look a quick look over at the espeon "Come to think of it, I did notice some fresh grass by the tree in the back yard, wondering how it got there. I suspected Lily was behind it bit I didn't bother to ask."
Dana kept watching the trees go by through the whipping sheets of snowflakes as the branches sway about in the wind, causing the howling noise. Up ahead and off to the left are more lights, more vehicles that are pulled in to a clearing off the side of the road. Nathan took note of how most of these trucks are snowed in, unlike the ones back at the rest area and there are hardly any cars here, just trucks. Those drivers are camping out for the night, waiting for either the weather to break or the sun to rise. The sounds of the diesel engines could be heard idling, keeping the drivers inside warm.
"Some of them are wishing they were home right now, to see their families ." Dana spoke up as the lights vanished in the darkness. "I could tell from here, I had a listen. At least they know there safe there. But, if they are parked, why are you still going?"
It took a minute for Nathan to formulate an answer. Dana didn't bother checking his thoughts, she could easily have done so. She was after a more natural conversation with her master. "This van is easy to drive, it might slide a bit, but the wind isn't pushing it around. On top of that the defroster and wipers are keeping the window clear, the tires are not spinning out. for as old as this vehicle is Rob has kept it in good condition." Nathan looked over at Dana and her eyes were glowing a very dim purple, an indication of the use of her powers.
"This van belonged to his dad. After he got it, he made a few changes. Like the artwork on the side." She was searching Rob's mind for memories. "Rob got brand new snow tires put on before he came up here. All the boxes in the back, he came prepared for most situations."
"Alright, you can stop reading his mind now." Nathan jerked the wheel a bit to the left to keep the van on track as it climbs a bit of a hill.
"But it's so interesting in here. Oh, Rob ran away from home after being in an abusive relationship." Dana's tail waved around as she got deeper in to his mind.
"You best be getting out of there, right now." Nathan began to sound a bit concerned over his pokemons intrusiveness.
"Alright… alright… I can't get any farther anyway." The glow from her eyes faded away as she retracted from the depths of Rob's mind. "He has so many mental blocks up, it's a mess in there. Everyone's mind is different. It's really an interesting realm."
"Are you going to use any of those tricks for the competition? I know you've been practicing on how to be very annoying." Nathan attempted once again to pet the espeon as she sat up on the seat. His hand met her head nearly perfectly, his arm bumping her left ear, causing it to fold back.
"We'll see about that. It all depends on how you set up the attack plan, also I do not believe I'm allowed to interfere with the other matches from the sidelines, maybe if you throw me in on a double I can."
"It would defiantly count as support of some kind. Look, they are all packed in to that siding." Nathan stopped petting Dana to point off to the right where more vehicles, mostly trucks are parked nearly bumper to bumper in a pull off, a car merged on to the narrow road ahead of the van. There is someone to follow now. "Looks like we are not along out here."
"I can check them out if you want me too." Dana moved to the edge of her seat and stood there, peeking over the top of the dashboard.
"No, don't be creepy. Please."
"They won't even know I'm there."
"That doesn't make it any less creepy."
"So, what even is the plan for tonight? Are we stopping anywhere?"
"I think there is another town somewhere up ahead, we'll stop there and I'll need to try and let everyone out for a walk. Do you need to go out now, or are you going back to sleep?" Nathan watched the red lights of the car ahead pf him, now having a guide down the road, any problems ahead and the car will be the first to go.
"Nah, I'm good for now, and I've gotten a lot of sleep lately, I think everyone else might be waking up soon as well."
"That will wake Rob up for sure."
"I think Rob might be headed for a bit of a bad time."
Nathan took a quick look at the espeon as she spoke. "What makes you think that?"
"I have my reasons, but don't worry about it. I'm sure you'll be fine. After all, I can't see the future."
"You can't? I thought your powers let you see in to the future."
"I only take what I know to be fact and then use that to make a good guess, it's a very common practice you should look it up some day."
"So any guesses about this wind letting up?"
"Nopppeee." Dana said in a snarky tone. "Hold that wheel tight and try to keep the wheels on what's left of the road." She was right, the road was snow covered again, and Nathan was now following in the tire tracks of the car ahead of them.