Chapter 2

20 minutes later they were all sandwiched into Jack's truck. Katie was driving, Teal'c sat in the front seat, and Jonas, Jack and Sam were squashed together in the back. As soon as they were on their way Katie put in her new CD. Tchaikovsky 's '1872 Overture' filled the car. Jack groaned.

-Do we have to listen to classical music?

-Aw, come on, dad. It's good for you.

-Yah, right.

-I'm serious. Studies have shown that listening to classical music can improve your IQ. I mean, how do you think Sam, Jonas and I got so smart?

Jack looked thoughtful, trying to decide if she was joking or not. He finally decided there might be some truth to what she said and allowed himself to relax and attempt to enjoy the music. His relaxation quickly came to a halt when Teal'c started a conversation that was bound to happen.

-O'Neill, this...carnival to which we are going...what is it? Is this another place where animals are incarcerated for the enjoyment of spectators?

-No Teal'c, there are no animals. It is however, a place where people go to have fun.

-What does one do, if there are no animals to stare at?

-Well, there's games and rides and all kinds of food and...

Suddenly Jonas interrupted.

-Did you say food?

Katie smiled. No matter what planet they went to, no matter what kind of civilization lived there, it never failed that Jonas would enjoy all the food that that culture had to offer. His favorite food, however, remained milkshakes and onion rings.

-Jonas, you wouldn't believe all the food that there is. You've got funnel cakes, nachos, caramel apples, cotton candy...

Katie's voice trailed off. She looked in the rear view mirror and saw Jonas staring wide-eyed, practically drooling at the thought of all that food. Jack sighed.

-You know, I never saw what all the fuss was about carnivals. There's a bunch of hicks wandering around a Podunk town filled with greasy food and a bunch of hustlers waiting to swindle you out of your money. What's so exciting about that?

Katie rolled her eyes at her father's cynicism.

-There are so many things cruvas with what you just said that I don't even know where to begin. First of all, you're getting Colorado mixed up with Alabama and Georgia. There are no hicks in Colorado. Second, Matherton is not a Podunk town but an active metropolis. Thirdly...

Jack sighed again.

-Ok. Maybe I miss spoke.

-Maybe?

-Ok, ok, so maybe I'm just feeling overly cynical tonight because we're gonna be sidelined for the next week or two.

Sam smiled.

-You know, Colonel, we really could handle a mission or two without you. I mean, there are four of us.

-Gee, I feel loved and needed.

-I didn't say we didn't need you, I just said we might be able to take care of things a little while.

He nodded.

-At any rate, it will give me a chance to catch up on my reading.

Jack exchanged a smile with Katie.

Jonas cleared his throat.

-So, uh, Katie...are we anywhere close to being there? If I'd known it was so far away I would have brought along a banana or something.

Katie smiled. That boy had a one-track mind.

-Don't worry, Jonas, your stomach doesn't have to wait much longer. We're here.

They pulled into the parking lot of the Kerekgyarto carnival.