It was a beautiful place, Luka thought as he pulled into a scenic point that had been designated as a rest stop along the highway. He wasn't one to gush over scenery very much. A place was a place, regardless of the charming lakes or pretty tree covered hills. Still, the high mountains with their peaks already covered with snow and sides rolling with lush green growth were breathtaking. He had taken all the mandatory courses involved in becoming a U.S. citizen, but he had never really seen the song " America the Beautiful" as anything but propaganda until that summer. The Rocky Mountains rose up all around him and he stood for a moment, letting the sensation of awe wash over him. Luka wasn't a religious man by any means, he hadn't stepped foot in a church since his wife and children were killed, and he had serious qualms about the idea that they were being directed into a confrontation between good and evil, but as he looked out over the mountains, he could accept that a higher power would make a place that looked that beautiful.
" Its pretty isn't it?" He spun around at the sound of Jeanie's voice. She was sitting astride her motorcycle, taking off her helmet. She grinned at him. " You look lost in thought."
" I didn't even hear you pull up," he admitted. He gestured out to the gaping scene before them. " Its a lot to take in at once."
She nodded. She got off of her motorcycle and came up beside. He put his arms around her, and for a long moment they stood in companionable silence. " This summer has been hard," he said softly into her ear, " but having you here makes it easier." That was something he had no doubt about at all. He also knew instinctively that he would not have her for long. It was a bittersweet feeling, but one that didn't overwhelm him. He accepted it. He had to. All the talk of a cure was pointless. No matter what he wanted or what he did, she would die. But not today, he thought, and hopefully not for a while.
They broke apart as the growling hum of motorcycles reached them. It was Doug, with Carter not far behind. Randi was riding behind Carter, more out of enjoyment than actual necessity. They were short a cycle, and Dave had not kept his own. Still, four people could easily ride in the extended cab of the truck. Randi had simply, and loudly, declared her preference to ride in " Carter's bitch seat". Luka had seen a few biker movies and knew what she meant, but Carter had been more than a little surprised to discover she simply meant riding behind him on the bike. They all rolled to a stop.
Carter took off his helmet. He had the look of an excited little boy. He fairly jumped off the cycle and strode over to the guard rail. " Look, " he said as he pointed out over the rail. " You can see the lodge from here."
Luka followed his gaze. Deep in the valley, surrounded by pine trees, he could just see a large shingled roof. Yes, he thought tiredly, he's actually calling a three story mansion a hunting lodge. At some point, he decided, I'm going to give him a little talk in perspective. " Do you think we could make it there by tonight?"
" If we aren't there in an hour, we're just not trying very hard." Carter fairly bounced with excitement. " It was only a five minute ride into town and then maybe five or ten more to the house." That translated to more than two hours considering how jammed up the roads were but Luka didn't say anything. He didn't want to bring the younger man down. And then, he considered, the roads had gotten much better during the last few hours. The area hadn't been heavily populated and it looked as though people hadn't panicked. There were a few stalled cars here and there but the truck had been able to keep up fairly well all day.
" Where is the truck?" Jeanie asked. She was clearly thinking much as he was, that the roads weren't so bad.
" They pulled over a few miles back." Doug said quietly. " I think Kerry was throwing up on the road side. I'm beginning to think she's allergic to all the broad spectrum anti-biotics. What's his name, Malucci, was driving so they'll be ok."
Luka didn't know what to think of that. Kerry was ill, there was no doubt of that. She had been feverish that morning, enough that she had readily handed the car keys over to Dave without a word of protest. He was starting to wonder if she had picked up a strain of food poisoning. We'll try intravenous antibiotics tonight, he promised himself. The oral kind had a tendency to make anyone upset to their stomach and he wanted to see if it was really a reaction to the drugs or an actual illness.
" We can wait for the truck if you guys want to go on ahead," he said, after a moment. Carter jumped back on his cycle almost as soon as the words left Luka's mouth, with Randi not far behind. Luka smiled. It was nice to see someone in their band of travelers look happy and excited. Carter had the look of a little boy that was hyper on the notion of bringing his friends home. Randi was more subdued and Doug was down right somber as they pulled away.
" Think he knows that we're going to confront him?" he asked Jeanie as he turned himself back to face her.
" I think he knows something's up." Jeanie allowed, " but I don't think he knows what. He probably thinks we're mad that he walked off last night when we were talking."
" I am mad about that." Luka felt his temper start to flair again. " We are in this together until we get to where we are going." Despite the long talk the night before, he wasn't ready to say that he had completely tossed aside their earlier plan to head to Carter's family hunting lodge, and was now committed to going to Boulder. He had even said so at the close of the discussion. " Drunk or not, depressed or not, he could be helping instead of just... wallowing."
Jeanie shrugged. " Why get yourself worked up now? Besides, he hasn't exactly been carried all the way by the rest of us. And it was pretty brave what he did, walking into that camp after Lucy."
" Jeanie, it was suicidal." He didn't know how to say what he really thought, that Doug was trying to find a way to die. He wasn't sure if it really was a suicidal tendency. Doug was looking for a way out, but clearly the man didn't consider suicide an option. If he did, he would most certainly have done it. There were enough options available that the man could have done it long ago.
" Doug's always been a little self destructive," Jeanie said after a moment of thought. " Its not just this situation. He sabotaged himself a lot. I mean, Carol loved him and it was obvious but their relationship was pretty rocky because of him."
" Still..." Luka didn't really want to argue, not over Doug, but he couldn't help but think that they all tended to excuse his behavior. It was a double standard, as Kerry had pointed out, but it worked more in Doug's favor than hers. They had kept a much closer eye on her and it was because she had a spectacularly violent nervous breakdown, not because she was crippled or a woman. The simple truth was, there had been times were he had been afraid that she would kill them all in their sleep. It had crossed his mind more than once early in their journey, when she had been behaving in an increasingly withdrawn manner. Doug's drinking, by comparison, had been a mild symptom of depression that was easily ignored. It was only as time had passed that it had gotten more noticeable, but at the same time, his concern about Kerry had lessened. It was hard, he thought, to worry about the drunk in our midst, when the crazy person was much more of a concern. " I'm just glad we're going to talk to him about it."
" So am I," Jeanie agreed. They waited quietly, neither having much to say. In truth, while the decision to talk to Doug made him feel relieved, he wasn't looking forward to the confrontation. It wasn't going to be pleasant and made worse by the fact that they had ignored it for so long. They were planning on spending a few days at Carter's place, to rest up, and then head to Boulder. They could use the rest. He was tired, and unlike most of his companions, he hadn't been recently attacked or fallen ill. So far he had been lucky. He looked forward to the break, even if it was going to be fraught with arguments. He just hoped they didn't get stuck there. It was the third week of August. He wasn't a snow person, or from Colorado, but he knew winter started early in the mountains. If they spent too much time at the lodge, they ran the risk of getting snowed in. The direction to Boulder was south, but over high mountains, and he'd already noticed a brisk edge to the wind at the higher elevations.
The truck came into view as it turned the corner and started down the clear stretch of highway towards them. The engine hummed just as smoothly as ever, but Luka was struck suddenly by how quickly the new had worn off the vehicle. Then again, he allowed, all of the cycles look like we rode them to death. It had been some pretty hard miles they had put on all the vehicles. He waved at them, and they obliged by pulling over. Dave was still driving, which was something of a surprise. Kerry was very territorial over the truck.
Both Dave and Lucy, who was riding in the passenger seat, got out as soon as the truck rolled to a stop. " Hey, " Dave said brightly, " what's the plan?"
" Where's Kerry?" Jeanie asked.
" Asleep in the back seat." Lucy responded tiredly. " And could we not wake her up for a while? She is really not a fun person to be locked in a small confined area with when she's sick. I'm depressed enough already. Listening to her go on and on about the societal effects of the plague gets pretty bad after a while."
" The first two hours was interested," Dave interjected, a smile on his face, " but then she started throwing up. Its definitely a reaction to the meds, but I don't think its an allergy. Antibiotics can be pretty hard on your system if you're really run down to begin with."
" And she said she's not allergic." Lucy added.
Dave stepped over to the guard rail. " Hey the view is pretty cool. Looks like where I was hiking in Glacier National Park. Lucy, you should check this out!" He spoke with excitement, but Luka sensed it was a touch forced. Dave seemed like a naturally cheerful fellow but not terribly sensitive and it appeared to be his awkward way of making Lucy feel better. Luka doubted it would accomplish anything but he gave the man plus points for trying.
Lucy, for her part, did walk over to the guard rail. " Its ... pretty. Kind of high though." She paled a little and stepped back. The entire exchange seemed listless, as though she was simply going through the motions of response. Understandable, Luka thought, but worrisome just the same. They would need to keep an eye on her. She had every right to be depressed, and he didn't expect miracles, but it bore watching
" So what's the plan?" Dave asked after a moment.
" We're almost there." Jeanie said brightly. " Carter, Randi, and Doug went on ahead. We waited for you guys. Carter said it was only about an hour drive."
Lucy sniffed. " So its at least three hours away."
" Aw, that's not true," Dave scoffed. " I can do it in two."
" In what fantasy world? You drive like an old woman." Lucy snatched the keys out of Dave's hand in a moment of playfulness and ran back to the truck. Dave gave chase, and in a moment the truck had roared into life.
" They're cute." Luka said as they sped off. " Think they like each other?"
" Oh, maybe as friends," Jeanie said quickly, a smile crossing her face. " She's not ready for that at all, and he's not interested." She chuckled. " I think he's got a crush on Kerry anyway."
" You think?" Luka hadn't seen it but he hadn't been paying much attention.
" He dotes on her." Jeanie said simply. " My mom would have said that he was sweet on her. But listen, we had better get going if we're going to keep up."
" Right." They got back on the bikes. Luka's mind considered everything that was going on and sighed. It would be good to sleep in a bed that night. He needed the break.