Chapter Seven
Sam made his way back to the clearing where Billy was waiting.
"Well, Bubba, you ready to go?"
"Billy, I was thinking," Sam started. "Do you think maybe I could drive the four-wheeler now?"
"Bubba, don't you remember two years ago, when you almost killed us both? And that was in the field, where there were no trees! Huh, no way you're driving this thing," Billy scoffed.
"Well, that was a long time ago, and I'm a lot older now," said Sam.
"Ha! You can say that again!" Al exclaimed around his cigar.
"Look," Sam continued, having shot his friend a critical look. "I didn't want to tell you this because I knew you would get mad at me. But I've been practicing on your four-wheeler when you're not around."
"What!" Billy looked at Sam incredulously.
"Billy, I'm sorry. I just wanted to get better, and maybe one day be as good as you."
"That's good, Sam," Al said, nodding in approval.
"Well, I have noticed I've been running out of gas sooner than I thought I should. Aw, geez." Billy threw his arms up in exasperation. "Okay, Bubba. Show me what you know," he said reluctantly.
Sam hopped on the vehicle and started it up as Billy got on behind him.
"Now start out real slow, okay?" Billy called over the engine noise.
"Okay!" Sam called back.
Al kept himself centered on Sam as they rode along, and it was rather eerie to see him floating along beside them, passing right through trees. I'm driving the four-wheeler now. Why haven't I leaped? We must still crash in the fog. Just ahead, Sam saw a sharp jagged rock sticking out between some tree roots, and he knew what he had to do.
"Sam, watch out for that rock!" Al called, pointing the flashing handlink at the rock.
Sam ignored him and ran directly over the rock, flattening the left front tire. He stopped the four-wheeler and turned it off. "Uh, Billy, do we have a patch kit? I accidentally hit a sharp rock," Sam lied.
"No, we don't. Why didn't you just go around it?" Billy asked, obviously upset.
"Well, I didn't see it till it was too late." Sam tried to act sorry.
"See, this is why I didn't want ya drivin'. You're just not ready to yet," Billy said, getting more upset.
"I'm sorry," said Sam, sounding more sincere.
"Sam, you've changed history!" Al exclaimed. "Billy doesn't die in a four-wheeler crash, and Jacob doesn't get shot!"
"That's great," Sam responded quietly.
"Yeah, that's real great," Billy said, disgusted. "Now we're gonna have to walk all the way home to get another tire." He turned and started walking back down the trail.
The handlink then squealed loudly. "Uh-oh, Sam," Al continued, alarmed by the news Ziggy had just given him. "Now Billy gets shot and dies out here."