Chapter 6: On The Road
After some confusion with the rental car company about his reservation, Steve was able to procure a small, white, slightly rusted 1990 Vauxhall Corsa.
Steve takes the first shift, driving a steady thirty-five miles an hour watching the city of Entebbe disappear and become Kampala. The Corsa makes a Fiat seem spacious.
Kampala is largely flat with stop-and-go traffic by major highway exits. Motorcycles occasionally pass them. Outdoor markets, allow people to park just a few feet from the highway, which becomes more like a main street in some areas. They have the option of parking on either side of the highway at these strip malls, but once you get off the road quickly becomes dirt. They stop to buy some clothes and toiletries. Whatever they can get their hands on that will fit them for a few days. They realize they are being charged "special prices" on everything, but they both see it as charity and move on.
The radio signal goes in and out, playing what has to be, "Have You Seen Her" by the Chi-Lites in Bantu.
Peggy thinks, how do the lyrics fit into the music when a different language has different syllables for those words.
In Kampala, they pick up gas and buy two gas containers and fill them up at a Petro Station. Steve doesn't know where the next gas station will be once they leave the city and he wants to be prepared.
The street markets within the city disappear making way for lush green plains, appearing nearly untouched by man.
"When we pass smaller villages we stop to refuel, I do not want to chance it," Steve says as if giving orders. Peggy looks out the window.
They stop for gas, but they need to stop more for Peggy's sake. She uses nature when there is no restroom between Okeritok and Opyai. She adamantly refuses any help navigating through the brush. As Steve waits he sees a shoebill bird standing four and a half feet tall, like a statue. Steve stares for a good four minutes waiting until he sees the bird blink.
Peggy comes out of the tall grass looking as she did before, not a bobby pin out of place, with her rollator in hand. She gets more attention than she is comfortable with from the locals, making the assumption they do not see a rollator too often.
Being silent this whole time since the car rental agency, the tension between them mounts until Peggy says, "it kinda reminds me of our honeymoon," in an attempt to romanticize the situation.
Steve replies, "you think this reminds you of our honeymoon? Kauai? What here in Uganda looks like it could be in Kauai?"
Peggy, not expecting that type of cynical reaction, is taken aback and shuts down after that. Peggy knows that tone, he is trying to start a fight. In the past, he did this to avoid addressing his present discomfort. Peggy, reading him shift from guilt to anger, determines that silence is better than an argument.
The drive to Moroto, the closest town to the Wakandan border, is typically eight hours, but with all the stops they make it is over ten. As they enter the city she smells freshly awoken earth unlocked by rain, scents such as ghee and eshabwe.
Getting out of the car Steve continues to avoid eye contact with Peggy. Steve is mumbling to himself. She cannot make the words, but she knows better than to ask. He is still itching for an argument to distract him from his feelings.
Steve leaves Peggy in the car without a word exchanged, as he checks into the Mount Moroto Hotel. At sixty-eight dollars a night they could not pass it up. Peggy, recognizing a silver mini-coupe parked in a secluded side of the hotel, the same model Mr. Beige Windbreaker was driving, instinctively freezes. It appears as if the vehicle has been there for a few hours with falling leaves covering the front windshield. But Peggy forgets the vehicle as Steve comes out with the hotel key. With the drastic time change, her thoughts drift to sleeping on their mattress waiting for them in their room.
Chapter 7: Risk Management
"I'll be back before you know it," Steve says attempting to reassure Peggy.
They are sitting in the wood-paneled hotel dining hall with their morning brunch in front of them. The jet lag is still working its way through them. They both woke up hours ago waiting for breakfast.
Hotel guests sprinkled around the hall eat breakfast. They are finishing their katogo with matoke. The decor consists of simple metal chairs with cushions and wooden tables. They hear a baby crying a few tables away. Being the only elderly Caucasians, Steve feels constantly observed.
"You came this far, do you really expect to go further, especially in your condition."
"Your right about one thing, I came this far, the least I can do is to finish this with you."
"Least you can do is stay in bed. If anything happened to you…I won't risk it."
"So I came all this way to stay in bed."
Steve can't win.
Steve can never win with Peggy, giving her a quick knowing smile before guilt swims over him. Looking out a nearby window, he becomes possessed by these thoughts. Peggy's eyes dart back and forth while looking at Steve. She extends a hand which Steve grips tightly.
I need to make this right, Steve thinks. I know this is a different branch of reality and in it, Peggy is vulnerable to die at any moment. I cannot assume she will die the way she did in my former timeline. The way Peggy looks right now, I doubt she has too much time left.
Peggy is pale, her lips are faintly pink. She wears sunglasses and a baseball hat they bought in Kampala.
He cannot see her eyes, but he feels a sadness coming from her. He feels her withholding a need to comfort him. All he can do is avoid her eyes. I need to make this right.
"Hey Sailor, you followin' me," they look up and see Mr. Beige Windbreaker minus the windbreaker but in an aqua polo shirt. Steve pulls his hand away from Peggy's instinctively.
"Hey," Steve replies, bringing himself out of his head and into the present moment, "how long have you been here?"
"I got in yesterday morning. 'ou haven't answered my question."
"Coincidence, nothing more."
"Hmm..if 'ou say."
Mr. Beige Windbreaker is about to walk away with an apple in hand, but a strange thought itches at Steve.
"What are you doing in town, if you don't mind me asking?"
Peggy's eyes expand as Mr. Beige Windbreaker's eyes weigh the question.
"See that mountain over 'ere, well I 'ave a little business then I am going to hike up the mountain."
Steve does not know what "little business" means but knows enough not to pry.
"My name is George and this is my wife Peggy," Steve says. Peggy's eyebrow flinches.
"Mine's Eugene."
Steve looks back at Peggy, all he can think about is keeping her safe. He says something that he knows will come off as old-fashioned and sexist, but he cannot help himself.
"Nice to meet you Eugene, I am driving out of town for a few hours and I was wondering if you can keep an eye on my wife?"
The minute he says it he feels he is off the path. He has done something wrong. She was a pioneering member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a decorated officer of her Majesty's Army during the Great War. This is a stranger, but she is dying, faster every day, and he just wants to get her home to safety. Desperation got him to the point of asking for help.
Not looking at her, Eugene says, "looks like she can 'andle 'erself."
That gets a smile from Peggy who stares Steve down.
"I can give you a couple of bucks," Steve unwittingly slides pathetically deeper into making his offer slimmer and racist. Peggy's upper lip twitches as if smelling something rotten.
"No, please, my pleasure Sailor…I mean Richard, no worries."
Steve exhales, absorbed in his own celebration he missed Eugene calling him by the wrong alias along with keeping both arms behind him, strong body language indicating he is holding something back. Peggy, turning bright red, is distracted by Steve's behavior and misses the cues as well.
Steve smiles brightly as he finishes his coffee, taking in the beautiful skyline before him thinking, things seem to be finally going my way.
