Chapter 5

Christine lifted her new black North Face duffel bag onto her bed, leaned over, pressed her torso across it to compress it as much as possible, tugged on the turquoise compression straps and zipped the last zipper. It was filled with all the items she would need for camp; some of which she considered superfluous but she knew better than to object to their inclusion in her supplies. If she didn't take and use bug spray sunscreen religiously, her mother would rescind the hard-won approval she had granted for the trip. Her father had presented her with a Petzl headlamp in turquoise (her current favorite) along and a silver multi-tool with numerous fascinating attachments. He'd explained and demonstrated in detail the various features of both implements, after which she'd had to practice using them until he was satisfied with her familiarity with and understanding of both. Her impatience with this drill had earned her a lecture from him about being prepared for emergencies. Her mother had added a lengthy commentary about the value of self-reliance, and a muttered reference to her own life having once been saved by such knowledge. Her parents had shared a long look at each other which Christine didn't understand, but she caught the serious nature of their concerns.

As she exited her room with the duffle over one arm, her father came down the hallway and took it from her. "You'll be lugging this thing around soon enough, let me take it to the car for you, honey," he smiled.

"Thanks, Dad!" she grinned at him. "I've got everything I need and then some! I can't wait to get there!"

Her mother met them at the bottom of the stairway. "I put some stamped postcards in your bag, Christine. Please write one and send it every few days. They will let us read of your experiences and give you a nice memento of your summer adventures," Brennan assured her.

"Okay, Mom, I will! Can we go now? Please? I'll remember everything you both told me, I'll be extra careful, and I'll-"

"Christine, honey, you forgot the most important thing," Brennan cautioned her.

"Oh, Mom, you've told me everything I need to do; what else could there be?"

"Have fun!" her mother exclaimed.

"That I can do!" Christine responded happily.

An hour later, they pulled off the highway into Hagerstown and soon found the Kenneth Weaver Geological Park Visitors Center. Its parking lot was filled with cars, parents, campers, and gear stuffed into brightly colored backpacks or duffle bags. Christine spotted Michael Vincent, Angela, and Jack Hodgins and their mini-Cooper. Michael yelled at Christine in excitement. A yellow school bus was waiting to carry campers and luggage to their first campground. A man wearing a Navy ball cap spoke into a bullhorn. "Folks, I'm Navy Captain John Sowell. I'm in charge of the Naval Academy Summer Science Discovery Program. We're going to take your youngsters to several different campsites throughout the next two weeks, to visit various protected natural resource areas. We've obtained special permission to conduct this camp session within strict guidelines to protect the places they'll see. We have to restrict visitor access to preserve these sites, so tell your kids goodbye and let's get their adventures underway. We'll meet you back here Sunday after next when camp is concluded. These young people are fortunate to have the chance to study the natural resources of their state, so we hope you understand our arrangements to keep them pristine for years to come."

"Okay, guys, have a good time, be careful, and watch out for each other," Booth said, hugging his daughter. Brennan and Angela followed suit, kissing their kids despite squirming disapproval. Jack squeezed Michael's shoulder and said, "Son, hope you and Christine have a great experience; just use common sense and keep your eyes open to what's going on around you."

Shouldering their backpacks, Michael and Christine took them to the bus luggage bins, whose doors were open wide to receive their gear. Then they climbed aboard the bus, found seats, and hung out of the windows, waving at their parents with high-spirited grins.

"Bye, see you soon! "

"Finish writing your book, Mom!"

"Don't worry, we'll be fine!"

Finally, all the campers and luggage were on the bus, goodbyes were said, and the driver closed the doors and revved his engine a bit to pull away out of the parking lot and trundle down a graveled road.

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"What do you say we go find a restaurant in Hagerstown and have some dinner together?" Booth suggested.

"Sounds good to me, follow me to Angie's favorite gourmet restaurant. It's run by a college friend of the Carlie's Kitchen owner," Jack Hodgins offered.

"Bren, you'll love their macaroni and cheese sampler plate. Booth, you'll probably be able to eat two orders, it's so scrumptious!" Angela promised. "See you there!"

As they followed the mini-Cooper down the street, Brennan muttered, "It's gonna be a long two weeks, Booth."

"Don't you know it!" her husband agreed.