All Is Silence - Deserted Lands #1

Chapter 20 - Part III

They gained on the darkness. Rubi chugged forward. They were going to make it. Don't say anything yet. Mannie drove into the wall of black smoke. Let us come out the other side.

As he burst through, the smoke pushed ahead of the fire by the wind, sucked toward him in the tailwind. Ahead, clear and hazy air greeted him.

Mannie sighed in relief. "Jess. We're clear." He let up on the accelerator and let the Jeep get back to regular cruising speed.

"Really?" Her eyes opened and a weak smile lit her face.

"Sorry." Jess stared behind her as the terror retreated in the distance. "Silly little girl, I guess."

"Fear is... A little fear is a healthy thing." He'd started to say, Fear is how you know you're alive. Something his XO used say. He used to say it, too.

Mannie thought he'd passed all that machismo shit. He could have avoided the fire, spent several more hours taking the long way around, but when the stress kicked in the old tapes played.

Jess was quiet.

The sun was going down by the time they hit old Route 66, now I-40, at Cline's Corner. They picked up salisbury steak dinners from the mini-mart and cooked them in a double-wide mobile home next door. They needed the stove. Mannie walked in. The door was unlocked, no bodies, no scent of decay.

After dinner, Mannie finished his Coke. "Less than an hour to Albuquerque? You wanna go on or sleep here?"

Jess' face twisted up a bit. "I'm okay either way, but I'd rather sleep in a motel. Seems weird sleeping in someone else's bed—like they might show up at any time. I know it's not reasonable, but..."

"No, I understand. Let's move on then." He tossed the can in the garbage on the way out the door.

As they hit the highway Jess pointed at a sign that said Historic Route 66, and started singing, "'Get your kicks on Route 66.'"

When she ran out of words, Mannie sang the first verse; she joined him on the chorus. By the time he ended the song he was grinning, his feelings of stress from the fire faded. "Mi abuelo, my grandpa, Luís, came out West from Chicago on Route 66."

"Cool." An embarrassed smile crossed Jess' face. "I only know it from Cars, that Pixar movie?"

"Might be hard to believe, but I'm not old enough to remember the original song either."

They rolled out of the Sandia mountains to a pink and orange sky. Mannie wasn't sure which was more glorious, the brilliant sunset or the sprinkling of electric lights in Albuquerque. "Okay, first big city. I don't know what to expect."

Her head swiveled, her eyes fearful again. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing." Keep her calm, Mannie. "I don't know. We're, uh, likely to see people. Every place isn't going to be as nice as San Angelo. Let's be cautious."

On the eastern edge of the city they found a bunch of hotels. "Super 8?" Mannie asked. "Beats a Motel 6. Or America's Best?"

"Just a sec. Let me check my phone." Her fingers flew. "There's a Hilton Garden Inn, a bit farther. Twice the price. And more stars."

"Not sure I can afford it." It felt good to smile again after a long intense day.

Jess directed him from her phone's GPS. The place looked like every other mass-produced hotel chain. "I hope it's more impressive inside." He pulled up to the valet parking sign.

"Me, too." Jess snatched her duffel bag and jogged into the well-lit lobby.

Mannie pulled his rucksack from the back and followed more slowly, stretching his legs and massaging his knee.

Jess stood behind the counter. "I got the computer and the key machine going."

"Think you could get us two rooms adjacent?" Mannie leaned over the counter. "If they're not too full."

Her fingers tapped the keyboard. "Better. Here's a room with two queen beds, microwave and fridge. Computer says it has a view."

He hesitated. "I'm not sure—"

"Mannie. This is a big city. You said yourself that we should be more cautious. And after today I can't handle another second of being scared."

"Okay, if it'll make you feel better. I'm knocked out. Haven't driven that much in years. I need a bed to collapse into. Where's the room?"

"Third floor."

Mannie trudged toward the elevator. The lobby's fancy tile and woodwork caused him to chuckle, like they wanted you to think the hotel was old and prestigious. He punched the button for the elevator then changed his mind and took the stairs. They were a contrast to the rest of the hotel, painted cinderblocks and pipes. He was going to take better care of himself and get back in shape. How many doctors had survived?

"Boo!" Jess popped out of the elevator.

"Jesucristo!" Mannie had his rucksack halfway in the air to attack. She grinned at him and jogged down the hall.

Just let me sleep. The room was clean, everything perfectly in its place awaiting the next paying customer. Mannie took the first double. He sat on the bed, tossed the note about towels and room service in the garbage. He slid inside the bedding and debated taking off his pants. No. Who cares about messing up this bed?

Jess bounced on the other bed, then went to the balcony and pulled back the curtains. "The mountains are lovely. Sunrise should be nice. Do you mind if I leave them open?"

Mannie turned to look. The light from the setting sun etched the tips of the peaks against the darkening sky. "Nope. Not going to keep me awake." Evening stars were shining in the blue.

"I've never stayed in a hotel this nice." Jess slipped under the covers. "G'night, Mannie."

"Good night."