Wrought Iron, Book 1 of Merlin's Message

Chapter 4 - We Don't Know Where We're Going

"Hang on!" Mike shouted as he stomped on the brakes of the RV. It was his turn to drive as they traversed a long stretch of empty highway.

Everyone flew forward as tires squealed like terrorized canaries. The RV skidded to the right, and one of the rear tires blew out with an ear-piercing Pow!

Hannah screamed, "Who's shooting at us?"

"It's a blow-out!" Gavin yelled as he hung on to the tabletop.

They all felt the thump-thump-thump of the blown tire.

"Weeee-hah!" Mike shouted as he wrestled the wheel.

Shrieks and thuds bounced off the walls.

Dafydd was napping in one of the bunks, and they heard thumps as he bounced around like a sack of spuds.

The RV stopped and rocked. The engine sputtered, shuddered, and gave out with a loud backfire. Bang!

Everyone exhaled together.

Mike turned around. "Everybody okay?"

Gavin checked on Hannah and Taeko. "Yeah, I think so. What happened?"

"Cow in the road. Tried to drift around it."

"You idiot," Gavin shot back. "You can't drift an RV!"

Mike stood and smiled, "Well, I still think I did a superb bit of driving. I mean, we didn't hit the cow, and we're all okay, right? Taeko, Hannah, you guys okay?"

"We're okay, no thanks to you," Taeko snapped.

"Okay, NASCAR Noob," Gavin cut in, "can you fix the flat on this rented death-trap? Where's the spare and jack?"

Mike shrugged, "Beats me. I can change a tire if the stuff is here. Maybe we can call for some kind of roadside assistance."

"I have no bars on my cell," Taeko remarked calmly.

"Figures," Gavin murmured. "But, yeah. Is anyone hurt?" He looked at Taeko and Hannah.

"You can stop looking at us like that," Taeko ordered. "We're not porcelain dolls."

"I'm only a little shook up," Hannah admitted. "Just see if you can fix the camper."

Dafydd poked his head out. "What's going on?"

Gavin growled and flung the door open, getting out to survey the damage.

"You bonehead!" Gavin stormed at Mike. "How'd you learn to drive, video games?"

"Hey, come on. It would have been a wreck if I'd hit that thing."

"Look, the wheel rim is bent, and you left a big chunk of tire out in the road."

"Okay, okay. Life happens, you know?"

Hannah and Taeko came out, Hannah sniffed the desert air, and Taeko carried a cardboard drink caddy with four cups.

"Let's all have a bit of tea and try to calm down," Taeko smoothed.

Sighing and groaning, they all took a cup.

"Wow. Thanks, Taeko," Mike grinned.

"Don't get used to it," Taeko deadpanned.

"Mike, you gotta get that big piece of tire out of the road. It could cause an accident." Gavin snarled.

"No way. There's some big honking bus or something speeding this way. Besides, I'm sure the driver will see it in time."