The Viking Seal

CHAPTER 6 - Into The Great White North

Gretta drove with a practised ease and confidence. The van handled like a dream and everyone relaxed in comfort enjoying the scenery. For Melanie's benefit, Gretta took some secondary roads, weaving her way north through vast areas of white, blanketed farmland, undeveloped bush and lines of evergreens that staggered across the horizon.

They made a brief stop in Beaverton for some freshly baked Chelsea buns from the local bakery and then followed 23 up to 169, making a coffee stop in Washago. Melanie expressed an almost childish delight over the names of the towns they passed like, Brechin. Udney. Washago. Lake Couchiching, remarking on how different they were from those in Asyut. Everyone laughed and she endured a few minutes of good-natured teasing.

When they couldn't take the time to detour to Casino Rama, where the signage announced the appearance of Engelbert Humperdinck, she was a little disappointed. The Washago stop was in the small roadside restaurant, where they enjoyed hot coffee and toasted Danish, regretting the fact that they had filled up on buns earlier.

Gretta explained the next portion of the trip, and Stone kept nodding as vague memories of his youth surfaced.

"We take highway 11 the rest of the way and the bookstore is just off the highway at the turn-off for Leadmont."

"How long will the drive take?" Mel asked.

"From here, about four hours. I could do it in less but we don't want any traffic problems or police interference. A low profile is our goal here."

"The bookstore people will know different," Arnold pointed out.

"Yes, but Cheesy already explained to them the need for discretion. We'll be fine. Just two couples doing the tour bit."

"Everybody like the coffee okay? I've got a collapsible thermos in my kit; we can fill it up for the drive and have it whenever we want."

"Sounds good to me." They all agreed, and Stone slipped out to the van to get his thermos.

"I'm going to the john." Arnold excused himself and left the two women to chat.

"Are you and uh, Arnold . . . together?" Mel asked after a few moments.

"Yeah, we are. We share his apartment. Have for the past four years." Gretta studied the other woman. "What about you guys? Stone said you both stayed together."

Melanie blushed, nodding. "I hated him at first. He was so- so arrogant and charming." She laughed at the description. "Actually, both my father and I owe him our lives. I guess you know the story by now."

Gretta nodded. "Cheesy is nothing if not gossipy. In spite of everything though, that must have been a real find, your dad must have been very excited."

"It was. He was—but it cost him. He's in hospital back home. It doesn't look great."

"I'm sorry. Stone mentioned the malaria bouts. Funny," Gretta changed course. "Arny was like you. He was livid with me when I practically kidnapped him to Mexico. Actually I did kidnap him." They laughed together and put their conversation on hold as Stone returned with the thermos.

"We all set?"

"Just waiting for Arny- oh, here he comes. I'll grab the bill for the table." Gretta joined Stone at the counter while Mel and Arny went out to the van.

The traffic was moderate on the way up number 11 and they sailed past Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, Burke's Falls and finally they stopped in Sundridge for a gas top-up. The temperature dropped gradually but steadily, and the amount of snow still hanging around was impressive. Stone and Melanie were grateful for the Gortex vests provided by CONGA.

Everyone took a washroom break and Stone found a diner where he refilled the thermos. Gretta gassed up the van, paid the bill and waited for the others. They followed the shore of Bernard Lake then swung north again to South River, Trout Creek and Powassan.

Melanie scribbled all the names in a notebook; she found them fascinating, along with the frozen smaller bodies of water that dotted the bush flanking the highway, exclaiming excitedly when she spotted a house on a tiny island or a moose standing statue-like among the naked trees.

The traffic grew heavier as they neared North Bay and except for a fleeting mention of Callander, where the famous quintuplets were born, most of the scenery was industrial. Gretta pulled up to the light and made a right turn through town. The day was getting duller and the sky seemed to press down on the landscape as they passed through the hub of North Bay and climbed the steep grade leading out of the town.

At the top of the grade, the Husky Truck Stop was filling up with tired truckers who wanted a good meal, a shower and some comfortable shut-eye. Huge logging semis stood silently on the gravel lot, tame monsters waiting to be revved to life and back on the highway. Stone filled mugs from the thermos, and the van sped north without stopping.

Between Marten River and Temagami, they caught up with another monster logging truck and had to stay behind it all the way to Latchford, giving the quartet a chance to appreciate the scenery of winter covered, frozen lakes and rugged rock formations with their snow-filled crevices.

"This is still in Ontario?" Mel inquired.

"Yep. It goes for a long way yet," Arny said.

"I had no idea . . . " She caught Stone's smile and punched his arm. "Quiet, you."

"Okay, the Leadmont turn-off is just up the road a bit," Gretta announced. "I suggest we go right on into town and pick up a motel. We can go on to the bookstore in the morning when we're fresh and rested. It's only another twenty minutes or so up the highway."

"Sounds good. I could use a shower and some decent food." Arny folded up his roadmap and stuffed it in the glove box. She swung the wheel and they curled into the turn-off to town.

The town of Leadmont had made a big effort to keep the place neat and tidy, and the twisty streets gave the place a quaint feel with its mining museum and a theatrical playhouse. They passed the old train station, now a war museum, and followed the turns out of town along the short stretch to the motel area.