The Sole Survivors' Club

Chapter 13

PART TWO: DALLAS

Monica wandered around the outside of the gas station to stretch her legs. Carl made frequent use of the rest stops whenever Monica started panting, but she wasn’t tense from sitting too long. The cramps in Monica’s legs were the result of her efforts to find a nonexistent gas and brake pedal.

The better part of the trip was accompanied by random thumps when her foot stamped the floorboard. At times, she sounded like she was attempting a drum solo.

Carl wasn’t a bad driver, but he wasn’t cautious enough for her preference. He said nothing about her protests, though he did roll his eyes or smirk at her whenever she thumped the floor with a steady beat.

Once, in an effort to calm her with levity, he shook his head and said, “Nope, I don’t know that one. You’ll have to hum it.”

Monica made two laps around the building before Bernice exited the store. Crossing the sidewalk to the payphones, Bernice passed Monica a plastic bag filled with snacks and bottled sodas.

Bernice pulled a newspaper out from under her arm and partially unfolded it to display top half of the front page. “They’ve found the cause for that plane crash, but for once, it wasn’t a random mechanical failure.”

She pointed out a paragraph on the front page as she read aloud, “The plane hit a pocket of intense turbulence just before the electrical systems failed. They suspect the plane hit ball lightning.”

Monica took a soda from the bag, her face filling with uncertainty while she twisted off the cap. “If a plane was hit by lightning, it could just be a random failure, right?”

“Yes, but even if it isn’t, I don’t think it was the...” Sighing, Bernice shook her head. “I can’t say it. It just sounds crazy.”

“If I hadn’t already seen them before, I would have had a harder time believing the truth.” Monica followed Bernice back to Carl’s car, a dark grey Audi Quattro. “You can’t see anything, so you’ve got to take it on faith alone that we aren’t crazy.”

She handed Carl a soda, and he muttered a quick “Thanks” before he set it on the roof of the car.

He glanced toward the highway while he pulled the nozzle from the gas pump. “Monica, would you mind driving for a few hours?”

Frowning, Monica asked, “You’ve got a research trip in mind?”

“Yes. I’ve had an uneasy feeling for the last hour or so.”

“Really?” Bernice remarked, her lips thinning in a smirk. “One certainly couldn’t tell for the number of stops we’ve made”

Carl waved toward Monica. “I had to, or else she was going to hyperventilate.”

“I wouldn’t panic so much if you weren’t driving so fast,” Monica said.

“We’re still making good time, right?”

Monica shrugged and took a drink from her soda. “I’ll end up driving slower, you know.”

Carl smiled as he patted the trunk. “I’m letting you drive my baby, so I appreciate you being careful with her.” He returned the gas nozzle to the pump and closed the cap.

Wandering back to the driver’s side, he leaned into the car to push the trunk release. “Hey, Bernice, while I’m in the bathroom, can you get me a bottle of milk and a sandwich, please? I’ll need it to recover.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer trying alcohol again?” Bernice teased. “That worked wonders for both of you.”

Carl grinned sheepishly. “No, I like keeping my stomach where it belongs.”