The Road Home by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 61

The drive to the Teton Valley would take just over two weeks, barring any accidents along the way. As the map indicated, route 90 was dotted with several towns, and the girls stopped at each one of them. Winter meant skiers, and that meant tourism, so the highway had been kept clear of snow and ice, allowing Maya and Aurora safe passage to the Valley. Somewhere along the way, Maya decided it was time to gas up, and having passed through the towns of Wolf Lodge, Canyon, and Cataldo they stopped at Pinehurst. The town seemed larger than those they had already seen, giving them the impression that there was more to be had in the way of resources, and the one resource they most needed was gas. Maya drove off Route 90 and, wandering through town, noticed the needle on the gas gauge was close to empty.

“Shit,” she said. “We’re running on fumes.” But as luck would have it, they soon spotted the ‘Carousel Gas and Tire’ station, and stopping in the parking lot, Maya got out and found the cap for the station’s tank. Trying several times, she found it impossible to open and, getting down on one knee, discovered it to be frozen. “God damn it,” she began.

Turning back to Aurora, she informed her of the setback and what needed to be done in order to get back on the road.

“It won’t budge,” she began. “Aurora, I’m sorry, but we’re going to have to siphon gas from cars.” Aurora closed her eyes in despair, knowing what she would likely see, but if she could learn how to perform this task, it might serve as a distraction from the wretched sight of death that likely resided behind the wheel.

“Aurora,” she said. “Can you teach me how to do this? It can’t be that hard.”

Maya couldn’t possibly do everything, and now saw an opportunity to further the existing division of labor that would be more advantageous to both and speed up the things that needed to be done. “Yeah, sure,” she replied. “It’s actually pretty easy. Do you know where the gas cans are?” Aurora was already on her way to the RV’s hold and opening the door removed one of two siphons, but as she was about to close the door she noticed a second gas can – this one was full. “Um, hey, Maya,” she began. “You said we were out of gas, right?”

Maya nodded as she walked to the nearest car and began removing its gas cap.

“Well,” she continued. “Did you realize that there was another gas can in here? And this one’s full.” Maya felt like an idiot and cursed under her breath seconds after removing the car’s gas cap. However, she had to see it for herself and walking over to the RV, saw that in fact, there was another gas can nearly filled to the top.

“Son of a bitch,” she said. “God, I feel stupid.” Aurora tried to calm her using something she understood quite well – logic.

“I don’t think that this is really that much of a mistake,” she said.

Maya looked at her as though she had been struck stupid.

“What do you mean?” she asked.

Aurora motioned to the empty gas can. “Yeah, we need more gas,” she began. “But we can fill the tank and the empty gas here if we can find enough cars.”

As much sense as this made, Maya knew that they were going to encounter what they did not want to see or smell, and tried to think of a way to siphon gas from cars while avoiding what they contained. She also knew that if both of them carried this out, the work would go twice as fast. “Alright,” she said. “I’ll show you how to do it, then we have to work quickly. The idea of getting near these cars gives me the creeps, and I don’t want to start puking again.”

Aurora nodded and asked if there was another siphon in the RV.

“Yes,” Maya replied. “Over there behind the other gas can.”

Now, she remembered grabbing a second siphon as they rummaged through the gas station at Cle Elum just before Jackson was killed, and surmised that the trauma of his demise must have interfered with her memory. Now, she would teach Aurora how to perform this simple task, but first, she needed to fill the RV’s tank, then they could each fill both gas cans. It was a brilliant plan as long as they could avoid looking inside the cars.

They started with the cars nearby and approaching the first, Maya began the lesson as she removed the vehicle’s gas cap. With older cars, it was far easier – a simple twist was all that was needed. Newer cars, however, required a key and that was usually on the ring with the other key – in the ignition. Unless the car was empty, access would be avoided. As they investigated each car, they noticed to their relief that they seemed older than 1980 and their gas caps could be easily removed. This allowed both to work quickly but checking on Aurora, Maya noticed her wandering toward the front of one of the cars she was supposed to be siphoning from. She knew that Aurora had never seen smallpox before – at least not up close. “Aurora!” she yelled. “What are you doing?” Aurora was silent as she leaned towards the closed window. Curiosity had overcome Maya’s voice as well as common sense.

“Aurora!” Maya yelled. “Get the fuck away from there, now!”

With daylight in full bloom, the inside of the car was clearly illuminated and to Aurora’s shock laid the liquefied remains of what was once human. Determining their gender was impossible, as much of their anatomy had rotted away. What was worse, the body left heavy stains on the front seat and as Aurora leaned closer, she discovered the odor of death seeped through the closed edges where the window met the frame. As if the sight of melting tissue wasn’t enough, she had to contend with the smell as Maya’s voice finally grew louder. In fact, she had quickly walked up to Aurora with the intent of pulling her back to the task at hand. But her arrival was too late and Aurora, having her senses invaded by both the sight and smell of mortality, forced her back, sending the contents of her stomach rushing up into her mouth and out onto the ground.

Falling to her hands and knees, Aurora cursed her foolishness as her breakfast was soon followed by the regurgitation of bile.

“Fuck!” she said. “What the hell was I thinking?” Maya stood by with her back against the car and arms crossed, waiting for her to recover. After several minutes, Aurora stood up despite the pain in her stomach, and wiping her mouth down her sleeve, expressed her regret.

“God damn it,” she said. “I fucking hate puking.” Maya stood unmoving against the car and with a casual tone replied to her embarrassing situation. “Well,” she began. “No one likes to puke, and it ‘was’ your turn.”

Coughing up the last bit of vomit, Aurora managed a few words of animosity while holding up a middle finger.

“Go fuck yourself.”

A smile quickly came to Maya’s face as she made the perfect response.

“Well,” she began. “I’d like to, but I’d prefer you did that to me.”

Aurora was quick to recover and walking to the RV for a bottle of water turned back a smile. “You’re such a slut,” she began. “I guess that’s one of the reasons I love you.”

Maya swiftly moved in on her and before Aurora could step into the RV, she grabbed her around the waist and pulled her back.

“You got that right, girlfriend,” she said. Kissing Aurora on the back of the neck, she aggressively moved her hands up and passionately gripped her breasts.

“You know the saying: turnabout’s fair play,” she said.

This would escalate quickly, but there was one thing Aurora needed to do.

“You can’t kiss me until I get some water first,” she said. “Not unless you want a mouthful of puke.”

Maya was already too worked up to care and, with a firm slap on Aurora’s backside, followed her into the RV and retrieved a bottle of water for her. Making sure all the doors were locked and all the windows were closed, Maya began undressing her as the bottles of water were quickly emptied. It wasn’t the vomiting that aroused her, it was seeing Aurora on her hands and knees, displaying her shapely bottom. In Maya’s eyes, she was perfect – a work of art. Any other woman she had been with could never come close in physique or sexual energy. Aurora was a true goddess.