I reached under the seat and brought out a burlap sack. "Here, put it on."
He looked it over and asked, "Why?"
"Your face, it's so..." I blushed, unable to go on. "Nice. You have a nice face."
After a moment, he smirked and donned the sack.
We were soon out of the town limits, despite his negativity. Thick underbrush and green-swathed trunks replaced the lawns and houses.
"Turn right on the one-ten," he instructed, just as I was about to ask.
"How did you know we were...?"
Fredward tapped his bagged head and said, "Built-in radar detector," with what sounded like his trademark uneven smile. "Now we drive until the pavement ends."
"And what's there, at the pavement's end?"
"A trail."
"We're hiking?" Thank the source of all goodness, God, that I'd worn tennis shoes.
"Is that a problem?" He sounded as if he'd expected as much.
"No." I tried to make the lie sound confident.
"Don't worry, it's only a mile, and we're in no hurry."
A mile. I didn't answer so that he wouldn't hear my voice crack in panic. A mile of treacherous roots and loose stones, trying to grope my pale calves, twist my atrophied ankles, or otherwise molest me.
We drove in silence for a while as I contemplated the coming horror.
"What are you thinking?" he asked after a few moments.
I lied again. "Just wondering where we're going."
"It's a place."

255

Chapter 12

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