The Disillusionists cont'd...

Alexis and Jay were urban animals. If they spotted a deer at the side of the road they would wave, as though it had just stepped out of a video store across the street. They were fully aware of their inadequacies although they would never admit to being afraid. Still, they were particularly ill-equipped for what they had undertaken the previous night or two ago...

They had managed to rendezvous at the correct time and place - Jay's apartment, five-thirtyish and determined who would drive which car and also, which keys belonged to what car... They argued bitterly and for some time over who should lead. Mike had supplied them with a portable GPS unit which neither of them knew how to operate, so they left it behind. They did however, stop on the way to pick up a pair of VHF walkie-talkies because they looked neato and were on sale at Canadian Tire. Finally, at Starbuck's, they decided Jay should lead in the rental car because he was the guy and Alexis would follow in Mike's car with the map because it made her more comfortable.

"Breaker-breaker, good-body..."

"Shut up. I'm trying to concentrate."

Jay could see in the rear-view mirror that Alexis had her dome light on and appeared to be reading the map - for minutes at a time.

"What are you doing?" asked Jay into the tranceiver.

"I'm trying to figure out where we are!" Came the shouted reply a moment later.

"But we just got on the highway."

"I know," she screamed, "I'm just not sure which one."

Although it never occurred to Jay to think, 'What have I got myself into', he did immediately ask, 'How do I get myself out of this?' Mike was insane, there was no doubt about that and although he doubted Mike would actually kill him, Jay wouldn't put it past him to throw acid in his face or maybe break a finger or something worse... Alexis was beginning to scare him too. Maybe she was going to kill him when they got to the woods. He took another quick toke on a pinner he'd brought along and vowed to keep an eye on her from that point on.

Meanwhile, Alexis had tossed the map book into the back seat. She had been out this way before - it was her suggestion in the first place and she was sure she could fing the spot again - "Turn here!"

"Where?"

"Turn right now!"

On it went for miles. After say, an hour, Alexis slipped into a trance like state, watching the way the tail lights looked on Jay's car and how they worked with the music she was listening to. The pavement gave way to gravel. Another hour? Two?