Chapter 6

On the road home, Lance drove a little faster than usual, until the pavement ended and road became rougher. Then he slowed a bit to accommodate the uneven surface and ruts. Although it was chilly, he had his window rolled down and one elbow resting on the door, breathing in the clean forest air. It was his tonic, his drug of choice, with its many invigorating and mysterious nuances.

Just after the switch, a flash of blue caught his eye in the trees. Glancing in his rearview mirror to make sure the road was clear, as it usually was; he stopped his truck on the narrow shoulder and got out. Hiking a short distance into the woods, he located the item he had spotted. It turned out to be a tarp tangled in some brush. Inspecting it for damage, Lance was pleased to find it was in nearly-new condition. He folded it up and carried it to his truck. Lucky find! Lance knew he could put it to use.

Crawling back inside the cab, he continued up the mountain. Overhead, clouds obscured the sky and cast the landscape below into gray shadow.