by Russ Watts
In recent years, with the tours growing more popular, a store had been set up next to Kelso Depot, selling a range of souvenirs. It also doubled as a gas station and grocery store. Campers and hikers often passed through and so Maria Johns had taken over the running of it. She was a retired nurse with a quick mind, and she had helped Akecheta many times in the past. Too many times people forgot how unforgiving the sun could be and so most of the time she just attended to tourists for sunstroke and minor complaints.
Akecheta remembered how a few months back he’d had to bring in a Canadian man to Maria. The man had decided that when nature called he would just drop and go in the desert. Unfortunately, he squatted right over a Barrel Cactus and got more than he bargained for. Once she had stopped laughing, Maria had sent him away with some ointment and a red face to match his red ass.
“How about calling 911?” said Mackenzie. “I mean, what the hell was that?”
“My guess is a large earthquake, most likely along the San Andreas fault. We’re pretty much at the tail end of it down here, and we would almost certainly feel anything that was centered somewhere along it.” Chris’s ankle had begun to go numb, and he had got his brain back into something like normal working order. “I wouldn’t like to guess at the magnitude right now, but it was certainly a big one.”
“Centered somewhere along it?” Mackenzie shifted in his seat to try and face Chris. “It felt like we were right on top of it.”
“An earthquake? Jesus.” James clasped his hands in front of him. Already pale, his face grew paler and he tried not to throw up.
“I could be wrong,” said Chris, “but it’s more likely that the earthquake was centered further north. All we felt were the…side effects.”
“Nausea, sweating, headaches; yeah, I’m feeling the side effects all right,” said Mackenzie. He turned back to face the front and held Laurel’s trembling hand. Her cuts weren’t deep, but they covered much of her arms and legs, and he knew she was in pain. He gave her cold hand a gentle squeeze. “Don’t worry, honey, they’ll look after us. Once we get to this Maria’s place, everything will be fine.”
As the bus continued on, Mackenzie wondered. An earthquake? He had never felt one before, and if that was what they were like, he could live happily if he never experienced one again. It was as if the ground had turned to mush. Laurel looked in bad shape. She hadn’t said a word since getting back to the bus. Her hand was gripping his firmly and her eyes were cast down to her feet. He hadn’t seen her look like this before. They led a happy, simple life. This kind of thing didn’t happen to them. It happened on the news, miles away in countries you never visited, to people you never knew. There was something else too that was bothering him: that sound.
Whilst Mackenzie had no experience of earthquakes, and his knowledge was limited to the occasional documentary on the Discovery Channel, he didn’t think they should sound like that. That moaning sound that had echoed across the desert. It had been like a thousand cows all bellowing at once. He couldn’t even explain to himself what it had sounded like, but that was a close as he could think. He hoped to never hear it again.
The bus began to slow, and Laurel let go of her husband’s hand. “We’re here. Mac, let’s just get out of here as fast as we can. I want to see Amy. Let’s just go get her and go home.” She looked across at her husband, tears filling her eyes.
“We will, I promise. Let’s get you attended to first.” He reached up and felt his head. His fingers came back with blood. It was congealed and thick. The bleeding had stopped, and although his head hurt, he could deal with a little pain. He was more concerned about Laurel. “Let’s go see if we can find you some help.”
“Wait,” said Laurel as Mackenzie went to get up. “I was thinking about what Chris said about the earthquake.”
“What about it?”
“If it wasn’t centered here, then wherever it was is going to be in a hell of a lot worse shape than us.”
Mackenzie nodded. “Well true, but my concern right now is you and how we’re going to get out of here. So—”
“So what about Amy? What if San Diego got it worse than us? Oh God, if she—”
Mackenzie took Laurel’s hands in his and stared at his wife. “Listen here, she is fine. You got that? John will look after her, you know he will. I promise, once we get out of here, we are going to get her. I wouldn’t let anything hurt you or her. So calm down, get off the bus, and let’s get you fixed up.”
Laurel nodded as they got up. She leant into her husband briefly. “Thanks, Mac. I know, I know, but I’m just worried with the phones being out. I don’t like being out of touch with her.”
“Well okay then,” said Mackenzie, as his wife grabbed her bag from the spare seat opposite. “We’ll give her a call from the landline and you can talk to her yourself, tell her we’re fine and we’ll bring the vacation forward. We’ll pick her up tomorrow. John will understand given the circumstances.”
Laurel proceeded to get off the bus and as the bus emptied out, Mackenzie waited for Chris who was last off.
“Thanks,” said Chris as Mackenzie leant him a shoulder to lean on.
“You want some painkillers?” asked Mackenzie as they departed the bus and planted their feet on terra firma.
“I’d rather have a cold beer,” said Chris wincing as he put his foot down.
As Mr. Stepper closed the door and locked the bus up, Akecheta slung a bag over his shoulder and shouted instructions at everyone. “Follow me. The store is right over there. We’re a little ahead of schedule, but Maria was expecting us anyway.”
Alyce put Beers down and he immediately began barking out small high-pitched yips aimed in the direction of the bus. Myles took the leash from Alyce, who didn’t argue this time, and watched as her father dragged Beers away from the bus.
“What’s with that fucking dog?” asked James as he took a photo of the dog with his phone.
“Search me,” said Vic. “She’s just stressed out probably. Aren’t you?”
“Well they need to shut it up. I’m not putting up with that for long.” James began to walk toward Maria’s store behind the others and glared at Myles as he overtook him. Myles chose to ignore him and concentrate on controlling Beers.
“Go ahead, Laurel, just follow Akecheta. I’m right behind you.” Mackenzie put an arm around Chris to help him to the store and looked around at where they were. He recognised the Kelso Depot from the brochure and pictures his wife had shown him. It was quite a large building, and he recognised the arches and colonial style roof easily. It was unmistakeable, not least as it was one of only two buildings around. The other, the store they were heading for across the road, was a small one-storey brick building with a glass façade and flat roof.
The bus was parked across the road from the store, and looking around, Mackenzie couldn’t see any other buses or vehicles. They were clearly the first ones to arrive for the day. There was a rail track running away from the Depot building, but other than that, just endless blue sky that touched the desert’s horizon. There was no sign of any damage to either building, and Mackenzie hoped that meant things would get back to normal soon. Perhaps Kelso had escaped the quake. The store they were headed for was cute, its windows decorated with a variety of posters and adverts, and a silver bowl outside. Mackenzie watched as Myles tied the dog up to a bike stand outside the store. Beers inquisitively poked his nose into the water bowl, and then resumed barking at the bus.
Mackenzie’s head was throbbing, but he could feel the adrenaline receding. It was over now. The quake had literally shaken everyone, but now that they were approaching the store, people were relaxing. He saw Mr. Stepper holding the store’s front door open whilst Myles entered behind Michele and Alyce. James was next, barging past Laurel on his way in, forcing her and Vic to go behind him. James was pushing his luck and if he pushed one too many times, he was going to find himself in trouble. Mackenzie was rapidly running out of patience with the young man, and he was qu
ite sure Myles felt the same. Akecheta was nowhere to be seen and Mackenzie assumed he was already inside talking to Maria, getting things organized. They probably had to report it before they could turn the bus around. There was going to be a long queue for the phone too, so they may as well take Maria’s hospitality and get some food inside of them. Now they were safe, Mackenzie felt his stomach rumble. He was ready for some of that morning tea the tour had promised.
As he helped Chris to hobble over the dusty road, he couldn’t help but notice that Beers was still barking. Something had gotten into the dog that was for sure. Mackenzie remembered then how the dog had wet itself right before the earthquake. Along with the eagles and the snakes, it was as if it could sense something coming; something bad. He hoped the barking was not indicative of anything else and just a way for the little pup to release its nervous energy and fear.
Inside the store, everyone found a seat. Maria had set up a few small tables and chairs to one side where she served morning tea to pre-booked tour groups and casual visitors. Mr. Stepper had been coming here regularly for a couple of years and Maria had tea and fresh coffee ready to serve, as well as cold water. The dining area was decorated with old pictures of the Kelso Depot, stunning aerial photographs of the desert, and various wall charts of spiders and snakes. Alyce was looking up at one of the charts as her mother poured out three glasses of water from a jug on the table.
“We saw some of them earlier, didn’t we, Mom? I remember that big brown one.” Alyce’s tears had dried up, and the pictures on the wall were a useful distraction for her. She was clearly more relaxed now too. She liked shops and restaurants, and this place was both all in one.
“We sure did, honey.” Michele popped a bright red straw into a glass. “Alyce, drink some water, please. You remember how we have to keep drinking in the summer, don’t you? It’s real hot today.”
Alyce took a sip of the water, turned her nose up and pushed the glass away. “I don’t like it. Can I have some milk? Please, Mom?” She curled a few strands of hair around her finger, and cocked her head to one side as she asked.
Michele got up and saw two refrigerators on the back wall full of bottles of water, soda, beer and finally cartons of milk. “Sure, Alyce. Strawberry, right?” Michele could see Alyce nodding eagerly as Myles stared out of the window.
Over at the next table close to Alyce were James and Vic, deep in a hushed conversation.
“Tweedledum and Tweedledee are at it again,” said Laurel as Maria dabbed her forearm with antiseptic and a cotton pad.
“You know them?”
“No, only just met them. They’re a charming couple,” Laurel said sarcastically. “I don’t think we’ll be exchanging email addresses when this is all over.”
Akecheta pulled a chair up beside Maria and Laurel, and sighed. “No good, Maria, your phone’s out. Guess the quake probably took down the line.”
“Figures,” said Maria shrugging, still dabbing at Laurel’s cuts. “It’s iffy on a good day. Soon as I felt the quake, I tried calling my sister in Baker, but I couldn’t get through. Phones are probably jammed now anyway. I’m sure she’s fine, but I worry you know, ever since Bobby passed. She forgets things.”
“Mr. Stepper asked if he can get up onto the roof. He wants to see if he can get a signal on his cell.” Akecheta watched as Maria lifted up Laurel’s left leg and began to run a fresh cotton ball over it, wiping away the blood so she could get to the exposed cuts and clean them.
“Sure, though I don’t think he’ll get one, not for a while at least. There’s a ladder around back he can get up there on. Just tell him to watch his step. I ain’t been up there in a while so I don’t know what state it’s in.”
Laurel inhaled sharply as the alcohol touched a fresh wound. Myles was standing beside a rack of faded postcards, and through the small doorway next to him, Laurel could see Mackenzie and Chris halfway across the street.
“Sorry,” said Maria, noticing Laurel wince.
“I’ll check on the rest, then help Mr. Stepper,” said Akecheta as he left them.
Laurel was pleased Akecheta had brought them to Maria’s. The woman was sweet and had a good bedside manner. All the while she attended to Laurel, she was muttering soothing words and making sure she was okay. Laurel had discovered Maria was pushing sixty, but she didn’t look it. Her hair was still a dark brown, and she could easily pass for ten years younger than she was. She wore a long flowing dress tied back in a bow and dressed younger than her age too. Laurel noticed a golden locket that hung from her neck.
“That’s a beautiful necklace, Maria.”
“It was a present from my Tony on our thirtieth anniversary,” said Maria without looking up. She smiled when she spoke. “And the great thing is that it goes with whatever I wear.”
“Is he here?” asked Laurel, wondering if he was perhaps out back. “Does he help with the store?”
“Oh, he helps me all right,” said Maria. “He gives me the strength to carry on every day. Without him, I wouldn’t be half the woman I am. Unfortunately, he passed a few years back.” Maria gently touched the locket. “I just like to have him as close to me as possible until we meet again.”
“Gosh, I’m sorry, Maria.” Laurel drew in a sharp breath as Maria placed a Band-Aid over a particularly sore cut above her knee.
“Never you mind about that,” said Maria as she stood up and folded her arms. She looked Laurel up and down, smiling as she did so. “I think we’re all done here. Where’s that husband of yours? Pretty girl like you, I wouldn’t be leaving your side if I was him.”
Laurel grinned. “It looks like Mac’s deep in conversation with a new friend out there.”
“Well, you make sure he comes to see me when he finally drags his ass in here. I’ll give him the once over, make sure he’s okay. I gather you all took a bit of a beating out there.” Maria frowned suddenly. “It’s a worry, that’s for sure. Seems odd I didn’t feel much here, but I guess that’s the way it goes. Hey, look, I’m no scientist. I’m much better at looking after people. Least I was.”
“You were a nurse, right?” asked Laurel remembering something Akecheta had mentioned.
“Was is about right. I quit that after Tony moved upstairs. I needed a change of scene, you know? Bought this place and started looking after people in a different way. We get a lot of tourists pass through. It’s a living, and it’s quiet. I like it. It’s not often I get a bus full of people needing medical attention, but in this job you never quite know what or who is going to turn up. Anyway, I should go check the others. You sure you’re feeling okay, honey? There’s some fresh coffee in the pot. You just help yourself.”
Laurel was worried about Amy. If San Diego had suffered from the earthquake, she could be hurt or worse. Her biological father, John, would take care of her, as long as he was capable. A voice interrupted Amy’s thoughts, followed by the sound of chair legs scraping over the floor.
“Where the hell are we? You’ve brought us to the middle of nowhere. Do you even know the way back to civilisation? I should sue you for this.”
Laurel turned to see what was going on. James was standing toe to toe with Akecheta, pointing his finger in his face, and practically shouting at him. His chair had fallen over, and James was red in the face, clearly angry. Akecheta appeared to be calm, and Laurel could tell he wasn’t reacting to James’ threats.
“Why are we sitting around here when we should be going back to Baker?” asked James. “Tell me that, at least.”
“James, come on, calm down,” said Vic standing behind him. “Let’s just—”
“No, why should I calm down? Look at this mess. Answer me, Akecheta. How are we getting back to Baker?”
Akecheta rolled his eyes and sighed. “Fine. Head west and the Pacific Ocean is a few hours’ drive away. North is Death Valley. Go south far enough and you’ll eventually make the Mexican border. East – ish – and across the state line you’ll find Vegas, eventually. Of course, without a
vehicle you won’t get far.” Akecheta could tell James was scared, but the priority now was to make sure everyone was safe. If Baker had been hit hard by the quake, there would be nothing to go back to. “You’re better off staying right here with us. It’s safe and secure, and I’m sure this mess will be sorted out soon. Maria is fixing up everyone’s scrapes, so until everyone is comfortable, we’re not going anywhere. My job is to make sure everybody is safe. Mr. Stepper is shortly going to head outside to try to find some cellphone reception. Once we know what is going on, we’ll get you home as soon as we can. As you’re my responsibility though, I can’t take you anywhere without knowing that it is safe.”
“Awesome. I’m going to die in some backwater tacky tourist shop surrounded by rednecks and red Indians.” James looked at Vic and then to the useless cell in his hand. “What’s the point? You gonna tell me there’s no signal out here either in Hicksville?”
Akecheta had dealt with a few irate passengers in the past, with people who didn’t like the tour or made nothing but sarcastic comments the whole time which spoilt it for the rest of the group. Usually, he could keep a lid on his emotions, but this was turning into something different. The tour was over and something was happening out there, something far more important than this whining racist tourist realized. Akecheta had heard taunts before, name-calling occasionally happened, but he wasn’t about to take it now from a jumped-up, foul-mouthed little kid. “Listen up, James, the phones usually work fine. I would expect that the earthquake is causing the outage. If the power’s not been knocked out, the phones will be down because the system’s overloaded. A million dumb people like you are all trying to use their phones at once. How about you stow that cheap piece of made-in-China crap and help out? Otherwise, your attitude is not helping anyone and it’s certainly not helping you get any closer to home.”