The Sludge

by David Bernstein

  An hour later they came to a break in the forest. The woods had thinned out, the trees spaced a good distance apart allowing for easy travel, save for the uneven ground. They stopped for snacks and water, then moved on, eventually coming to a dirt road infested with tall grasses and weeds.

  "Where the hell did this come from?" Kim asked.

  "Must be a ranger trail," Edgar said. "Something the park police use to get into the forest."

  "Looks like they were by recently," Tyler said. "The grass is pushed down."

  "There, you see, we're not as alone as you thought," June said.

  Tyler pulled out his cell phone, held it up and out, repositioning it, then said, "Still no signal."

  Kim was a phone junkie, always on the thing back home in the city. Work demanded it. This trip was a true test for her, and so far, the withdrawal hadn't been too bad.

  "Well, if we run into real trouble, we're on our own," Tyler said, returning his phone to his backpack.

  "Stop worrying," June said. "We'll be fine."

  "So what do you all say if we follow the road for a bit, see where it goes?" Edgar suggested.

  "Sounds good to me," Tyler said.

  "Yeah, we could use the break," June said.

  "Which way?" Kim asked, taking a sip from her water bottle.

  Edgar pulled out his Lolo National Forest map. "I think we're somewhere around here," he said, pointing to an area on the glossy paper. "But it's hard to judge."

  June stood next to him, eyeing the map. "Yeah, we could be anywhere in this vicinity."

  "Guys," Tyler said, "we're here." He put a finger just to the right of Edgar's."

  "How do you—" June began.

  "Hey, that's cheating," Edgar said.

  Tyler was holding his cell phone again, a map of the area showing on the screen.

  "Tyler," Kim said, accusatorily. "We agreed no GPS unless it was an emergency."

  "Hey, it's just to let us know which way to go," Tyler said. "Do you want to wind up back in a populated area so soon?"

  "Put it away," Kim said.

  "Damn, we're good," June said, smiling up at Edgar. "See, we were close." She turned toward Tyler. "We don't need technology out here, buddy."

  Tyler turned his phone off and returned it to his backpack.

  "How were you able to get GPS working?" Kim asked.

  "GPS doesn't need a signal," Tyler said. "It works off satellite. As long as there's a clear area, you should get a location."

  "Why else do you think I'm not totally freaking out about being in the middle of nowhere with bears, mountain lions, and who knows what else?" Tyler asked.

  "I thought it was because we have bear repellent," Kim said.

  "We do?" Tyler asked.

  "Of course," June said. "Bought it at a gift shop in town."

  Tyler shook his head. "That would've been nice to know from the start."

  "So, we moving on or what?" Edgar asked.

  "Actually, can we eat?" Tyler asked.

  "We'll stop later to eat," Edgar said. "We're on a time crunch."

  "We have to find a place to set up camp before it gets dark," June said.

  Tyler needed more food than the others. He worked out regularly and was a specimen of muscle. He wasn't bulky like a body builder, but honed like an Olympic athlete. He needed calories.

  Not wanting to remove his backpack for something more substantial to eat, Tyler unzipped one of the small pockets along the side and pulled out one of his energy bars. He ripped open the shiny silver wrapper, gobbled down the snack, and then nonchalantly shoved the packaging into the netted pocket below the zippered one.

  Twenty minutes later, the wrapper came loose and fell free, landing in the road.

  CHAPTER 8

  The group headed along the grassy road for thirty minutes before the overgrown path became more of a dirt track that ran alongside a cliff. The sight was spectacular, the entire forest coming into view. June snapped away with her camera.

  Tyler stood next to Kim, the couple holding hands.

  "This is beautiful," Kim said.

  "It sure is, but it kind of all looks the same," Tyler said. "Rows and valleys of green."

  June groaned.

  "What, it's no different than the view from my apartment," Tyler said. "Except here, buildings are replaced by trees. Maybe if there was a sunset or it was fall and the leaves were turning colors . . ."

  "Real romantic," Edgar said.

  "Here," June said, as she continued to snap pictures, "we're the wildlife. The out-of-place objects. The trespassers. I mean, think about all the life forms living here, from mammals, to fish, to insects."

  "I hate bugs," Kim said. "I don't care if they’re part of the cycle of nature."

  "I love the view of the lake, though," Tyler said. He didn't want to be a downer or the one who didn't 'get it'. "That adds to the picture when you take it in, too."

  "We have to go down there," Kim said.

  "Hell yeah," Edgar said. "Maybe we can take a dip."

  "Yeah, and get some kind of parasite that'll give us diarrhea for a few months," Tyler said.

  Kim rolled her eyes. "Stop being such a downer."

  The group headed into the woods and made their way down the incline and to the bottom of the cliff face. They walked along the edge of the lake and were amazed at the water's clarity. June and Edgar marveled at the transparency, wondering if it was due to the lake being the result of a natural spring or simply what bodies of water would look like if humans didn't pollute them. "We could probably drink right from it," Edgar said.

  "But we won't," June said. "Not without boiling it first."

  "Let's find a place to set up our tents then," Kim said. "It seems like we've found our campsite for the night."

  They made their way into the woods and found a small area where the ground was flat and mostly bare, and the trees were far enough apart to allow two small pop tents to be erected. Edgar explained why they had moved farther into the woods after Kim asked why they couldn't set up the tents near the lake's shore, under the open sky. "Bugs," he'd said. "Insects, such as mosquitoes, gnats and others biting menaces, make their homes near bodies of water. They'll eat us alive."

  As Edgar showed Tyler how to put up the tents and explained how their food was going to be tied about twelve feet off the ground, June and Kim went off to gather firewood.

  "So," June said, "Tyler's hanging in there, huh?"

  "He's doing better than I thought he would," Kim said, as she picked up two small branches.

  "He'll be fine," June said. "He's got you."

  "He's never done anything like this," Kim said. "And I don't just mean this trip."

  "I know. Edgar told me how Tyler stood up to his father. Good for him."

  Kim continued to pick up smaller pieces of downed wood. She noticed June had nothing in her arms. "Aren't you supposed to be getting us firewood, too?"

  "I'd rather stare at your ass," June said.

  Kim stopped walking and spun around. June was standing two feet away. The woman was grinning and biting her lower lip.

  "What are you up to?" Kim asked, eyeing her.

  "The boys are busy pretending to be men. And we're here in this big forest . . ." June stepped toward her.

  Kim held out her arm, stopping her friend. Her hand landed on one of June's perky breasts. She felt her friend's stiff nipple through the fabric of her blouse and saw June's eyes light up. It had been a few months since they'd fooled around.

  "Oooh, I like that," June said.

  Kim pulled her arm back. "We can't."

  "Why not?" June asked, pouting.

  "Here? Now? Are you crazy?" Kim asked, keeping her voice low. "Besides, I'm with Tyler. We're serious."

  "We're on vacation," June said, giving Kim a sly look. "What happens in the forest stays in the forest. It's exciting, isn't it?" She stepped forward and this time, Kim didn't stop her. The two embraced. Lips met and parted. June slid her moist tongue in
to Kim's mouth. They kissed for a moment before Kim shoved herself away.

  "I can't," she said, wanting to.

  "You could a month ago, as well as times before that."

  Kim exhaled noisily. "I know, but we were always buzzed."

  "You only want me when you're drunk," June said, pretending to be offended, then laughed.

  "Look, I want you. Our time together is always hot," Kim said, "but I'm with Tyler now and it's—"

  "Serious," June said, finishing her sentence.

  "He doesn't know about us."

  "What about your being into women as well as men?"

  "No. I haven't told him."

  "I'm sure it's a fantasy of his, to be with two girls."

  Kim rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't be so sure. He's great in bed, as I've said. Has a big dick and knows how to use it, along with his tongue. But he's never mentioned bringing another woman into the bedroom, let alone put on a porno when we're doing it."

  "No porn?" June asked, her face scrunched in disbelief. "What is he, a fucking prude?"

  "You know, you're like two different people," Kim said. "A nice, normal outdoorsy person who likes to paint in quiet. But you're also this sex-crazed maniac.”

  "I know, isn't it awesome?" June said. "I was just fucking with you, anyway. We'd smell like pussy when we went back to the boys and they'd know something was up, at least Edgar would."

  "He knows about us?" Kim asked, eyes wide.

  June bent down and plucked a large log from the forest floor. "Yup."

  "I can't believe you told him. You're such an asshole."

  "As long as I don't go screwing other guys, he's fine with me screwing other women. Just like I'm fine with him screwing other guys."

  "What?"

  "Yeah, he swings both ways," June said, as if the news was nothing.

  "When did you find out?"

  "When I told him I was into girls, he told me he was into guys. We talked and made the rule. No cheating with the opposite sex."

  "Wow," Kim said, totally floored by the news. "You guys have quite a relationship."

  "Keeps everyone happy and things interesting, you know?"

  "I guess."

  "C'mon, let's collect some wood before they start to wonder where we disappeared to."

  "How am I supposed to look at Edgar again without thinking he's imagining us together?"

  "Like you have been," June said. "Nothing's changed. He hasn't said anything or made any snarky comments, so don't worry about it. Oh, and I do plan on licking that juicy pussy of yours before the trip is over."

  Kim's mouth dropped open as June moved along collecting wood.

  CHAPTER 9

  When the tents were erected and the sleeping bags laid out, Edgar started a fire using a couple sheets of newspaper, dried leaves, and kindling. He then added small-sized branches that he found in the immediate area and soon a fire caught. Tyler did little to help with either, but he was a good-looking man. One Edgar had wanted to screw since Kim had brought him around. But the dude wasn't into guys. June got to have her fun with Kim, so wouldn't it have been cool if Tyler was into him? They could have a night of swapping. Hell, if that had been the case, he probably could've convinced June to swing with not only same sex partners, but with everyone. Kim was a hottie that Edgar wouldn't mind banging, too. But none of that was going to happen. Tyler was as straight and uptight as it got.

  Edgar was starting to wonder if his woman was getting some, having gone off with Kim, when the women returned to camp, arms loaded with wood. They didn't stay long and quickly set out for more. "Be back in a few," June said, winking, and Edgar couldn't help but smile.

  "What are you going to do when you get back?" Edgar asked Tyler when the women were gone. He began blowing up the small air cushions he'd purchased for him and June to sit on. It only took about five to six breaths to get them fully inflated.

  Tyler got the cue and began blowing up the ones he and Kim had. Between blows, he said, "Go back to work."

  "With your dad?"

  "Yup."

  "He'll take you back, no problem?"

  "I'm his only son. He isn't going to leave the company to anyone else. He has no choice. He'll give me shit, maybe make me wait a little longer, who knows, but it's going to be all mine one day."

  "Maybe when I'm done being a loser, I'll come work there," Edgar said. "In the mailroom or something."

  "Sure."

  Silence ensued as both men looked around.

  "I wonder where the girls went," Tyler said.

  "You know them . . . more talking than walking."

  "Yeah," Tyler said, smiling.

  More silence.

  It wasn't like the men didn't know each other. It was just that they didn't have much in common, except when they drank at the bars and played pool. Here in the woods, they had neither alcohol nor a pool table.

  "So . . ." Edgar felt a sting on the back of his neck and slapped at it.

  "Mosquito?" Tyler asked. "They've been buzzing around my ears for the past few minutes. They must be getting hungry because they usually don't bother me."

  "Yeah. I knew they'd find us. It's getting later and it’s their time to prowl." He rubbed the bar of insect repellent on his face, neck, and arms. "This, and getting the fire going higher should be enough to keep them away." He held out the bar for Tyler.

  "No thanks," Tyler said. "I'll be okay."

  "Not into sharing the bug bar, huh?" Edgar asked. "Don't like the idea of smearing somebody else's sweat and skin cells over your body?"

  "Um, not really," Tyler said, looking as if he'd been caught with his pants down. "I hope I'm not offending you. It's not that you’re dirty, it's just . . . well—"

  "It's cool man," Edgar said, laughing. "No worries, but if you find yourself getting eaten alive, it's here for you. Just run it across your exposed areas. It'll act like an invisible shield over your skin."

  "Okay, thanks."

  The girls came back to camp with even more wood than before. Tyler got up and went back out with Kim this time, wanting to help.

  June immediately attacked Edgar. "I'm fucking horny as hell." She pulled him into the tent and had him satisfy her orally before she came and asked to be pounded. They came quickly, June an orgasming machine.

  "Kim make you horny?" he asked as they got dressed.

  June smiled and gave him a kiss on the lips. "You know me so well," she said and exited the tent.

  Kim and Tyler were walking back into the camp area.

  "I think the whole forest heard you two," Kim said as she dropped the wood she was holding next to the pile already on the ground.

  "I'm a screamer," June said, but you already know that." She winked.

  Kim gave her a look when Tyler wasn't watching, and June shrugged.

  An hour later, the group ate dinner—tuna fish sandwiches and handfuls of dried fruit. Wrapped tightly in tin foil, the tuna would stay fresh for a day or two, so they ate it first. Water from the lake was heated over the fire in a small kettle and tea was served. The couples sat around the fire talking. The mosquitoes were beginning to make their presence known, bothering Tyler and Kim until Kim gave in and rubbed the bug bar over her exposed areas. Then it was only Tyler who kept swatting at his skin.

  "Sweetie," Kim said, "why don't you just use the bug bar?"

  "Fine," Tyler said and took it from June. His face soured as he rubbed it over his flesh. "Smells awful."

  "You'll get used to it," June said.

  "And it's better than itchy bug bites," Kim said.

  "Wow, never thought I'd see Tyler getting all down and dirty, mixing skin cells and oils," June said, laughing.

  "I don't need visuals," Tyler said. He finished up and handed the bar back to June.

  "When you guys fuck later, it'll be like me and Edgar are right there with you," June said, laughing.

  Kim slowly shook her head.

  "Smores anyone?" Edgar asked, holding up a bag of marshmallows.<
br />
  "Sounds—" June began, but a screeching cry cut her words short.

  "What the hell was that?" Kim asked, eyes wide.

  Tyler stiffened, ears perked.

  "Relax peeps," Edgar said. "It's just a forest critter. Wait until nightfall, this place is going to come alive."

  Another cry pierced the air.

  "That sounded human," Tyler said.

  "Amazing right?" Edgar said and passed around the marshmallows.

  As everyone speared the soft bundles of sugar with their roasting sticks, a painful sounding moan came from the darkness.

  "Okay, that really sounded human," Tyler said.

  Edgar's face went slack and Tyler knew the man was caught off guard.

  Everyone was quiet, the crackling fire overly loud.

  The moaning sounded again.

  "Shit," Kim said. "Please tell me that's some kind of animal in heat or something."

  June shook her head. "I don't think so."

  "There's someone out there?" Tyler asked, eyebrows knitting together as he tried peering in the gloom.

  "Well, we are in a national park," Edgar said.

  "But we went off course, off the trail," Tyler said. "Do a lot of people do that?"

  The moaning continued, followed by a few intermittent cries.

  "Whoever it is, they're hurt," June said. She pulled the marshmallow off her stick and popped the puffy morsel into her mouth before resting her roasting stick on the ground.

  "Sounds like it," Edgar said, standing.

  "What are you guys doing?" Tyler asked.

  "If someone's hurt, we need to check it out," June said. "They probably need our help."