I know one of them, it occurs to me, but for some reason I can’t think of the name. They both raise their heads and stare at me as I bounce past, not reacting at all to my attempt at a jaunty wave. I was looking forward to it until I came down with a case of the jitters.Īt a sharp bend I see something that gives me a start: two men standing beside a pickup truck. It’s a beautiful day, and the property I’m heading out to show is a pretty piece of land on the river-the leaves will be dancing by on the clear water in a colorful flotilla. Escape, an inner voice whispers.Īfter a time I overrule my instincts and push ahead, rolling my eyes as if I have a passenger to whom I am apologizing for such squeamishness. But that’s what my instincts are urging me to do: back up.
I am deeply committed to a road to nowhere and can’t reverse course save by driving backward for at least four miles-I doubt my car would forgive me, and I know my neck wouldn’t. There is absolutely nothing to see but acres of stunning oak and maple trees, lit up by a blazing autumn sun and waving their branches in the gentle breeze as they drop their leaves to the forest floor in an audible rain of color. Just as I crest a small rise I ease my foot onto the brake, coming to a groaning halt. No, this is more basic, more primitive, a chilling call from somewhere in my deep subconscious that startles my pulse rate and causes my eyes to widen involuntarily. It looks as if it were designed to run into things. The vehicle I’m driving was built by General Motors during what must have been a national steel surplus-the front end sticks out like the prow of a battleship. I’m alone and if I break an axle it will be a long hike back to the highway.īut that’s not what’s bothering me. At any moment the two-track might fade away like an old rumor and then I’ll just be driving cross-country through the Michigan woods in an Oldsmobile station wagon, plowing into trees and rocks. If I’m in any danger at all it’s from this road I’m bouncing along on, a rutted indentation in the leafy forest floor that looks like it was last traveled by covered wagons.
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