“All yours, buddy. And thanks for the hospitality.” I said to him from a safe distance.
Hugh was standing about 30 feet away, under a tree. He waved at me and we converged on a midpoint a safe distance from my former home.
I gave him a fist bump. “Nice to see a friendly face again.”
Hugh smiled in reply, then gestured toward the deadfall. “Too bad about the wildlife. That might've made a good secret lair to work from.”
“Hmm, kind of cramped for two people. You said you had a solution to our problem?”
In response, Hugh took off his backpack and opened the top. He withdrew a bundled package and held it out. “Ceiling pitch. What sailors used patch leaks. We’re going to do a thorough job in your shipping crate. We’ll test it by loading it with rocks and placing it in the water. Then were going to float downstream and night.”
“Seems risky,” I said.
“Not so much. I also have,” he pulled out another bundle, “waxed vellum. Useful as waterproof wrapping. And the seam can be sealed by mildly heating it.”
I must have looked chagrined, because Hugh made a deprecating gesture. “Look, Bob, you been concentrating on keeping Bender safe and not exposing yourself. I've had a lot more freedom to ask questions and investigate possibilities without worrying about the consequences. Don't beat yourself up.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. At that moment I felt shame for my suspicions of Hugh and his motivations. If he was indeed a descendant of Marvin or Luke, then he would remember the bond they had with Bender.
Finally, I heaved a large sigh. “Okay, buddy. Let’s get this done.”
We had to build a small fire to soften the pitch, but there was plenty of dried grass that would provide a smokeless flame. Doubtless, there were surveillance devices dedicated to watching for anything burning, given the damage an out-of-control forest fire or grass fire could do. With that in mind, we'd been careful to set up where the overhead cover was significant. And with the aid of some inspired cursing, we were able to coat the interior and exterior of the crate, with enough pitch left over to seal the lid in place once the matrix was ready. Bender went into several layers of waxed vellum, which was sealed with a hot rock. We did some testing on the crate, then sealed Bender into it. Finally, all preparation done, we sat around the remains of our campfire while I stared in semi shock at the shipping crate. The idea that I might finally be near the end of this Marathon was frankly a little stupefying.
Hugh punched me lightly in the shoulder. “You okay there, bud?”
“Yeah,” I responded with a sickly grin. “I’ve just gotten so used to running, I'm not sure how I'll adjust to a normal life.”
“We have normal lives?”
I answered with a snort, and glanced up at the sky. About three hours until dark. Do we dare take a break?”
“Maybe alternate watches,” he replied. “Just in case more searchers show up. But let's get more hidden, first.”
I nodded and we went looking for a spot in the tall grass to build a nest.
23. The Road to Garrick's Spine
Bob
September 2334
Nirvana River System
We lowered ourselves into the water just after dark, then paddled as quietly as possible out about a third of the width of the river. Since most boats tried for mid-river, it seemed like a good, safe section that would keep us from getting run over. Or spotted. Not that a couple of Quinlans floating quietly with a box would stand out, in the dark. Someone would have to be almost on top of us with a lantern, to have any hope of seeing us. And as Bridget had discussed, we were unlikely to show up on infrared from above, especially with all the much warmer boats around. The downside was that we’d have to go with the current. Pushing the box along would make too much noise and would place a strain on the box that might result in a leak. Hugh had placed two of his spiders in the box as early warning systems. The slightest trace of moisture, and we'd head for shore.
The trip to Garrick would take almost two weeks. We would have to float past the city's location in the segment, then take a connector tributary around to the Arcadia River, and float back in the opposite direction to Garrick's spine. Meanwhile, the days would be spent on shore, wrapped in tall grass or snuggled under a windfall. If we could find one with no resident badger. Well, I was a plan anyway. I had no confidence that Murphy would suddenly decide to leave us alone.
The experience was peaceful, mostly. Floating was easy and we could take turns on watch, but I hadn't realized how much variation there was in the course that boats took through the river. I guess they were trying to avoid each other, but it turned out mid-river essentially meant the middle half. I found myself having to skull quietly with my tail to move myself away from approaching vessel several times.
I told Hugh about it when he came on watch.
“Not a big deal,” he said. “I'm a little surprised that you are surprised by this. Didn't you ever do a night watch?”
“Yeah, but I always kept it mid-river.”
“You were probably putting too much effort into it.”
I just could see his smile and the darkness. “Still overachieving after 300 years.”
“Say, which one of us is trying to build god?”
“Touché. Maybe we should've called it Babel instead.”
We settled into an awkward silence for a few seconds. It was kind of an elephant-in-the-room situation, and I think neither one of us wanted to open a discussion that couldn't be walked back if things went south. I resolved yet again that I would bring it up once we were safely out of Heaven's River.
“The box seems to be holding well,”
