Rev's Odyssey by R. R. Kaufman (the reading list .txt) 📕

You’ll love it. What a thrill.

 

Cyna couldn’t stop laughing as Arnie thumped the overhead steel bars.

 

Arnie

Lots of protection. These bars are very strong. Now it’s your turn, Rev.

 

Rev was quick to catch on and like her mother she loved to go fast. However she didn’t wipe out like Cyna but spun around a number of times on the curves. She didn’t want to stop, but Arnie was getting a little stiff and needed to loosen up. She brought the buggy to rest and when she got out she went over to her mother and jumped up and down like a kid.

 

Rev

Can you imagine if father and professor Mars rode this. Together they could make these for everyone in Brix.

 

Cyna

What makes this machine work, Arnie?

 

Arnie

You mean what powers it? That would be Razor’s battery. She still had some in storage after all these years. I borrowed a few from her, when she wasn’t looking.

 

Rev

You mean the battery that was going to save your planet.

 

Arnie

We’ll never know. But I like it. She’s a genius no doubt. But rejection can be like a dagger to the heart. She felt betrayed and scorned. Her face still shows it. I didn’t know her back then, but if I did, I would have told her to be patient and ride the bumps that life throws at you.

 

Rev and Cyna brushed the dust off themselves. It was dusk as Arnie guided them over to the amusement park.

 

Arnie

I have something else I want you to try out.

 

Rev and Cyna looked up with wonder at the gigantic metal structures in the park. Something they had never seen on their planet. Arnie pointed to each one, giving them names such as rollercoaster, the big wheel and the twister.

 

Arnie

Watch this.

 

Arnie pulled a huge lever and the sky lit up with thousands of lights. Against the backdrop of the night sky, the brilliant colored lights blinded Rev and Cyna. Silent and in awe they felt as if they had entered a magical kingdom.

 

Arnie

I wish I could take you for a ride on these. There is only one that is working safely.

 

Arnie led them to the middle of the park. They hopped aboard a large circular platform where beautifully carved and glossy animal sculptures were affixed. A cascade of shimmering lights showered down on them from an elaborate crown like roof covering.

 

Rev

I want to ride the tiger.

 

Her mom chose a proud stallion.

 

Arnie

Everyone hold on. It’s time to be a little kid again.

 

Arnie flicked a switch and climbed on to the elephant as the carousel started to move. Round and round they went. With her tiger galloping up and down, and the merry music filling the night, Rev glanced back at her mother and Arnie. Her eyes sparkled and her smile was wide. This was the happiest she had been in some time.

 

Chapter 62

 

 

The next morning Rev stood looking out the window towards the big white board next to the amusement park. She pointed it out to Arnie as he prepared breakfast and Cyna organized her backpack.

 

Rev

What is that?

 

Arnie

That used to be a drive-in theatre. We showed movies there.

 

Rev

You mean like the ones Wolfie and Faze were in?

 

Arnie laughed.

 

Arnie

How do you know them? Oh, that’s right. They are on your planet now. Razor took them with her.

 

Rev had been careful. She never mentioned anything about where they came from.

 

Rev

How did you know we came through the Lux?

 

Arnie

Everybody knows that you, your mother and Mars came from Brix. Vice has a big mouth and news travels fast. But getting back to your question, yes, I think I have some old movie reels of Wolfie and Faze. Next time you drop by I will show them to you. Right now we have to get you prepared for your journey.

 

After breakfast Arnie brought out a map. Cyna and Rev joined him as he unfolded it on the table. He pointed to Crows Nest Crossing.

 

Arnie

This is your next stop. But you don’t go all the way to Crows Nest Crossing. See this small trail off the main road? You have to go down a steep hill to the river but the buggy can handle it.

 

Cyna

You mean we’re taking your buggy.

 

Arnie

Yes. That’s why I taught you besides having some fun. From a distance you’ll see a tall barren tree that marks where this small trail begins. Keep an eye out for Razor’s men but they should all be at the mining camp. You’ll know you’re getting close when you hear loud bangs. Those are the explosives she’s using to blow the mountain up.

 

Cyna

How far down the river do we go?

 

Arnie

A few minutes, where you can cross an old wooden bridge by foot. You’ll have to abandon the buggy there. Keep following the river downstream until it meets up with another river. Follow that river upstream to Gianthead Landing.

 

In the distance Arnie could make out the faint sound of a buggy approaching.

 

Arnie

Quick, you need to hide.

 

Arnie lifted a rug in the living area and opened a trap door.

 

Arnie

Hurry. Don’t say a word until I knock three times on the floor.

 

Rev and Cyna hurried down the steps to the hiding spot. Arnie quietly closed the trap door and placed the rug over it. He gathered any evidence of his guests and placed them in a wood box. Then he lit a cigar and seated himself on his porch with his shotgun, just as a buggy rumbled up to his cabin. Two men crawled out. One short and the other tall.

 

Short man

Razor wants to see you.

 

Arnie

I told her. I’m finished. She doesn’t listen.

 

Short man

Razor wants to blow the hill past Crows Nest Crossing and wants your help.

 

Arnie

That’s going to get people killed. I warned her about that before.

 

Short man

We’re just the messengers, Arnie. If you don’t come you’re going to have more company. A lot more company.

 

Tall man

Have you seen any signs of the girl and her mother?

 

Arnie blew out a puff of smoke from his cigar, stood up and walked down the porch steps, his gun at his side.

 

Arnie

I heard they were dangerous so I locked myself inside all night.

 

The two men had a good laugh.

 

Tall man

Razor noticed you had all the lights on in the amusement park last night.

 

Arnie

Yes a few kids and their parents came up from the town last night and wanted to ride the carousel.

 

Tall man

Razor was amused. She was tempted to come up for a ride.

 

Arnie

The children were looking for some fun, not a horror show. Tell her I’ll be down shortly.

 

The two men chuckled as they got into their buggy and drove off. Arnie stood there for a few minutes to make sure they weren’t coming back.

He entered his cabin and knocked on the floor three times. He lifted the door on the floor and helped his two guests out from their hiding spot.

 

Arnie

I’ll bring the buggy up. Get your stuff ready. For your own wellbeing you must leave soon.

 

Arnie pulled up to the cabin with the buggy just as they came out with their backpacks. They crawled in with Rev in the driver’s seat.

 

Arnie

Remember, keep a good distance off the main road as you follow it to the small trail.

 

Arnie looked up at the dark sky.

 

Arnie

It’s going to rain.

 

Rev

We can’t thank you enough, Arnie.

 

Arnie

Stay safe. Come back anytime.

 

Arnie waved to them as they disappeared in a cloud of dust.

 

Chapter 63

 

 

Rev and Cyna zoomed out of Arnie’s place and headed off road through the desert. A clap of thunder, followed by a streak of lightning made them jittery. Within seconds the rain drenched them, a welcome relief from the previous sandstorm.

They continued moving around the desert brush high up over the valley. As they drew closer to the small trail they heard distant blasts from Razor’s mine. Small cliffs and narrow passage openings concealed them from the main road.

Rev stopped the buggy and took out the small telescope. She focused in on a tall tree in the distance.

 

Rev

There’s our marker. We’ll reach the trail in a few minutes.

 

She handed the scope to her mother.

 

Cyna

It looks like all the branches are moving. I thought Arnie said it was a dead tree.

 

Rev

It’s the rain. Let’s get out of here.

 

Rev slammed hard on the accelerator and the buggy roared to life. Out of the pouring rain, ahead of them, Rev could barely make out something heading straight for them.

It was another buggy.

 

Cyna

Rev, behind us. A buggy.

 

Rev reacted before even thinking. Surrounded by opposing forces she turned the wheel sharply. The buggy behind her was just as quick to respond and kept following her close. Rev turned the wheel sharply again and the big tires hurled mud at her relentless aggressor.

In the wide open space she kept spinning around constantly splattering the other buggy trailing behind her. Suddenly, the first buggy appeared again crossing Rev’s path.

Rev gunned Arnie’s buggy and t-boned the assailant’s buggy with such force it rolled endlessly. It came to rest with two wheels resting over the edge of a steep cliff. Rev hesitated and looked at her mother.

 

Cyna

Do it.

 

Rev stomped on the pedal. Driving at full speed, Rev sideswiped his buggy seconds after the driver jumped free, sending it to its final resting space far below.

The second buggy thundered down on them. As Rev flicked the mud from her eyes, she jerked the wheel back and forth, narrowly out maneuvering him. He was quick to slam into their buggy’s passenger side and grab hold of Cyna’s clothing.

 

Rev

Hold on mom.

 

Rev pulled hard on the steering wheel and smacked his buggy hard against a jagged rock slope. Small rocks flew through the air and bounced off the steel roof bars of their buggy. He released his grip on Cyna as he reduced speed and continued racing behind them.

Rev tried to shake him loose and sailed over a small hill only to land in a giant puddle. She spun the tires sinking deeper in the muddy water.

Rev and Cyna froze in their seats, as their buggy remained motionless.

The man jumped out of his buggy and approached them carrying a heavy pipe.

Before they could move, a black cloud descended from the sky diving straight at them.

Rev frantically tried to free the buggy from the muddy bog. They were stuck. They both looked back as the man came closer showing a wide grin on his face.

Above them the dark cloud dive-bombed the grinning man.

 

Cyna

What is it?

 

Rev

Crows!

 

Hundreds of crows swarmed the man pecking him ferociously. He batted them with his pipe as he bolted for safety, running in the opposite direction. Relentless, the crows chased him out of sight.

 

Rev

Quick mom! Grab your stuff!

 

Rev jumped out and ran towards the man’s buggy.