Page 130 of Into the Mist

Mercury turned to look at Karen.

“I saw it again.”

“It?” Mercury asked.

“Another light or glow or whatever. When Gemma healed you. This one was green, and it covered both of you.”

“What is she talking about?” asked Stella.

“Only that it seems the green fog did change something about Karen,” said Mercury. “But I think I should let Karen tell you guys. It’s her thing—not mine.” Mercury headed to the cluster of junipers just a few yards away, with Stella and Gemma following.

First, Mercury kicked off her cowboy boots and socks, peeled off her jeans and put them near the base of the biggest juniper so they wouldn’t get soaked. Then she tiptoed behind the trees, squatted and peed for what seemed like forever as rain continued to wash pink water from her hair. When she was done, Mercury returned to where Stella and Gemma were standing in the middle of the circle of junipers.

“Aren’t you freezing?” Stella asked as she rubbed her arms and shivered beneath the largest of the junipers, which provided some shelter from the rain.

“Yep, but I’m also bloody and gross. So, here goes nothing!” Mercury pulled her sweatshirt off and unhooked her blood-soaked bra. She stepped delicately out of her panties, and then walked from the ring of sheltering trees into the open. She squeezed rain and blood from her hair and then Mercury spread her arms wide and tilted her head back as the cold water cascaded down her naked skin. She laughed joyfully while she embraced the torrents of rain. “Skyclad is the best!”

“What the hell,” Gemma said. “Me too!” The teenager got naked and then, shivering, joined Mercury in the rain.

Mercury was turning in a slow circle, arms still outspread, as she called to Stella, “Come on! Join us!”

“Uh, hell no. I didn’t get as bloody as you two, so I’m going to stay semi-dry.”

Gemma had begun twirling in a circle in time with Mercury. “Stella doesn’t seem like a party pooper.”

“That’s because sheusuallydoesn’t poop on parties,” said Mercury.

“I can hear you two, and I’m not pooping on anything!” Then Stella was naked, too, shivering and twirling beside them in the rain with her arms outstretched, embracing joy with her friends.

As Mercury twirled faster and faster, she felt as if the cold rain washed away her old life and baptized the new chance Gemma had given her to live another life—one that would be like nothing she’d ever imagined—filled with undiscovered miracles and limitless adventure. With that baptismal, some of her grief from those she’d lost was diluted as well. Mercury would never forget her family and her friends, but she also understood that by fully embracing the future, she would be accepting a new family, making new friends. Her thoughts shifted to Ford, and silently she added,And a new lover.

“Holy shit!” Stella said. “Mercury, Gemma, look!”

They stopped dancing to see that Stella was staring at the ground beneath their bare feet. Mercury looked down. Everywhere the rain had washed blood from their bodies wildflowers sprouted. Yellow and purple and orange buds burst into full bloom. The wind caused them to sway, so that it appeared as if they, too, were dancing in the rain.

CHAPTER

39

MERCURY FELT DRYand warm and incredibly happy as the truck bumped along a trail that looked like it had been made for and by deer. She sat between Ford and Stella in the cab, swathed in one of Karen’s cardigans from her seemingly never-ending supply. Her “Rogers High School” sweatshirt wasn’t exactly clean, and her boyfriend jeans definitely needed a wash, but Mercury was more than content as she nibbled on a cheese sandwich and sipped water while she stared at the ruggedly beautiful scenery.

“So, y’all don’t think anyone followed us from Madras?” Mercury asked.

“Nope,” Stella said. “As soon as we got you and Gemma into the back of the truck, we took off. I didn’t even turn on the truck’s headlights. With Ford’s help, we’ve avoided any real roads and have not seen one living person since Madras.”

“Do either of you know where we’re going? It can’t be long until sunset, right?”

“All I know is that we need to keep going east until we find it,” said Stella.

“But what’sit?” Mercury asked.

“I’m hoping Stella will knowitwhen she seesit,” said Ford.

His arm rested easily along the seat behind her and it felt right,natural, for Mercury to lean against his warmth.

“I have a feeling we’ll all know it when we see it,” said Stella. “Hey, is that a road up ahead?”

Ford sat up straighter as he studied the area in front of the truck. Then he smiled. “It’s Bear Creek Road!” His voice was tinged with excitement. “It means we’re crossing into the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument and the Painted Hills Preservation lands.”