Page 81 of Into the Mist

“I collect heart rocks!” Imani said with a grin. “And you two are the perfect height to make sure I don’t miss any. Plus, I’m a science teacher, and I can tell you what the rocks are made of and maybe even how old they might be.”

“Oh, they’d like that,” said Georgie.

“Then it’s a date! Gemma, I’ll be down there soon. Oh, and here.” Imani reached inside the open tailgate, grabbed a roll of toilet paper, and tossed it to Gemma. “Don’t forget this.”

“Got it!” Gemma tucked the roll under her arm and led the three kids to the incline. She helped them down, and then they made their way to the bank. Gemma slid down it first, then turned and lifted each of the three kids down.

“She’s a really good girl,” said Imani as they watched the four young ones walk over big, round rocks as they headed to the river.

“Yeah, she’s a keeper,” said Stella. “Ladies, I have a prickly feeling about Warm SpringsandMadras.”

Mercury’s brows went up. “Should we not go to Madras?”

“I still believe we have to, especially knowing Rutland and his goons are somewhere behind us, but I don’t think we’ll be staying long. No, my prickly feeling says that we need to gas up, drive fast through Warm Springs, and then—somewhere close but still outside Madras city center—hide the truck and walk the rest of the way.”

“Stella, we have three children with us.” Karen picked at the hem of her cardigan. “They cannot walk miles.”

“I don’t meanmiles. We can hide the truck inside the city limits somewhere. But I knowfor surewe should not drive it very far into Madras.”

“Then we won’t. We’ll hide it. And we’ll carry the boys if we have to. They’re small and skinny. They can’t weigh much,” said Mercury.

“I still wish we didn’t have to walk.” Karen’s lips pressed into a line.

“We all wish that,” said Stella. “But we can’t chance losing this truck.”

Karen sighed. “Do you knowwhyyou don’t think we’re staying in Madras? Didn’t that truck driver—”

“Sim,” Mercury said.

“Yes, Sim. Didn’t he say that Madras is governed by a woman? Surely we’d be safe there with her,” said Karen.

“Then stay there,” said Imani, though not unkindly. “I’m doing what Stella says. Period.”

“I’m not saying I won’t do what she says.” Karen put her hands on her round hips. “I was just asking why.”

Stella shrugged. “Karen, I’ve told you everything I know. I’ve only had this superhero intuition thing for three days. I don’t know how it works. It’s telling me that Madras is questionable, though exactly what that means I don’t know. It might be as simple as it’s just not the right fit for us, which doesn’t have to mean it’s a den of inequity. Imani is right. If you want to stay in Madras we won’t stop you. Just because it’s not right for all of us, doesn’t mean it’s not a good fit for you.”

“I don’t want to be separated from the rest of you,” Karen said softly.

“Then don’t be,” said Mercury. “But you need to understand it’s your choice to make—just like it’s our choice to leave.”

“I have to pee,” said Stella. “But first I’d like Karen to check out the map and try to figure out exactly how far from Warm Springs we are. We should leave the truck with a full tank, and I need to know if I should fill up at the next car we see or if it can wait until we’re through the town.”

“Yes, okay, I can definitely help with that,” said Karen. “I would imagine we’re very close to Warm Springs, but I’ll check the map andsee if I can figure out our exact location.” She headed to the cab to retrieve the map as Mercury stretched mightily with a quick yoga sun salutation.

“Hey, I’m gonna go down to the river with the kids,” said Imani. “Unless you need me up here?”

“No, go ahead,” said Stella. “Actually, Mercury, you can go too. I’ll do the map stuff with Karen and then pee over there behind a bush or whatever.” She nodded at some scrub bushes roadside.

“Okay then, heading down. You coming Acorn?” Imani slid down the incline from the highway and grinned cheekily up at her.

Mercury frowned at Stella. “Look what you’ve done. The Acorn thing is spreading.”

“I hold your dad responsible,” said Stella. “He started it.”

Mercury had just turned to follow Imani down the incline when a terrified scream echoed up from the riverside. Her gaze shot to the bank. One of the twins was standing close to Georgie and Gemma, at the edge of the water. He’d turned toward the clump of junipers several yards to their left and was pointing as he screamed again.

Mercury followed his finger to see that the other boy had climbed up on a boulder and appeared to be frozen as he stared down at the base of the rock where green fog lapped against it like emerald water.