Page 45 of The Trip of a Lifetime

Cally handed them their fourth envelope in the race and Martha opened it.

Your fourth checkpoint is Niagara Falls

‘At least we know where that is,’ Martha said with a smile. ‘I’ve always wanted to go there.’

‘I’m not actually sure I do know where it is,’ Erin said. ‘I thought it was in America.’

‘Well, it’s right on the border.’

‘Okay, then. We’ve got this, Martha,’ Erin said and they set off down the road to the station, watching Priya and Tara in the distance.

The train was due to leave at 8.30 and it was 7.45. Unfortunately, there was plenty of time for them all to catch it. In the waiting room, Martha stretched out the map and pinpointed Niagara Falls.

‘I suggest we get off the train at Thompson just as Mika said and then get a bus to Winnipeg. From there we’ll have to see what the best and cheapest options are to get us all the way through Ontario, across the top of the Great Lakes and on to Niagara. It’s a long old way. I’m guessing about three thousand kilometres,’ Martha said. ‘And look, by the time we reach Niagara, it’s basically only a short hop to the finish.’

‘Hardly any distance at all,’ Erin said with a grimace. ‘A short hop, you say. God, that makes me so tired just to think about it, never mind doing it.’

Noah was filming of course, but Erin had long given up on trying to sound plucky.

She traced her finger across the huge expanse of Canada they still had to travel and took a deep breath. She wasn’t sure they were at quite the halfway point at all.

‘One stage at a time. First, the squeaky slow train to Thompson where we can enjoy another uncomfortable night,’ Martha said and laughed.

Erin hadn’t had nearly enough coffee for jokes. As soon as the others arrived and then also the train itself, they hauled their weary selves back on board and parted with $160 for the privilege.

‘When we’re settled, I want to give you control of the money and the tracker,’ Martha said. ‘You’ve done so well and I really do think you’d thrive with a little more control.’

‘Really? You think so? Thanks, Martha. That means a lot.’

Erin didn’t really mean this. She wasn’t sure she wanted any control at all. She’d probably lose all their money and get them on the wrong bus or train. She couldn’t even keep hold of a leaflet. But, if Martha was keen to give her a bit of responsibility, then she should take it and try to prove her grandmother right.

For the rest of the day they watched the countryside change around them. They ate what they had taken from the chalet which was fruit, biscuits, cereals, bread and a jar of honey, which Erin spread on the bread using the end of the make-up brush she had in her washbag.

‘It’s either that, or your toothbrush,’ she said when Martha turned up her nose.

‘I think I’ll just use my finger,’ Martha said.

The skyline car was full of the other contestants but there was little conversation. Everybody seemed jaded, or maybe it was just that they didn’t want to give away their decisions about the transport they’d planned for this leg of the race. But they still had the night to contend with and by the time the train drew into Thompson station the following morning at eleven thirty, there was no conversation at all. Erin wondered how they were going to cope with the overnight bus to Winnipeg.

In Thompson they bought a few provisions and treated themselves to large hot chocolates. The tickets for the bus were going to cost them another $180, but Martha suggested they try for a lift share. They had until the bus left at 10 p.m. to see if they could get a free ride, but if not they’d jump on the bus.

It was clear after three pointless hours of asking at the gas station if anyone was going to Winnipeg that nobody was prepared to take them. Erin wasn’t surprised. They must look a bit of a fright after a day and a night on a train. If she were honest, this was a bit of a low point. She was incredibly demoralised. They’d come a long way but had so much further to go.

Martha had yet to give her the control she suggested in the form of the tracker and the cash but Erin was pleased about that. She didn’t really want it and wasn’t going to remind her grandmother.

‘I’m not feeling too good, actually,’ Martha said. ‘I’m a bit achy breaky if you know what I mean and my throat is sore.’

‘Let’s go and get you some paracetamol,’ Erin said.

‘Cally will have some,’ Noah said. ‘Do you want to see the medic?’

‘No need for that, just some painkillers will be fine, thank you.’

Noah came back with a packet of high-strength paracetamol and Martha swallowed two down with water.

‘That should do the trick,’ she said, but Erin thought she looked really peaky.

‘Let’s go and sit in the bus station,’ said Erin. ‘We’re not spending any more hours out here. It’s been a complete waste of time.’