Mourning Song (8 page)

Dani tried to close her eyes, but her dream of taking Cassie to the beach seemed to be turning into a nightmare. What if Cassie got sick—so sick that she … Dani broke out in a cold sweat and forced her thoughts in a different direction. She glanced at Austin, resting beside her and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude toward him. No one else could have helped her pull this off. “How did you learn all this camping stuff, Austin?”

He raised up on one elbow. “What stuff?” She gestured at her surroundings. “When we lived in
Africa, we’d take trips to villages with no modern conveniences. All the missionaries have simple medical and first aid training. Out in the bush, you never know what you’ll run into.”

“What was it like living in Africa?”

“In many ways, it was beautiful. The land was wild and untamed. We took barges down the Congo and drove Land Rovers through the plains. There were no paved roads in the back country, and hardly even any dirt ones. Driving over some of the territory, it felt as if your teeth were vibrating out of your head.”

“Were there wild animals?”

“Sure. At night, you could hear the hyenas howling, but we had guides and bearers, natives who helped carry the gear. We learned a lot from th
e
natives, as much as we taught them! They always lit fires around the perimeters of our camp when the sun went down. No Holiday Inns or hotels along the way. We camped under the stars.”

“And you were in India, too?”

“For a year. But I liked Africa best. Too many people in India.”

Dani turned to face him. “Did you spend a lot of time alone or with your parents?”

“There were schools in the big cities, and that’s where we were based most of our time. My mom and dad are teachers. I went to classes with rich
locals and other MKs—missionary kids. In the summers, we traveled.”

“Cassie always wanted to travel,” Dani said wistfully.

“I’m glad she only wanted to go to Florida this trip, and not Tahiti.”

His joke made her smile. “Do you miss life abroad?”

“Sometimes. Not just the land, but the seriousness of everyday life. Whenever I’d come back to the States with my folks to raise money to help support their mission work, I couldn’t believe how spoiled American kids are. I mean, they spend half a day watching TV and the rest of the day saying they’re bored. If people didn’t work every day in India or Africa, they’d die.”

“How did you spend your time in those places?”

“I helped with chores—farming, digging wells, taking care of livestock. But I had fun, too. All missionary families lived together in a compound. We played soccer a lot. We kicked oranges when we didn’t have a ball.”

Dani gazed intently at him. What a strange and different kind of life he’d led. “I guess it hasn’t been easy fitting in over here.”

“No joke.” His laugh held no humor. “When kids find out you’re an MK, they treat you as if you’re some kind of alien. As if you might burst into Bible verses. They don’t realize that you’re interested
in the same things as every other kid your age.”

“Is that why you wear your hair long?”

“Maybe. I’d get an earring, but Dad would croak.”

“Are your parents thinking of leaving Cincinnati?”

“Would you miss me?” He flashed a grin at her.

“Not a bit,” she said, knowing it wasn’t true. She peeked up at him shyly. “Okay … maybe just a little. Who’d take me camping and help me make my sister’s dream come true?”

He stared at her in such a way, she turned her head. No boy had ever looked at her that way before. She swallowed hard, unable to sort out what she was experiencing.

With a sudden laugh, Austin tousled her hair and flopped back down. He rolled over and said, “Go to sleep. It’ll be nighttime before you know it.”

Dani puzzled over the sensations pouring through her. Austin was helping her accomplish one of her most important missions in life, and she felt grateful to him. What else could it be? This trip was for Cassie, not for herself. She’d better not forget what it was all about.

  Dani awoke with a start. Beside her, Austin slept, looking as peaceful as a small child. She
inched away and crept inside the van. Cassie was sitting with her legs crossed. The lamp was on, and she was staring at a magazine.

“Hey,” Dani said. “You feeling better?”

Cassie shrugged. “A little dopey. I think it’s the medicine.”

“Good magazine?”

Cassie shook her head. “I can’t read it, really. The type looks blurry, and sometimes I see double pages.”

Dani didn’t like the sound of her sister’s description.

“The medicine’s never done this before.”

“Well, I never had to glue it in your mouth before.”

Cassie snickered, and Dani felt relieved knowing her sister’s sense of humor was intact. “I guess it was pretty weird,” Cassie said. “I’ll bet we scared off half of those McDonald’s customers forever.”

“I hear Ronald McDonald himself is out to get us.”

Cassie laughed aloud.

“Did I miss a good joke?” Austin stepped inside the van, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

“We didn’t mean to wake you,” Dani apologized.

“No problem. We’ve got to start packing up.
anyway.” He looked at his watch. “I’d like to be rolling in an hour.”

“I’m hungry,” Cassie said.

Dani flipped open the ice chest, glad to think about something as ordinary as eating. “Soup—coming up.”

“Gosh, I hope not!” Cassie replied in wide-eyed innocence. “I’m tired of having my food come up.”

The three of them looked at each other, then burst into laughter. Quickly, they set about fixing dinner as twilight fell over the Tennessee woods. An hour later, they pulled out onto the highway, heading south.

“W
HY DON’T WE
put on some music?” Cassie suggested.

“Cassette of your choice,” Austin said. He popped open the glove compartment, and Dani rummaged for a tape—any tape—knowing it was important to keep the radio off.

When the music was playing, Cassie sat forward on a stack of pillows, directly behind the console and between the two front seats. “Where are we?” she asked.

“About an hour from Atlanta. From there, it’s around five hours to the Florida state line.”

“And to the beach?”

“Another four hours to Melbourne.”

Dani made a quick mental calculation and figured they’d be hitting their destination around five
A.M
. She felt a stirring of excitement—they might make it after all, despite all the setbacks.

“I can’t wait,” Cassie said eagerly. “Where are we going to stay?”

“All arranged,” Dani announced. “I reserved rooms at a beachfront hotel—as we know, money is no object. Thanks to our wonderful, mysterious One Last Wish friend I reserved us two rooms.”

“You didn’t choose the same hotel my class stayed at?”

“Of course not.”

“Did you use your name to make the reservations?” Austin asked quickly.

“I have more sense than that. I used Smith.”

“Smith?” Austin and Cassie asked in unison.

“What’s wrong with Smith?”

“You could have been more original,” Austin teased. “Don’t you think so. Cassie?”

“Dani, anyone could have thought of something better than Smith.”

Dani glanced from one to the other. “Well, excuse me. The next time I plan a getaway weekend to Florida, I’ll be sure and consult with you two over an appropriate name for registration.”

“Touchy, isn’t she?” Austin asked Cassie.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with her,”
Cassie said with an exaggerated sigh. “Kidnapping patients from hospitals, dragging people into the woods to camp by
day
, and choosing a name like Smith … She’s such an ordinary kind of sister.”

“That’s for sure,” Austin agreed.

Dani ignored him. “And what name would you have picked, Miss Originality?”

Cassie contemplated for a moment. “How about something exotic, like Madame Bovary, or mysterious, like Mr. Heathcliff.”

“Or something famous, like Washington,” Austin interjected.

“I still prefer Smith,” Dani insisted. “It’s the perfect name if you two think about it. And if you give me any more grief, I’ll call ahead and cancel the rooms.” She tried to keep a straight face to accompany her threat.

“Smith sounds okay to me,” Cassie said quickly.

“Works for me,” Austin said.

Dani gave them both a smug grin. “And you didn’t think I could be flexible.”

  About one
A.M
., as they crossed the Florida state line, they cheered. Looking at the gas gauge, Austin said, “We’d better stop and fill up.” He pulled into a service station, where the neon brightness made Dani squint.

She and Cassie went to the ladies’ room while
Austin pumped gas. Dani couldn’t help noticing how slowly Cassie moved. She was dragging her left foot more than usual.

“I’m just stiff,” Cassie explained apologetically. “From sitting so long.”

“I know what you mean,” Dani assured her. “So am I.”

Cassie glanced up and around. “You’d think they’d light these places better at night.”

“Are you serious? It’s bright as—” She checked herself and asked, “What do you mean?”

“Everything looks sort of dim. Don’t you think so?”

Was something happening to Cassie’s eyesight?
Dani wondered. “I can see well enough to get us to the bathroom and back,” Dani said.

“Good. I wouldn’t want to trip.”

In the bathroom, Dani splashed cold water on her face, hoping to settle the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She recalled Dr. Phillips’s warning that as the tumor grew, so would Cassie’s physical symptoms. Her sister had to be all right. In less than a day, they’d be at the beach.

Dani opened the bathroom door and stepped outside. She stopped in her tracks as she noticed the Florida highway patrol car parked by the gas pumps. Fear squeezed her pounding heart. By reflex, she stepped back inside the bathroom.

“What’s wrong?” Cassie asked.

“Uh … Austin’s not ready yet.”

“So, can’t we go sit in the van and wait for him?”

Dani scrambled for a reasonable excuse, but came up empty. Haltingly, she said, “Look … Cassie … there’s a cop outside … and I think … it would be best … if we waited until he left.”

Cassie stared at her, one eyelid and one side of her mouth drooping noticeably. “Are the police searching for us?”

“It’s possible.” Dani tried to sound unconcerned.

“I want to go to the beach,” Cassie said. Tears shimmered in her eyes, making Dani’s heart ache.

“We’ll go,” she assured her. “But I think we should wait until the cop leaves—just to be safe.”

Cassie leaned against the wall, covered her face with her hands, and slid to the floor. Dani didn’t know how to console her.

“I don’t want to g-go h-home,” Cassie repeated, sobbing.

“It’ll be all right,” Dani said gently. “Let me take a peek outside.”

She cracked the door, but could still see the patrol car. Why didn’t it go away? She saw Austin, too. He was leisurely washing the van’s windshield. She also saw that he’d put on a baseball cap and tucked his long, blond ponytail under it. She admired his ingenuity.

Dani continued to watch through the opening. She couldn’t see the patrolman, and assumed he was inside the convenience store of the gas station. She saw Austin complete his window-cleaning chore, then climb inside the van. She heard him start the engine and for a moment felt confused. What did he want her and Cassie to do? Run and jump in the van? Surely, that would cause an uproar. And he knew that Cassie couldn’t run.

As she continued to watch, unsure of what to do, the van started moving. Dani saw it make a slow, wide arc and turn back in the opposite direction, pull out onto the road, and head off. She blinked, incredulous and uncomprehending as its taillights disappeared in the darkness.

She clutched the door handle until her hand hurt, but she didn’t move. From the floor beside her, she heard Cassie’s soft sobs. Dani felt trapped. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves and get a grip on her emotions. Austin couldn’t leave them stranded. He just couldn’t!

Moments later, Dani saw the highway patrolman come out to his car, get inside, and start off. She had to open the door wider and crane her neck to see him driving away, because he was headed in the other direction from the van, but once he was out of sight, she opened the door completely and urged Cassie to her feet. The bath
room had grown hot and stuffy, and sweat was pouring off her face.

“It’ll be cooler outside,” she told her sister, who followed like a docile child.

“Did the policeman go away?” Cassie asked.

“Yes.”
And so did Austin
, Dani thought.

Suddenly, the van appeared in front of them. Austin leapt out and hurried up to them. “Are you two all right?” His face was as white as a sheet.

Dani was so relieved to see him that she almost hugged him. “We’re fine, and the cop’s gone.”

“I saw him leave. I pulled off to the side of the road up ahead”—he nodded in the direction he’d come from—“and turned off my lights and waited until he left.” Austin helped Cassie inside, and once he and Dani were in with the doors locked, he backed the van out and continued on their original route.