Eldorado by Jay Allan Storey Page B

town and see what I can dig up. I’ve got to get back anyway for Innovation Day.”
    “Innovation Day?”
    “You’ve never heard of Innovation Day?” He stared at her in disbelief. “It’s a huge deal - a new holiday celebrating Mankind’s ability to control their environment through innovation. The theme for this inaugural year is: ‘Man’s Triumph Over Nature’.”
    “You’re kidding.”
    He felt his face flush. “What?”
    Her lip curled into a sneer. “Man’s Triumph Over Nature?”
    “I’m leading a project that will be one of the key parts of Vancouver’s contribution,” he announced proudly. “I’m actually under a lot of pressure to get back.”
    “Things may be tough in Surrey,” she said, shaking her head, “but at least we’ve got a grip on reality.”
    He frowned at her, indignant. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    She shrugged. “Some things you just have to accept. Maybe Mankind should show a little humility for a change and face up to the fact that there’s stuff out there beyond their control.”
    His lips tightened. “I guess you’re entitled to your opinion.”
    Neither spoke for a few seconds.
    “Hey, don’t get mad,” she finally said, smiling, and his irritation melted away.
    “I might be able to scare you up a bicycle,” she said as they gathered up their dishes and set them by the door. “Then at least you'd be mobile.”
    “You’d do that? Why?”
    “Maybe you’re growing on me. We can try tomorrow, but there’s a pretty major hitch…”
    He raised an eyebrow.
    “It has to do with who’s in charge of lending out equipment,” she said.
    “Let me guess…”
    “Doyle,” they both said together. Carrie smiled, “You are a bright one. We take turns overseeing the lending out of resources – including the bikes. The assignment changes every month. This month happens to be Doyle’s turn.”
    “We’ve had it, then,” said Richard. “He’s the last person that would ever lend me a bike.”
    “It’s a problem,” said Carrie, “but I have a plan…”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    The Trek Begins
     
    The night air was alive with the calls of frogs, crickets, birds, and other wildlife as Lacy tiptoed quietly through the door of her shack and set down her heavy straw basket. Danny sat up suddenly in bed and peered over at her in the dim light.
    “Sorry, I tried not to wake you,” she said. “I gathered some food for tomorrow morning.”
    Danny stretched and swung his feet to the floor. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he said. “I can find my own way back.”
    She nodded.
    “Have you got a pen and paper?” he said.
    Lacy found a pad of paper she’d scrounged from an abandoned home nearby, and the remains of a pencil crudely sharpened with a knife. Danny sketched on the pad for a few minutes.
    “Just in case anything happens – in case we get separated or something – here’s a map to where I live.” He handed her a slip of paper. On the crudely drawn street map were two ‘X’s, along with the addresses – one marked ‘our house’ – the other marked ‘the College’. “If anything goes wrong meet me at our house. If I’m not there tell my brother what happened. He might be able to help.”
    “I thought you said you fought with him all the time.”
    “Yeah, a lot of the time we don’t get along, but he’ll help if he can. If he’s not at home he might be at the College. His name is Richard – Richard Hampton. Here,” he took back the map and wrote his brother’s name on the bottom.”
    Danny was getting stronger every day, but still tired easily. They’d spent the morning hiking the fields nearby to prepare him for the return trip, and that physical exertion had drained his strength. He crawled back into bed and closed his eyes.
    Lacy gazed down at him as he lay still in the candlelight. He looked so sweet and innocent that she was overwhelmed. She sat down on the edge of the bed and pulled the blanket across his