Joe, Mary and the twins headed northwest on 287. Joe and Mary sat in front. The twins' special car seat took up most of the back.
"I remember taking trips with Mom and Dad," Joe said. "Sometimes I slept on the transmission hump in the back, sometimes on the narrow shelf behind the back seats. I loved to look up at the stars through the back window. I guess it was dangerous -- probably wouldn't be allowed today. Anyway, I loved to look up at the stars and dream of going there. The funny things kids think about. I wonder what JJ is thinking about."
"Don't call them that," Mary protested. "They're not one person -- they're individuals."
"Tell me about it. I didn't know twins could be so different. Joey is so quiet and nice, and Jerry is so -- well, you know."
"They've been through a lot," Mary said. "They're going to have a hard life; a lot of adjustments to make; a lot of compromises." Mary suddenly sobbed and shook. Her body doubled over in agony. "So unfair," she finally managed to say between new bursts of sobs.
It was a long drive. Jerry was constantly screaming and punching Joey. Mary tried as best she could to keep the peace. Changing two sets of diapers and feeding two hungry mouths took a toll on her. They had to make frequent stops. They passed Wichita Falls and Amarillo. They drove until they were all weary, and stopped in an inexpensive motel on the outskirts of Pueblo.
They were too tired to think. They went straight to bed and fell into dreamless sleep. Mary was spared the terrors of demon-haunted nightmares.
---
They had been driving without a plan, just headed in the general direction of mountains. In the morning, at breakfast, Joe decided it was time to be a little more concrete. "Where to now?" He asked.
Mary shrugged. "He said God would guide us. I've never been religious. I don't know God. I don't where he wants us to go; don't feel anything."
"Well, we need to decide -- big city, small city, no city. Big cities are expensive. Nosy media. We need to stay low. Don't want to attract a lot of attention. On the other hand, in little towns, everybody knows everybody. Everybody talks."
"Maybe no city, then," Mary said. "Find something away from everything."
"It's agreed, then," Joe said.
They left the interstate and headed up into the mountains. Soon they were snaking their way up a steep valley; grey granite walls towering over sharp curves. Far below the roadway a clear stream foamed and rushed over rocks.
They stopped to eat sandwiches at a turnout space just big enough for one car carved out of the rock face. With some difficulty, they extracted the twins from their seat and crossed the road. There was no traffic. They sat down on some rocks overlooking the fast-flowing stream.
"It's so beautiful," Mary gushed, looking up at the rugged cliffs and the snowy white clouds brushing the tops; dazzling blue sky above. Down below, the crystal-clear stream gurgled merrily. "Never saw anything like this in Alabama."
"We've got Little River Canyon." Joe felt compelled to defend his home state.
"Never saw it," Mary said. "We never took any trips."
"Of course, it's not quite as grand as this," Joe had to admit.
"I always dreamed of getting away -- seein' the world. And now -- now we can't really enjoy it."
"Who could want to harm the twins?" Joe asked.
"I don't know. -- But I feel the little old man knows something. What he says feels true. I've been feeling the same thing in my dreams. Something or someone chasing me; I've got to protect a treasure. Well, now I have two treasures. And I'm not going to let anything happen to them."
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