The two shadows walked briskly along the river, Kurt leading and looking for any debris or obstacles that might block their way. They had walked for a short time when Kurt said, “Let’s stop for a minute. I want to take a reading.
Kurt pulled his GPS scan from his right jacket pocket. He looked at the converging linear plot. OK, we’re on track. We should be coming to the rapids at Laurel Run.”
“I’m sure the bridge was still up last year,” Elizabeth offered, adjusting her back pack.
Kurt put the GPS scan back into his pocket and said, “From where we are, it looks like we have another mile to go before we reach the bridge. That will be great if it’s still there. If so, that’s where we cross. As I said, if worse comes to worse, we’ll go all the way to Ohiopyle. That will be the most dangerous because Security will probably be there. Let’s just hope its still up,” he concluded.
Kurt started off, picking up the pace. He began to have a gnawing feeling in his stomach that could only be described as fear. For some reason, he couldn’t get those Security goons out of his mind. By this time he knew that he was being looked for by Security. Personnel would have cross checked with Security when he hadn’t registered for work for two days. Dr. Alexander could make excuses, but that wouldn’t stop Security. It would bring out an alert, but he didn’t think they would know about the data he downloaded. Then he thought, of course they would. If they were suspicious of him because of his disappearance, they might check his work site and the data that he had worked on. That patrol would have certainly reported a sighting at the entrance of Morgan Creek. He knew first hand they had patrols all over the rivers in Alleghenia. It was common knowledge that roadways and airway ports were thoroughly screened. He was puzzled by how heavily armed the Security team was that he saw on the river. Now he wondered about the wisdom of bringing Elizabeth with him. Was he putting her in danger?
His steps lengthened and he could hear her breathing behind him, steady and strong. They would know soon enough whether the Laurel Run Bridge was still up.
Kurt picked up their pace again as his body felt loose and strong. They strode in unison with the increased noise of the current. Besides the increasing level of the water, the only other noise was the crunching of their feet hitting the ground and the shuffling of loose pebbles.
“It can’t be too far until we get to Laurel Run,” Elizabeth called from behind him.
“You’re right based on my GPS map,” he answered over his shoulder. “I don’t want to take a chance to check again because the transmission might be picked up in Pittsburgh,” Kurt said, turning back to her without losing pace. “The river curves a bit, so it’s hard to tell exactly. Maybe a half hour at the most,” he added.
The two plodded along as evening closed in around them. Whatever the power or reasoning, instinct prevailed and two lone individuals had joined in a partnership, heading for the unknown in a unique bond. They could see up ahead the rapids across from the entrance of Laurel Run. They neared where the bridge was supposed to be.
Kurt stopped and Elizabeth caught up and they could see that the bridge was down. Kurt could make out the aluminum pyramid left from some type of bridge, but that was all.
“No luck so far,” he shouted over the noise of the high running river. “We can take a break here. I know there is a car and an old railway bridge at Ohiopyle. It would have been made out of solid steel and cement, so I can’t believe that it would have been taken down. We’ll take a short break and then head on out.”
“I just remembered, Kurt, some hikers talking about a bridge just before you get to Ohiopyle. It’s before the town and was part of what they called the Great Gorge Trail. I’ve never seen it, but a neighbor mentioned to me that some hikers had come from the East using that bridge. Of course, it could have been scrapped as well,”
Elizabeth said.
“We’ll just find out. Somehow we’ll get over there. That water is really running,” Kurt said. He slid his backpack off and dropped it on the trail. “Let’s have a bite, rest for a while, and head on out. We need to get across at the latest before daybreak. We need to make that contact.”
Elizabeth sat down next to a pine trunk that had invaded the side of the trail embankment. She opened her back pack and pulled out several boxes and a canteen. “Here, Kurt, have some of these.”
“Thanks,” Kurt said as he dropped down beside her and opened the crackers and cheese. He looked at her, smiled, and said,” How are you doing on this adventure?”
“Actually, I’m loving this. This is the first great walking I’ve done in a couple of years, but these boots are a bit tight. I’ll have to watch for blisters, but let’s get going, I’m fine.”
“Hopefully we can cross the river before it gets too late. Everything depends on which bridge we end up taking,” Kurt said. He stood up, “Well, let’s find out about those bridges, as he got back on the trail. You can lead for a while.”
They regained their pace with Elizabeth in front. They had not taking more than a few strides when suddenly they stopped as a muffled whir of air was heard. It grew louder and closer. The sound wavered, came closer and then seemed to pull back. It was nearer, that was obvious.
“Over here, get down beside the embankment,” Kurt shouted. Elizabeth ran over and ducked down beside Kurt who was lying flat against the high dirt wall of the trail. “Don’t move,” he said.
“What is that?” Elizabeth said.
“It’s called a Skimmer. Haven’t heard one of those since I left Pittsburgh. Only the Security Forces have them.
Sounds like it’s coming right up the river. Seems to speed up and then slow down. They can travel at three hundred kilometers or slow down to fifty. Right now it’s drifting with the wind. That’s the way they’re built.
You can hardly hear them, only the wings moving through the air making a whooshing sound.”
At that very moment, the Skimmer came alive, and it zoomed by their spot. A gray shape ringed by lights swooped by over the river. It flashed by fast but Kurt picked out in blazing white lights, the letters ANAS.
“ANAS”, Kurt spoke back over shoulder. “They’re out of Harrisburg. Maybe it’s routine surveillance, maybe not. Just do not move. We have some cover above us with all those rocks, so maybe they didn’t pick us up. He’s looking for something, and the odds are it’s me. It looks like he’s deliberately following the river and the trail at this point,” Kurt said.
As Kurt finished talking the noise drifted away for a moment and then it was back in a flash. It flew by them again and headed back the way it had come. Kurt looked up and could see another flash as it banked to follow the bend. Just as quickly as the sound came on them, it was gone. Again there was silence in the wooded spot.
He stood up and helped Elizabeth get up. ”You could avoid all this. Head back now and get back to your cozy farmhouse. They could be looking for me and you’ll be dragged into my defection. They want me, not you. If you have doubts about making this trip, please go back,” he pleaded.
“Enough, Kurt. I’ve made up my mind. This was the right choice, for me. If you still want me to go with you, I’m going. This is where I want to be, okay? We’ll find a bridge and get to Fallingwater in the morning. Then we carry out Plan A or Plan B. Either way, we’ll be leaving here,” Elizabeth answered firmly.
The silence of their spot by the river was instantly countered by a thunderous roar of air being moved by the sweep of the Skimmer as it roared overhead. They both looked up, startled and then they dove for the
embankment. The craft above seemed to stop in mid-air. Then it slowly peeled away in a circle.
“Jesus, before they come back over let’s get up to those rocks”, he yelled and almost dragged Elizabeth along as he ran to an outcropping of rock. It was part of a chimney looking formation that ran along side of the hill. In a few seconds they were squeezed tightly inside a crevice in the rocks. Above them in the dark they could hear the whirring sound of the Skimmer holding its pattern.