My luck with cars continues. My latest vehicle apparently blew the engine last night. I was on my way back to Pittsburgh, taking the back roads like I normally do, when smoke started billowing out of the hood. I managed to get it off the road and eventually the fire died down.

The spot I was in had no cell service, and after sitting there for about an hour, someone eventually pulled up behind me. It was the first vehicle that had come along during that time. A young lady rolled down her window and greeted me. After informing me that she had a pistol in the car, she invited me to ride in the back of her truck to the first town.

I grabbed my stuff and hopped in. We made it to this little town about 15 minutes later, and she pulled up to a small motel. She explained that she was stopping for the night so her kid could sleep and then she would be leaving in the morning. I was not welcome to continue with her, but should be able to call for help from here. I likewise decided to turn in and booked a room with her.

Things have gotten interesting this morning. Apparently during the night, her truck was vandalized. All four tires have been slashed. The constable here said she most likely ran over something, but I can hear the lie in his voice. Anyways, it looks like we are both stuck in this town for the next few days.

I might be slow in contacting the board since I am stuck on a 28.8k dial-up connection here. Needless to say, I will be out of the loop for the next few days while I try to find transportation out of here.

Its never good when the Law, well, Isn't.

DK send me a PM as well, and we shall try to figure out what is happening there?

I appreciate the offer to get a ride Michael. I think however, it might be a good idea for me to stick around this town until Louise and her daughter Nikki can move on. They were unable to get tires today because most of the town apparently shuts down on Sunday. Everyone around here seems to be a down right pious bunch, but the church was too far away for the three of us to get to (I couldn't find a church along main street or the surrounding area).

Louise seems nice enough, but only started to talk with me once her daughter seemed to take act comfortable around me. Her daughter is 13 and quite the special kid.

Needless to say, I do not trust the constable. Most of the other townspeople seem a little off also. I don't know how to put it but they seem unfriendly by appearance and too friendly by their actions. All together it puts me in a mind to keep my pistol close to me.

I will let you all know more in the morning. The mechanic should be back in the shop then.

Keep us in the loop DK. Till then trust your feelings, and keep safe.

If you're really worried, barricade your room and sleep in the most central part. If you're especially paranoid sleep in the bathtub. It'll afford a modicum of protection if someone starts shooting into your room.

...

Maybe.

For those times when he can't rent a decoy room.

I always rent a decoy room...

That deals with some of the more mundane threats, but some of the stuff that comes after us can use some more intresting methods.

Ron Caliburn wrote:Small town folks tend to be nervous around strangers - they don't like having them around and they try to be friendly enough to get hem on their way as soon as they can . . . but there does sound like somehting else goign on.

Like the suit in the library when Scotty arrived...
If there even was such a guy, of course.

You thinking Scotty went off the deep end there?

Gee, how likely is that?

As I have not met Scotty yet I can't say.

I had trouble sleeping last night. No one jumping into the room or anything, but the motel/hotel was once an old house. All through the night I could hear something moving around in the walls. Most likely it is rats or some animal that has made it's home in there. A couple of times I had a bad feeling, but I think it was just the scratching playing on my nerves.

Apparently, Louise had the same trouble with sleeping. She didn't hear any of the scratching but Nikki spent most of the night on the floor in the middle of their room in a ball. Louise said that she spent the night repeating "No body here, no body home." Louise told me that she does that occasionally, and that Nikki should be fine in today.

Anyways, we are headed back to the small diner that we ate at yesterday for breakfast and then we are both headed over to the mechanic's shop to see about getting our respective cars looked at.

We both just got finished talking to the mechanic. It seems that neither of us are leaving anytime soon. The mechanic claims to not have the tires for Louise's truck and the next shipment is not due in until next week. In the case of my car, it is a lost cause. I at least have the satisfaction of getting my money back.

When I say we are both stuck it is because the next bus out of this town is not until next Sunday. Seems like we missed the bus yesterday. (I don't even remember hearing the thing). When I asked the few locals I have talked with me for a lift and was met with polite refusals and excuses. As I said before, it all makes me feel a little unsettled.

To pass time while I am stuck here, I am going to do some hiking in the nearby woods this afternoon. I am hoping if I get out of the town for a few hours this feeling will go away. Maybe when I get back I will go visit the local library and see if I can find a book or two to read.

Just in case, Don't forget your Gun, and be carefull.

The bullets it shoots. Unless yer all tk ammo I guess..

It makes no sense to me either at this point. I took a long hike today in the woods nearby, and for most of the time I am pretty sure I was being followed. I never really saw anyone exactly, but heard the sound of it when the wind went the right direction. Perhaps someone in the town thought I was going to get lost or something.

Their library is down right ancient to modern standards. They still have the old card catalog system in place and the most recent book they had was from 1979. Likewise with the exception for the small local weekly paper, there was nothing newer than 1980. Again there is nothing inherently wrong, but it all just seems odd. I am starting to feel like I am in a twilight zone version of Mayberry.

Louise didn't get to do much today it seems. Nikki refused to leave the room and screamed and wailed if she was forced to leave. I picked up a few books for her to read in case she has the same problem tomorrow. I forgot to mention that there is not much in the way of television reception in this town, unless you count the single very fuzzy television station that comes in at night.

Anyways, I am start on my book. I never got around the reading "Heart of Darkness" and now seems like as good a time as any to start.

Heart of Darkness? Interesting choice. Stay safe, and call if things get weirder.

A single fuzzy station?

Have anything to record it on?

And the kid is probably more perceptive than the mother and smarter than you if she refuses to leave her room

Wear down the old shoeleather and walk out of there.

Or steal a car.