Licking his lips, Frank flipped his turn signal and slowly started down pavement no thicker than plastic wrap.
There was a stop sign at the bottom of the off ramp. A normal-looking, battered red and yellow sign. As he hit the brakes the light changed, late afternoon replacing the awesome universal night around them. It was reality, snapping back like a rubber band.
"We’ve fallen through a crack," said Burnfingers.
"We’re back." Alicia let out a long sigh. "Thank God, we’re back!"
"Maybe," said Burnfingers, but to himself.
The sign by the dirty asphalt read WELCOME TO CEDAR CITY, UTAH. Ahead they could see structures of wood and stucco, clinging to the lower slopes of snow-capped peaks. On a telephone pole nearby, a hawk sat examining the motor home. As they approached, it took wing in search of vermin. The air was warm but not desert hot, refreshingly devoid of pollutants or other surprises. Frank lowered his window, sucked in mountain air.
"Smells right. Looks right. Could we be back where we belong, back on the right reality line?"
"Reality is rife with off ramps," Mouse replied gently, "but I admit it does appear promising. There is no need to try to find the interstate again. We can continue along this state highway."
"You mean you can continue along. I’ve had it. I know I promised, but I can’t take this anymore, lady. Not even if we’re, like you said, linked together. No more."
Mouse regarded him for a long moment. "I understand, Mr. Sonderberg. It has been harder than I thought. There will be dangers to you, but perhaps when I depart your company they will not manifest themselves. I will make my way alone the rest of the way to the Vanishing Point."
Frank seemed confused by her ready acquiescence. "Well, okay. That’s more like it." Alicia said nothing.
"What will you do?" Mouse asked him curiously.
He considered, hardly daring to believe their ordeal was nearing its end. "I dunno. I guess we’ll find a motel." Now Alicia smiled. "An ordinary chain motel where we can get some rest. Then I’m calling a taxi, or a limo, or something. The outfit that rented us this machine can come and get it. I don’t give a damn if the taxi has to come all the way down from Salt Lake. I ain’t doing any more driving. We’ll head for the nearest airport. I’ll beg, borrow, or steal a charter plane to fly us home. We’re not even going into Salt Lake for a regular airline. I just want out of here as fast as possible."
"I do understand. I hope all will be well with you."
"Put me in the air headed toward L.A. and I’ll be well, all right."
They entered town. A small Western town, salubrious in its ordinariness. Burger King, McDonald’s, a Kentucky Fried slid past, until their mouths were watering. They were followed by a small shopping center anchored by miniature Sears and JC Penney stores, then a Kmart. It was so much like Los Angeles on a smaller scale that Alicia started crying. Best of all, it didn’t change as they cruised up the main street. Frank pulled into the first motel with a Best Western sign out front.
The Vacancy/No Vacancy sign wasn’t working. That didn’t matter to Frank, who could have spotted the lifeless neon letters a mile off. He pulled up alongside the fenced swimming pool and parked.
"Guess I’ll be leaving you here, too," said Burnfingers. He raised a hand to forestall Frank’s protest. "It’s all right. I know this country well and will have no trouble here. You have been good people. I did not thank you properly for rescuing me back at that casino. Maybe someday I may even be able to explain it to myself."
"Didn’t exactly rescue you," Frank replied. "All we did was help distract those guys who were beating on you and give you a chance to rescue yourself." He checked his watch. "Least we can do is buy you something to eat."
"That’s kind of you. I would enjoy a proper meal. It has been a strenuous couple of days."
"Now there’s an understatement." Alicia smiled for the first time in a while. Wendy, too, had recovered, though she wasn’t twisting and tossing her body in time to the music inside her head with quite the same abandon as before. She missed her tape player.
Maybe a cheeseburger and fries would serve as a temporary substitute, her father mused. "Just let me check us in first." He headed for the door. "Maybe the manager can recommend a place to us."
They must have presented an interesting sight as they crowded into the modest waiting room. There was a stone fireplace, cold this time of year; a smaller color TV on a stand, on which a young man with too many teeth was giving away large appliances; a pile of magazines; a couple of couches for the use of guests only; and the counter with the omnipresent revolving postcard rack and boxful of local giveaway pamphlets advertising attractions in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas, and points in between.
The manager/owner was in his early sixties, a large man with a tired paunch and a flowing white mustache. Thin white rimless glasses framed his eyes, and suspenders struggled to keep his waistband even with the bottom of a striped white shirt. He grinned as he inspected his visitors.
"Well! You folks look like you’ve been through the wringer!"
"We do?" Frank didn’t realize it showed that much. "Just been driving a long time."
The manager grunted. "That’s tough on anybody. Y’all stayin' here?"
"No. Just the four of us. Our friends will be looking for separate transportation out of town."
The man shoved a registration form across the narrow counter. "Greyhound stops once in the morning, Trailways in the evening — they been kind of irregular lately."
Alicia tried to make conversation while her husband filled out the registration form. "Pretty country."
"That’s why folks’re livin' here." The manager chuckled. "Quiet. You want excitement, you’re in the wrong town. Wrong state, far as that goes."
A woman juggling a glass and dishrag against each other appeared by the back door. "Hello, folks."
Alicia smiled. "Good evening."
"Yes, it is a good evening, isn’t it?" She frowned slightly at the glass, worked the rag a little faster. "Where you folks from?"
"Los Angeles," Steven piped up.
"Oh?" She left the doorway to peer over the counter. "Didn’t see you down there, sonny."
"We’re on vacation," Steven told her brightly, "and you should’a seen some of the things we’ve seen!"
His mother glanced sternly down at him. "That will be enough, Steven."
"Awww." Disappointed, he turned to stare at the TV.
Frank turned the completed registration form around. "Want a credit card imprint now?"
"Neh. Don’t need it — unless you want to charge long distance calls. Local are free."
"All we want now is something to eat."
Taking his cue, the manager leaned forward and looked to his left, toward the street. "You go up Central about two blocks and you’ll hit downtown. 'Bout half a dozen good places to eat."
"Which one would you recommend?" Alicia asked politely.
"Oh, none of 'em. They all pretty much stink. Dave’s Diner’s a real tourist trap and Judy’s Country Kitchen’s anything but."
"That’s right," said his wife cheerfully. "They all suck."
"I see." Alicia regarded the pair of homey smiles askance. Frank stepped in.
"Then where would you suggest we eat?"
"There’s another hotel up the street. The Gables. Rooms are awful; full of roaches." The woman made a face. "And sometimes they don’t wash their linen between guests, but the kitchen is run separate. My husband and I go there ourselves sometimes when we want to eat out."
"That’s very straight of you. Thanks."
"Don’t mention it," said the manager. "Glad to help."