Chapter 8: Chapter 8
They were stunned and quiet in the bus. Somehow, what the youngsters told them had travelled to the other students. Jameela leaned against the window, deep in thought. Were they making a mistake being here? Was it too late? The road up the mountainside had been paved, but winter snow, spring runoff and summer sun had broken up the asphalt, leaving dusty shambles. The bus bounced over ruts and potholes as the driver steered slowly up the grade. Ahead, the mountainside rose up steeply to the left, leaving no room for turning out. “Gosh, how do we pass now?” Ibraheem whispered to Jameela who strained to look ahead of the bus.
“I guess we could back up, if we can’t pass.” She replied.
Another car was coming from the opposite side. The driver jumped off the accelerator as the other car came down the centre of the road straight at them. In a reflexive move, he pulled at the wheel as if to raise the nose and shoot above the oncoming vehicle. His car remained earthbound. He stepped on the brake, and eased to a halt. The other car moved over close to the mountains wall and stopped, blocking two thirds of the road. An arm poked through the driver's window. It waved the bus forward, as the bus steered alongside the other car. The bus sped up, keeping a steady crawl until it cleared the vehicle, then swung to the left and stopped at the roads’ centre.
A sigh of relieve from everyone. Someone whistled from the behind, while another clapped. That was a close call. Somehow the little trouble had managed to bring back the morale of the students. “That was close.” Ibraheem grinned at Jameela.
“Scary. Would we have to follow same route while returning?”
“I guess. The other part only leads up to mountains and a large river.”
Jameela shook her head, wondering how they would pass that again. It was very dangerous. She turned behind her. The students were back to whispering and gossiping with the exception for Mariyam. She looked horrible. Pale. Her lips were drawn back in a grimace. She must be feeling awful. The long journey was nothing like she had envisioned. Jameela felt a pang for her. She had complained of a severe headache some minutes back. Jameela suggested she took her pills and rest though there was really nowhere to stretch on the crowded bus. She would get some rest then when they reached.
Jameela felt colder than when they had begun the journey and wrapped a coat around her. She sensed it must be because of the area. A laugh interrupted the silence. She glanced behind her, at Dan who was watching a movie on his tablet and humming a tune, grinning. Whatever.
Jameela had told Mrs Sana of what the youngsters told them at the last stop. But she brushed it off, saying it was just a bad joke. But was it? What if something was really going on? She had seen various movies, like this and it always ended up one way - bad. But theirs couldn't be. Right?
The bus continued driving through the rickety alley. It was a very narrow road, with bumps here and there. The sun had begun to set, giving the bus a glow-like appearance. The sun pierced directly at her, and she had to draw the blinds down. Mrs Sana informed them that they were close by and should be patient a while. After another traverse, the road curved around the mountainside to a high, wooded valley. A weathered sign, caught in a patch of sunlight, read RED MOUNTAIN VALLEY STATION, 6MI. Since they left that ominous town, she noticed how bad the roads had become. Very bad. Muy malo, as her Spanish teacher used to say. The nature around was what kept her awake. Awing at the full grown trees, lots of them. Some swaying back and forth, lowering a bit as if they were greeting them. Jameela checked her phone now and then but still no signal.
The forest, pressing in close on both sides of the unpaved road, opened up. A large steel gate emerged before them. Skybay High School Camp was written in bold red letters dangling from a flier high on the gate. The bus drove in, pulling forward slowly, the tires crunching over fallen limbs and pine cones. The driver parked with the bumper close to an aspen, and shut off the engine.
"We're here. Come out one by one. Don't pack your luggage yet. After arranging everything, you can take your things." Mr Cameron announced as they trooped out the bus one after the other. After the air-conditioning, the heat outside felt stifling to Jameela. But the air smelt sweet, and a soft breeze stirred the trees. She took a deep breath. She stretched arching her stiff back, sighing with pleasure as her muscles strained. Then she followed Ibraheem around the rear of the car, the hick mat of leaves and pine needles springy under her boots.