Chapter 9

Wednesday

AS TWILIGHT APPROACHED,Jake began to wonder how much farther they had to drive,so he asked Josh.

“Good question,”Josh said.“And the answer is that we’ll be pulling off the road in less than ten miles.”

“Good.”

“What’s the matter?”

“I’m beginning to hurt a bit,if you must know;and I think my dressings need to be changed.”

“Why didn’t you say something earlier?”Josh said.“We could have stopped at any time.”

“I didn’t want you to think I was a whiner and complainer.”

“After what we’ve both been through today,I could hardly think that.Want me to stopnow,and take care of the dressings?”

“No.I can manage another ten miles—more,if I have to.”

“No need for stoicism.”

“I’m just being practical,not stoic.”

Ten minutes later,Josh said,“And here we are.”