Part 28 (2/2)

”But,” she continued, ”I want you to give the matter some serious thought.”

Scott nodded, grateful the inquisition had come to an end.

He snuck a peek at his watch. 7:45. He had to hurry. The game would be resuming in fifteen minutes, and he couldn't miss a second of it.

The Jeep Wrangler raced down Highway 72 with the CD blasting an old Doors tune. It wasn't Philip's favorite music, but since his car was in the shop and the Wrangler was borrowed from Dad, he had to listen to whatever tunes Dad had. The moon was full and shrouded with only a thin layer of fog coming in from the coast. There was plenty of light to see the logging road ... if they only knew where it was.

He glanced at the dashboard clock. 8:10. They were already late - thanks to Krissi's insistence that they stop by her house so she could change. Let's face it, the last thing in the world you want to do when meeting aliens from another planet is to be seen wearing a s.h.i.+rt that's three months out of fas.h.i.+on. Not when you have a new vest and capris to wear. Philip sighed and pressed down on the accelerator.

He loved Krissi. Everybody knew it. They didn't understand it, but they knew it. It seemed so odd that Philip, with his super-intellect, would show the slightest interest in Krissi, with her superairheadedness. Maybe it had something to do with her impulsive way of life. Philip had to think everything through five times before he even considered doing it; Krissi just up and did. When this approach didn't make him crazy, Philip loved the excitement and freedom it brought.

But his feelings went far deeper than that.

Maybe it had to do with growing up next door to her and being best friends all their lives. Or maybe it had to do with Philip's mom taking his two sisters and deserting him and his dad without a word. Krissi had been the only one there for him.

Feeling for him. Aching with him. Holding him for hours one afternoon when he couldn't stop crying.

Whatever the reason for their love, if the phrase ”opposites attract” had ever applied to a couple, it applied to them. Krissi was Philip's breath of freedom and fresh air; he was her rock and reality check.

”We must have pa.s.sed it,” Krissi shouted over the music.

”Turn around.”

Philip threw her a look. ”Did you see anything?” She shook her head. ”No, but we pa.s.sed it. I know we did.”

”Krissi ...”

”Don't ask me how I know, I just - I just know it. I feel it, okay?”

Philip gave her another look.

”We haven't got much time,” she insisted. ”Please, trust me on this.”

He glanced at the clock. 8:11. They were going to be late anyway, and if Krissi was so sure ...

He slowed the Wrangler, pulled to the side, and threw the vehicle into a sharp U-turn. The gravel sprayed as he gunned the engine and slid back onto the road going the opposite direction.

Once again he looked at Krissi. She was concentrating, staring out her window.

There were no other cars in sight. Philip clicked on the high beams and picked up speed. Ever since their little supernatural encounter at the Hawthorne mansion, Krissi's automatic handwriting wasn't the only thing that had grown stronger. Her intu-ition, her ability to sense things she didn't know, had increased.

She could perceive things others didn't.

Philip smiled. Of course, some of this was just her natural spontaneity, like the time she'd felt ”impressed” to take the day off and go to the beach instead of taking a geometry midterm.

Or the time she felt ”directed” to order silver-plated hunting knives on the shopping channel. He shook his head slightly.

She'd never hunted in her life and didn't know anyone who did.

But that was all some time ago. Lately ... Philip glanced at her.

Lately Krissi's insights tended to be right on the money.

”There!” she shouted. ”Right there!”

Philip looked just in time to see a secluded opening whisk by. He hit the brakes, threw the Jeep into reverse, and quickly backed up. Sure enough, there it was. With all the underbrush, it had been practically invisible. But now you could clearly see it was the remains of an old logging road.

”It looks pretty overgrown in there,” Krissi said.

Philip grinned at her and reached down. ”That's why we've got four-wheel drive, kiddo.” He pulled a smaller gears.h.i.+ft forward, turned the Jeep toward the opening, and they began bouncing and jostling up the remains of the old dirt road.

Bushes sc.r.a.ped the sides of the vehicle and an occasional tree branch slapped at the winds.h.i.+eld. Philip took it slow in case there were also rocks or ruts hiding, waiting to rip out his oil pan.

”What do you think we'll see?” he asked. ”Flying saucers?

Little green men?”

Krissi craned her neck to look up into the sky. ”I'm not sure.” The fog had grown thicker, allowing only the most determined stars to burn through. She turned and looked out her window at the pa.s.sing brush and trees. ”Xandrak wouldn't tell us to show up here if it wasn't something ... hold it! What was that?”

”What?”

”Stop the car!”

Philip hit the brakes. He reached over to turn off the CD.

Now there was just the quiet idling of the motor.

Krissi looked over her shoulder through the window of the backseat. ”It looked like ...” She hesitated.

”Like what?”

”A cow.”

Philip chuckled. ”Krissi, there aren't any cows around here.

The nearest ranch is twenty miles away.”

”It was a cow, I'm sure of it. It had four legs, horns, everything.” She reached for the door and opened it.

”Krissi, don't - ” But he was too late. The door was already open and she was stepping out. Philip sighed and followed suit, uncoiling his six-foot frame from behind the wheel.

Once outside, he talked to her over the roof as she walked away.

”Even if it is a cow, that's not exactly what we're looking for.”

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