Part 29 (2/2)
”Oh my G.o.d, Care. Then who is it?”
”It's Sylvia.”
”Oh.... She's not dead, is she?”
”No. But it looks serious. She hasn't moved since she got thrown off. Nate is taking care of everything, along with Trevor. They called an ambulance.”
”Did you see what happened?”
”No. Nate and I were at the back of the line. I couldn't see much of anything.”
”It's not my fault,” said a male voice behind us. I turned to see Josh standing a little ways back. Several men turned around as well and glared at him. I looked from the men to Josh.
”It's not my fault,” he said again, seeming dazed.
”Of course, it isn't,” I said, hoping to comfort him.
”Why were they going so d.a.m.n fast? I couldn't stop. Is she going to be okay?”
”They're taking Sylvia to the hospital,” Caroline said.
”What happened, Josh?” I asked, leading him further away from the men.
”I don't know. They were going so fast. And I don't know how to drive those things. I mean, I've driven them, but ... never at that rate of speed. And every one of those guys has been drinking. It's their fault too. They were going way too fast.”
”So, you were riding with Sylvia and she flew off?” I asked.
”No. No. I wasn't with her. I was alone. She was with Trevor.”
He seemed to come out of himself, then looked me directly in the eye. ”She wouldn't have it any other way, though I tried. I don't know if Trevor was for it or not. Honestly, the woman just jumped on the back. Maybe they'd talked before. I can't say.” His shoulders slumped. ”I hope I didn't kill her.”
”Tell us exactly what you remember,” Caroline said.
”Okay, well, I pulled in right behind Trevor and Sylvia. For a while, we drove at a reasonable speed, but then it got faster. The line would speed up, then slow down. Real jerky. I tried to keep a safe distance. It felt safe to me. Then all of a sudden it got really fast, out of control. I kept thinking ... we're going too fast, too d.a.m.n fast. That's when it happened. I saw a flash of brake lights and then I was on top of them, slammed right into them. I flew off, hit hard. Trevor must have stomped on his brakes. I have no idea why. Maybe someone up ahead did something stupid. Maybe he panicked. But I swear, it wasn't my fault.”
”None of this should have happened,” I said. ”This whole snowmobile thing was a stupid idea. Wolfgang should have known better.”
”Have you heard anything about Sylvia?” he asked. ”Do you know if she's still unconscious? Maybe I should go over there.”
My ears picked up the wail of an approaching ambulance.
”Josh,” Caroline said, ”you should go too, get checked out at the hospital. You took a heck of a hit too.”
”No, I'm okay, just bruised, I think. I'll go later, maybe. I think I'll take off now. Tell Nate he can reach me at my mother's if he needs me. He has the number. I'll see you two later.”
”Bye, Josh,” we said.
”He's pretty shook up,” said Caroline.
”Yes. Thinks it's all his fault.”
”Legally, maybe it is. But I sure wouldn't blame him. If I blamed anyone, it would be Wolfgang. You know, just between you and me, I think I saw Sylvia open an eye when she thought no one was looking. But I could be wrong. But maybe she's not as hurt as she seems.”
”Trevor's okay, isn't he?”
”He said so.”
We watched as the ambulance pulled up and gave one last shriek before stopping. The attendants examined Sylvia, and I saw her lift her head to talk to them. They secured her onto a stretcher, and then carefully loaded her inside the ambulance. I could see Trevor and Bob talking, then Bob hopped in with Sylvia. Trevor looked on as they sped away, then turned until he spotted me. I looked down, pretending not to see him, expecting him to walk over. But when I looked up, he was gone.
”Well,” said Caroline, ”guess I'll go find Nate. You coming?”
”Sure.”
”I heard someone say Wolfgang's still planning to start his bonfire. Guess no one could talk him out of it.”
”Linda will be thrilled.”
We found Nate and the three of us rode our snowmobiles back to the house. I walked inside, hoping to find Linda, but she wasn't around. I stopped for a drink of water, then headed out again.
Wolfgang's bonfire was blazing, and a small group of people were standing near it. As I drew close, I could see that Trevor was one of them. He saw me too and stepped aside, allowing me access to the fire.
”I thought you weren't going to ride tonight,” he said. ”How are you feeling?”
”I'm okay. I'll survive. Are you all right?”
”Yeah.”
Linda approached the blaze from the other side of the circle, then reached toward the fire, seeking its heat. ”What time is it?” I heard her ask.
Wolfgang hefted a log and threw it on the fire, discharging a flurry of sparks. Linda quickly pulled her arms back.
”Late,” he said, ”but who cares? I'm not getting up early. My self-imposed vacation starts tomorrow. I'll be skiing my b.u.t.t off this week, and lounging in the tropics the next.”
”I'm going back in,” Linda said, barely glancing at him.
”Nightie night,” he said.
She ignored him and kept walking.
”Did your friend go home?” Trevor asked mildly, but I could detect the undercurrent of anger.
”Yes.”
”What an a.s.shole.”
I kept my eyes directed at the fire, not rising to the bait.
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