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Magnus, Carter, and Sylvia approached the central building in the Red Rock Canyon Campground. The overbearing sun and rising heat had them drenched in sweat.
“Why are we hiding?” Sylvia asked.
Magnus whispered, “In case Grayson has reported us to the media.”
Carter wiped sweat from his brow and leaned his back against the wall.
Magnus peered around the corner of the building. He held Digger and stroked the ferret’s neck. “There’s a gift shop across the way there. They should have T-shirts and shorts. Anyone want to volunteer?”
“I’ll go,” Sylvia said. “Besides, I need to pee.”
Carter shook his head. “None of us have any money. And we sure can’t sell any MarQuebes here.”
“I don’t need money to get clothes,” she said.
Magnus turned with a stunned look. “Then how?”
“I’ll shoplift them.”
Carter said, “No. If you get caught, we’re all caught.”
She smiled. “I won’t get caught. I’ve done it before and never got caught.”
“You ended up on Mars . . .”
“For bank fraud, dear. Not shoplifting.”
Carter shrugged and grumbled under his breath.
Magnus smiled at her. “Be careful.”
“I will.”
Sylvia crept from the building and cautiously made her way into the restroom. She was thankful to be back on Earth and off the space shuttle; however, she missed being housed deep inside Olympus Mons because she liked the sheltered feeling it had. She also liked not having to deal with a lot of people. Before being incarcerated and especially right after, she had often wished that she was invisible, and that’s why she enjoyed the thrill of shoplifting. Because if she could take items without people noticing it, even though they were standing a few feet away, it made her feel like she could be invisible.
“Here, hold Digger,” Magnus said, handing the ferret to Carter.
“Why? What are you doing?”
Magnus wiped sweat from his brow, unzipped his silver jumpsuit, and stepped out of it. Glistening sweat rolled down his muscled back, chest, and arms. He sighed. “I’m losing the suit. This heat is murder. Besides, taking a piss sounds like a great idea.”
“You’re going to walk to the restroom in your underwear?” Carter asked.
A gust of wind flowed past. Magnus closed his eyes. “Now, that’s much better.”
“For someone not wanting to attract attention, standing outside in your underwear is sure to get people’s attention.”
Magnus chuckled and shrugged. “The showers and laundry room are in that building. I won’t look too weird. I’d like a nice cold shower about now, anyhow.”
“What about Digger?”
“I’ll take him with me. He will play in the water, which will make him feel better, too. He’s probably thirsty.”
“God knows I am,” Carter said, wiping away more sweat.
“I’m sure there are plenty of showers and you can drink water from the sink.”
Carter shook his head. “No, I’ll wait for Sylvia. She might get into trouble and need my help.”
Magnus took the ferret, rounded the building, and entered the restroom. Seeing no one around, he placed Digger into an empty shower stall and turned on the water. Digger rolled around in the cool water spray and washed his face. While the ferret played, Magnus relieved himself at one of the urinals.
A couple of minutes later, he returned to the shower and laughed at the playful ferret. Digger splashed and jumped and then he slid to Magnus’ feet. Magnus slid off his shorts and hung them onto a hook outside the stall. He stepped inside and pulled the thin shower curtain closed.
The cold water struck his chest, making him give a slight Woot! as chill bumps pimpled his flesh. The ferret splashed in the water around his feet.
Magnus didn’t have a washcloth, so he rubbed his hands over his arms, chest, and legs, trying to remove as much sweat and mud as he could. The water around the drain was rust colored. He turned his back to the shower, letting the coldness soothe his cuts and abrasions from his harsh landing. After several minutes, he finally shut off the water, even though he could have easily stood there for an hour.
Water dripped off his body. Digger continued rolling around on the wet tiles after the water had drained.
Magnus dripped dry for several minutes, flinging his hands and shaking his body back and forth, attempting to get more water off. He reached from the shower, grabbed his shorts off the hook, and pulled them on without being fully dry.
The ferret looked up at the giant of a man. Magnus leaned down and picked Digger up. The ferret nuzzled against his hand, content with the cold water. Magnus sighed and stepped outside the shower.
“Oh, cool!” a young boy exclaimed. “A ferret!”
Magnus looked over at the door, startled to see a boy and man staring at him. Magnus assumed the man to be the boy’s father.
The boy wore a white T-shirt, brown shorts, and flip-flops. His hair was a tinge red, his face freckled, and he wore glasses. The man’s hair was a dark brown, but he and the boy both had similar noses and dimples tugged at the corners of their mouths.
“Can I hold him?” the boy asked.
Magnus, dressed in his boxers, didn’t know how to react. He felt uncomfortable standing in his boxers with a teenager talking to him.
“Now, Troy,” the man said. “You don’t need to bother . . .”
“But Dad?”
“If you don’t mind him holding the ferret,” Magnus said, “I don’t mind. Is that okay with you, sir?”
The man nodded. “I guess so. The boy’s been begging for a ferret for several years now.”
Magnus handed Digger to Troy. Troy’s face lit up with a broad grin. He gently rubbed Digger’s neck.
Magnus extended his huge muscled hand. “I’m Magnus. Excuse how I’m dressed. Was doing some laundry and decided to take a shower while waiting.”
“I’m Mick,” the man said, shaking Magnus’ hand.
Troy scratched behind Digger’s ears and looked at Magnus. “What’s his name?”
“Digger,” Magnus replied.
Troy smiled at his son and looked at Magnus. “Would you sell Digger?”
Magus felt a tinge in his gut and winced. He had grown attached to the ferret and truly hated the thought of not keeping Digger with him. But he was also concerned about the situations he, Carter, and Sylvia might encounter. Should something happen to Magnus, he wasn’t certain either of the others would properly take care of Digger. Seeing the excitement in Troy’s eyes, he knew the boy would be attentive to the ferret’s need. Digger would have a loving owner.
“Actually, Mick, I’ve been thinking Digger needs a good home. I’m afraid that I’ll be too busy in the near future to take care of him like he needs.”
“How much do you want for him?” Mick asked.
“Actually, my friends and I are in need of a ride to Vegas. I’ll trade him for a ride.”
“Great,” Mick said, smiling. “We’re headed that direction ourselves, but we’re in a pickup truck, if you don’t mind riding in the back.”
“That’d be great. We don’t mind at all. Where can we meet you?”
Mick pointed. “We’re parked near the tourist information building. We did a short hike earlier, but the heat’s a bit more than I expected.”
“I know what you mean,” Magnus replied.
“I’m driving a yellow Toyota.”
“Okay. Let me tell my friends, and we’ll meet you there.”
***
Sylvia hurried around the building where Carter stood, holding the briefcase. She had a lot of clothes draped over her arm.
“You got all that from the gift shop?” he asked.
“No. The shop owner watched me like a hawk. I found these strung between an RV and a utility pole.”
Carter shook his head. “Another reason why people should use a laundry mat and not a clothesline.”
“I hope the overalls are large enough to fit Magnus.”
“It might be difficult to find his size.”
“Where is he anyway?” Sylvia asked, looking around.
“He went to use the restroom and get a shower. He’s been gone for a while now.”
Magnus came around the corner with a huge grin on his face. He scratched between Digger’s ears.
“What are you so happy about?” Sylvia asked.
“I got us a ride to Vegas,” he replied.
“Great,” Carter said. “I’ll be glad to get out of this heat and not walk any farther.”
“How?” she asked.
Magnus shook his head, sighed, and brimming tears reddened his eyes. “I sort of traded Digger for the ride.”
“Why would you do that?” Sylvia asked, reaching to pet Digger.
“A boy’s father has offered us a ride in exchange for him,” Magnus said.
“Aww, you didn’t need to do that,” she said. “We could have found another way.”
Magnus shook his head. “I’m not sure how things are going to turn out after we get to Vegas and once I return to Texas. Besides, there’s always the possibility that Grayson will find us. I need to know that Digger will be safe regardless.”
“I understand. Here,” Sylvia said, handing the overalls to Magnus. “I doubt they’ll fit, but I didn’t find anything else that was even close to your size.”
“It will have to do.”
Magnus pulled the tight overalls on, but she didn’t have a shirt that would fit him. She got out of her jumpsuit and pulled up a short skirt. She put on a boy’s shirt that cut off at her midriff.
Carter put down the briefcase and held up the clothes Sylvia had stolen for him. He winced. “You have to be kidding?”
The shirt was bright green with a dark eyed alien face spread across the front. He shuddered inside.
She shook her head. “We’re in no place to be choosey.”
“I suppose that’s true.”
Magnus said, “Of course, it’s true. After we get to Vegas and sell these gems, we can buy better clothes.”
Carter shook his head. “I can’t wait.”
“Come on,” Magnus said. “We need to get to the truck before they change their minds.”