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Finally, the van stopped.
“Where are we?” All Gertrude could see was woods.
“Almost home. Here, put this on.” Sue handed her a pillowcase.
“Are we going to a three-legged race?”
Sue laughed. “No, silly. I want you to put it on over your head. Just for a few minutes. We need to walk now, and I don’t want you knowing where the van is.”
Gertrude’s whole body went cold with panic. “Walk? I can’t walk! I don’t have my walker!”
“Your walker?” Sue frowned. “I thought that was part of your first disguise. You didn’t have it when you came out of the trailer.”
“That’s ’cause I only had to take ten steps! I can’t hike through the woods! I’m disabled!”
“I’ll help you,” she said. “Put the pillowcase on.” Sue turned around in her seat, and Gertrude saw the revolver in her lap.
Reluctantly, Gertrude took the pillowcase from her hands. She didn’t want to put it on, but she also wanted to get out of the van. Her back was killing her, and now she really did have to pee. She slid the pillowcase over her head. It smelled like lavender.
“There. Now you happy?” Gertrude snarled.
Sue didn’t answer her. Gertrude heard her get out of the van, and then a few seconds later, she heard the back door open. The van filled with light. Aha! I can see light through this thing! Bet you didn’t know that!
“OK, easy does it now, I don’t want you to hurt yourself. Just ease on out of the van. I’ve got you.”
Gertrude scooted her butt toward the door, and then she felt a hand on her arm. “You don’t have to squeeze so tight,” she hissed.
“Just trying to help,” Sue said in a voice so light she might have been planning a tea party for fairies.
Gertrude’s feet hit the ground, and her legs filled with tingling. She realized her knees were knocking and willed them to stop. I sure do wish I had more faith in Hale. Her first step left her unscathed, but on her second, her toe caught on something hard and she tumbled forward.
Sue caught her. “There, there, easy does it.”
“How am I supposed to walk if I can’t see my feet?”
“You’ll be all right. Pick your feet up when you walk. Just go slow. I’ve got you. I’m not going to let you run into a tree.”
“Oh no, but you’ll shoot me?”
“I don’t want to shoot you, Gertrude. I want us to be friends. Now walk.”
Gertrude picked her right leg up as high as it would go and then put it down three inches in front of her.
“No need to be sarcastic,” Sue said.
“How can I be sarcastic with my legs?”
“Body language can be sarcastic. Now walk.”
Gertrude had no idea what Sue was talking about, but then she reasoned, crazy people don’t always make sense. Gertrude could see that most of the light was coming from her right. Since it must be closing in on sunset, she figured they were walking south, and she began counting her steps.