Mary Kate shifted in her seat to take the pressure off her already-aching back. Despite her continued speculation that the road couldn’t possibly get any worse, it had, repeatedly bouncing her against her seatmate.
She found herself utterly fascinated with Addison Falk. At first, it was just the way she looked—she had always loved the contrast of brown eyes with blond hair. Mary Kate had studied her at breakfast, comparing her to some of the really pretty girls she had known at college. Those girls worked at it, but Addison had a natural beauty without even a hint of makeup.
When they had gone outside and slapped hands in a pact to get to the summit, she felt an unusual kinship. It was nice to meet someone so sophisticated and worldly who didn’t make her feel like a bumpkin.
But the truly fascinating piece had come when they were stowing their belongings. Among the possessions Addison inventoried for safekeeping was a keychain with a triangle-shaped rainbow, a symbol she recognized from her lesbian friends at Savannah State. Deb had a similar bumper sticker, though she wouldn’t put it on her car for fear someone in Mooresville would figure out what it was and bash her windows in.
Addison Falk was nothing like the lesbians Mary Kate had known from her small circle of friends at college, women who seemed to fit a certain profile—short hair, athletic, masculine. Not that all of them were like that, but none was as pretty as Addison.
The bus came to a stop at a small clearing in the lush rainforest. Luke told them to pick up one of the box lunches from behind the driver’s seat and find a space outside to eat. That was easier said than done, since the clearing was little more than a pit of mud. Mary Kate rested her backpack on a grassy embankment and leaned against it. She hoped Addison would join her, but she took a spot near the van instead.
“Anyone know what kind of sandwich this used to be?” Drew asked.
Mary Kate was trying to figure that out for herself. “Whatever it was, I think they smeared it on and then scraped it off.”
“If I can’t tell what it is, I’m not eating it,” Courtney said emphatically.
Mary Kate was hungry and ate every bite. Then she washed it down with the extra bottle of water she had packed.
One by one, the fifteen porters assigned to their group loaded up and disappeared into the forest, packing tents, food and other supplies, including a folding table and ten camp stools, and all of the trekkers’ gear except what each carried in a daypack. Mary Kate looked down at her attire in wonder—convertible pants, a moisture-wicking polyester T-shirt, a lightweight GORE- TEX rain jacket and two-hundred-dollar boots. She had been practically obsessed with getting just the right equipment, and these porters wore sneakers without socks, cutoff pants and worn cotton T-shirts. No wonder Tom had suggested they leave behind a few items to help out the locals.
Her comrades seemed almost giddy in anticipation of the start of their trek. When Mei herded everyone together for the “before” picture, Mary Kate dug out her digital camera and got Luke to take one for her as well. It was exciting to think the “after” picture would come in only eight days.
“Are you ready?” Luke asked them, heaving an enormous pack onto his broad shoulders.
“Where’s the trail?” Kirby asked.
“Follow me,” he said, nonplussed. “That is why they call me the guide.”
Luke pulled back a large shrub to reveal the narrow trail, a muddy path that started up a steep incline. After only five minutes of walking, Mary Kate was winded and hot. When Luke paused to look back at how everyone was doing, she took off her jacket and tied the sleeves around her waist. Then she found the hose leading to the two-liter water bladder in her backpack and took a deep draw. The hose was the easiest way to both carry and drink water, since she could drink without stopping. The mouthpiece clipped to her shoulder for quick access.
“How high do you think we are?” Courtney asked, also puffing for breath.
“Moshi was at four thousand feet,” Mei said. “I think I read the Londorossi Gate was about sixty-five hundred.”
“And Big Tree is at ninety-two hundred, so we’ll be climbing almost three thousand feet today,” Rachel added.
For this section of the hike, they were escorted by an armed ranger. Luke said that was because elephants and water buffaloes frequented certain areas of the rainforest, posing a danger if they charged.
“So how do you keep an elephant from charging?” Neal asked.
Mei groaned in response. “I apologize for bringing along the guy with bad jokes.”
That particular joke had made the rounds of Mary Kate’s elementary school last year, but she thought it was pretty funny that Neal had brought it up in this context. “I’ll bite. How do you keep an elephant from charging?”
“Cut up his credit card.”
Mary Kate smiled in appreciation, but Nikki let out a snort when she laughed. Several others mocked her with snorts of their own. Luke simply looked at all of them and shook his head. He probably had no idea what a credit card was.
Courtney and Rachel were directly behind the ranger at the front of the single-file line, followed by Nikki, Ann and Kirby. Mary Kate walked behind Luke, who was in the middle of the pack. After her were Drew, Neal and Mei, with Addison bringing up the rear.
As they walked farther into the rainforest, Mary Kate marveled at the surrounding landscape, a three-dimensional panorama of deep greens. Only occasionally did the sunlight seep beneath the forest canopy, and a fine mist wafted through the valley below. From time to time, Addison would call out “Porter!” and everyone would step off the narrow trail to allow the crewman through. Despite their heavy loads, the porters moved at a much faster pace, hurrying ahead to ready the camp for their arrival. Mary Kate hated to think what a lone porter would do if charged by an angry elephant.
“Jambo! Asante,” the porter said as he passed. Hello. Thank you.
“Jambo,” they all answered in unison, quickly picking up the greeting.
Mary Kate glanced over her shoulder, stealing a look at Addison, who had stopped to take pictures. She probably had no idea how pretty she looked against the backdrop of the rainforest. Of course, women like Addison looked great against—
“We stop for a break,” Luke announced.
She had been so distracted that she almost plowed right into him. Now standing in a small clearing, she dropped her walking sticks, shed her pack, and rolled her shoulders to stretch.
“Does everyone drink their water?” Luke asked.
Some nodded. Others reached for their bottles. Mary Kate estimated she had drunk a second liter since starting the climb… and her bladder was screaming.
“I think I’ll get rid of some water,” Kirby said, retreating back down the trail behind a large tree.
“And I think I have penis envy,” Rachel mumbled, looking about for a discreet spot. Walking ahead of the group, she ventured over a small rise where she was hidden from the others.
“I had penis envy when I was younger,” Courtney said. “But my mother told me that as long as I had one of these”—she gestured to her lap—“I could have all of those I wanted.”
The women laughed, and Drew conceded that she had a point. Luke was unfazed, as if he hadn’t understood.
Mary Kate loosened the jacket from her waist and looked around. “I guess I should do that, too. Hey, Rachel, is there another spot over there? Maybe something uphill from where you are?” If she had to pee outside, she didn’t want to be downhill from someone else who was doing the same thing.
One by one, they took turns using the makeshift men’s and ladies’ rooms, though Courtney had second thoughts when Luke cautioned them all to be on the lookout for the green mamba, one of the world’s most poisonous snakes.
Once rested, they got underway again. Mary Kate had stepped aside to let Neal and Mei in front so she could walk toward the back with Drew and Addison. Addison was telling a story about the airlines losing her luggage in Peru. She had worn her step- father’s track suits for three days.
A half hour later, Luke held up his hand to slow them as they walked within thirty yards of a tree that housed a family of black monkeys. Mary Kate snapped a few pictures as the playful primates crawled from limb to limb, hanging upside down to reach out for leaves or to play with a sibling. She doubted anyone back in Mooresville had ever seen such a thing.
Ever since Addison arrived, she had wondered how they would pair up tonight in the two-person tents. Obviously, Neal and Mei would share, as would Ann and Nikki. Rachel would probably go with Kirby, which left two other girls and one guy. Alarmed at the possibility of having to share with Drew, she stepped aside and waited for him to pass.
“Addison?”
“Hey, what’s up?”
Mary Kate fell into step in front and talked over her shoulder, keeping her voice low, though they had fallen back out of earshot. “I wanted to ask you something. We’re supposed to pair up when we get to camp, and I was wondering if you wanted to share a tent?”
Addison shot her a broad smile. “Sure, but I think Mr. Colorado has other ideas, though I’m not sure he cares if it’s you or me.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s kind of why I was hoping you’d say yes. I thought it might be awkward if he asked. He didn’t seem to hear the ‘boyfriend’ part when we were on the bus.”
“Maybe he figured it wasn’t too serious if you were here without him.”
“Actually, it isn’t, but I don’t want him to know that.” The words echoed in her head, and she realized its double meaning. “Drew, I mean.”
Addison chuckled. “Does the boyfriend know it isn’t serious?”
“No, he’s pretty clueless.” She felt guilty immediately for casting Bobby in a bad light. “He’s a nice guy, but we don’t seem to want the same things.”
“You mean like Africa?”
Mary Kate was surprised at Addison’s perceptive grasp. “Yeah, but that’s just kind of symbolic of everything else. I like to do new things, but Bobby’s one of those guys who knows what he wants for breakfast next summer.”
“Ah, a creature of habit.”
A creature of boredom, she thought. “Yeah, but like I said, he’s nice, and he’s going to make somebody a terrific husband. Just not me.”
“We break here,” Luke called again. Their gait so far had been quite slow, and after the initial breathlessness, everyone had managed to adapt, at least enough that they could talk while they climbed.
Courtney was the only one still struggling. “How much farther to the camp?” she asked.
“One hour.”
Addison dropped her pack and sat down on the hillside. “I suppose I ought to tell you something before you make up your mind about the tent thing, and I guess the safari part too.”
“You mean that you’re gay?”
Addison’s eyes went wide. “Actually, I was going to say that I snore.”
Horrified that she might have been mistaken, Mary Kate felt her face grow hot. “I…”
“No, no. I was just kidding. I don’t snore, at least not that I know of. You’re right. I was going to tell you that I bat for the other team. I thought I should—”
“I can’t believe you did that with a straight face.” Mary Kate felt the blood drain from her cheeks. “You just took ten years off my life.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist. How did you know?”
“I saw your keychain back at the hotel.” She blew out a breath and tried to relax again. “My best friend has a bumper sticker like that.”
“So you’re okay with it?”
“Sure. I have lots of lesbian friends.”
“Good. Maybe you’ll have another one by the time we head home.”
“Not if you keep trying to give me a heart attack.”
“It was just a little joke,” Addison said, batting her eyes innocently.
“Just remember one thing, Addison Falk. Paybacks are a bitch.” She almost laughed as Addison gulped. “And I will not deprive you of that experience.”
Up ahead, Luke had picked up his pack. That was their signal the break was over.
Mary Kate pushed against the ground to stand. “Ouch!” Her hand was on fire. “What the hell was that?” The burning intensified as she waved her hand back and forth.
Luke hurried back to where they sat. “Nettles,” he said simply, his face visibly relaxing.
“Oh, those are supposed to be painful,” Ann said.
“They are! What the hell are nettles?” Mary Kate was staring at her hand, looking for stingers or bite marks that would account for this excruciating pain.
Luke pointed to the plant that was near where she was sitting. “These are nettles.”
“They’ve got tiny prickles with some kind of stinging substance,” Ann explained. “The sting only lasts about seven minutes, then it’s gone.”
“Seven minutes!” Mary Kate nearly screamed. The pain was growing worse by the second. It was going to be a very long seven minutes.
“Here, I’ve got some first-aid cream.” Addison took off her pack and dug inside. In moments, she had Mary Kate’s hand, gently applying the soothing mixture.
Mary Kate relaxed as the topical anesthetic took effect, and she pulled her pack into place. “Just in case anyone missed that little bit of drama, don’t touch the nettles.”
“Does this buy me a little forgiveness?” Addison asked quietly.
“You’ll have to wait and see.”