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Nation of Airports 01.09
Walt turned off at Al Tahoe, where a narrow stand of pines separated the highway from the beach. He pulled over on a service road out of sight of the highway. Michael walked twenty paces before doubling over. The retching exhausted him and he could barely stand.
Walt had come up behind him. "You all right?"
"I could use some water."
"Sorry." Walt rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a crumpled handkerchief. Michael wiped his mouth. "Keep it," Walt said.
"Thanks. How are the girls?"
"Laurie's furious. Tammy's OK but she's a little weirded out. I mean, Nate swung first, but what the fuck was that?"
"I don't know. I remember doing it, but it's also a blank."
"I saw your face, Michael. You enjoyed that."
"I don't know." A cold wind blew from the lake, bending the tops of the pine trees. Michael smelled washed-up weeds and fresh pine resin. Michael took a deep breath. Smells. He remembered the bar, and the memory alone turned his stomach. He held his breath until the feeling passed. "So now what?"
"We talked about that," Walt said. "As far as anyone knows you're some guy we met at the casino and took to the bar with us. You were helping us get Tammy out of there, and Nate hit you first. We ran out after you but you were gone. It's mostly true."
"You think he'll bother Tammy?"
"Nate's a piss-ant. I'm amazed he even swung at you. He was there alone and drunk. No one else is going to get involved."
They walked back to the car. "What about me?" Michael asked.
"You go home."
"Back to Nevada?"
"No," Walt said. "Your home. San Francisco. I'll ship you your gear. Can you drive?"
Michael nodded. The thought of leaving saddened Michael, but no good would come of staying. "What about you?"
"There's a bar a block away. We'll get a cab and take Tammy home." Walt waved at the women to get out. "He's leaving," Walt explained.
Laurie watched him warily and kept her distance. Tammy came up and touched Michael's face. He winced. "Sorry," she said.
"It's OK. I'm sorry about tonight," he told her stupidly.
"Nate started it. Thanks for sticking up for me." She hugged him awkwardly, and kissed his good cheek. The women began walking up the road.
"You know, Archer," Walt said. "I'm kinda glad this happened. For a while, you had me convinced there really are positive, well-adjusted people in this world."
Michael snorted. "Glad I could help with that."
"You sure you're OK?"
"To drive? Yeah."
"OK. Vaya con Dios." Walt jogged away after the women.
Michael spat. He wanted water and chewing gum. In the blue darkness the rental sedan looked savage again, a mythic beast to master. He remembered the vistas of Emerald Bay, ten miles of climbing switchbacks to a gorgeous trophy ride. Michael longed to get in motion, to keep going up and up.
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