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he wanted when he dropped me off. I climbed into the middle and Keith sloshed in alongside me. I nudged my knee against his until I felt the wet soak through my own jeans.
    —Keith, I thought you told me you were heading off to Toronto? Said you were going this morning?
    —Who said? Me? I never opened me mouth to you.
    —Last night, b’y! You were in by Natasha’s place and I came out to talk to you. Don’t tell me you don’t remember?
    Keith stared out the side window for a second before answering.
    —Yeah, I remembers talkin’ to ya. But I never said nothing about Toronto…Jesus, I’m froze. Roll up that window, Bobby. Who got a smoke? Mine got a bit wet.
    I lit a cigarette for him. Bobby drove on for another few minutes before slowly rollin’ up the window. Taking his time in his daddy’s truck. The track was so narrow in spots that alders scraped at both sides of the truck. No one spoke. We were almost up to the halfway flag when we saw headlights comin’ towards us. Bobby sped up a little.
    —Move faster, Bobby, we’re not goin’ all the way back in there now. Shag that.
    —What do you want me to do, girl? Tear the rear end out of ’er, will I?
    —It’s a four-wheel drive, b’y. You’re hardly gonna tear the rear end out of ’er. She’s designed for this kind of road.
    —Listen to you. Wouldn’t know now but you knew—
    —I knows if we have to back up I’m gettin’ out and walkin’. How’s that sound?
    Bobby shifted the truck into four-wheel drive and gave ’er a shot of gas. I glanced at Keith. He stared straight ahead, thisdevilish gleam in his eye, the hint of a sly grin at the corner of his mouth.
    The approaching headlights got brighter and brighter ’til they were right upon us and we had to stop. We hadn’t made it past the flag. The car came closer ’til we were bumper to bumper. It was Francey. I took hold of Keith’s arm. No way in hell was I sittin’ there while Bobby crawled back towards the pond in reverse, Francey-fuckin’-O’Dea gawkin’ up through his windshield at me.
    —Let me out.
    —Natasha. C’mon. It won’t take that long.
    —It’s long enough gettin’ this far going forward, Bobby. I’m walkin’.
    —Hold on a second, girl. He probably thinks there’s people left in there.
    Francey got out of his car and came round to Bobby’s window. I slid closer to Keith. He laid his hand on my leg. It felt right. I didn’t care if Bobby saw or not. Bobby rolled his window down but Francey looked right past him and settled his eyes on me. A shiver went through me. I hated him.
    —You gonna back up there, Bob?
    —Francey, there’s no one left in there. Be easier if you just backed out to the road.
    —Well, I’m long past the flag, Bobby buddy. And I’m goin’ the rest of the way now, seein’ how I came this far. We’ll have a little draw sure. How are you, Natasha? Lookin’ healthy.
    I shrank back into the seat. I could feel Francey’s sick mind at work, his eyes scannin’ my body. I wanted to die, curl up into a little ball and die. Keith gave my leg another little squeeze and I felt for a second that he understood. No. Howcould anyone really understand without knowing? He was just squeezin’ my leg to see how far I’d let him go.
    Bobby offered Francey another half-assed protest, but soon enough we were inchin’ our way back in to the Kitchen. Bobby was more interested in the prospect of a draw than anything else at this point.
    Francey would let us back up about ten or fifteen feet, then rev up his engine and charge at us full blast, stoppin’ only inches away from our front bumper. Bobby was impressed.
    —Some fuckin’ power in her what? Stops on a dime too.
    —Too bad she’s wasted on a fuckin’ moron like that.
    —What’s your problem, Keith b’y? Francey’s the best kind.
    Francey’s repulsive face starin’ up through the windshield at me. Pushin’ me back into the night. Forcin’ me into a corner. Holdin’ back for a while,