Pilgrimage Read Online Free PDF

happen? Sandwiches would fall out of the sky?”
    Griffith shrugged. “I just figured it would work itself out.”
    “You're a bigger idiot than I thought.”
    “Well, now that you're here, you can point out all the things that I've overlooked so we don't starve to death on our way to Salem. In a way, you could say it did work itself out.”
    “You want me to point out when you're being an idiot? Great. I'll start right now. When you're going on a week-long hike you should at least remember to bring some food with you!” Roland considered smacking Griffith over the head but if he started doing that every time Griffith did something stupid, he got the feeling he'd end up giving the kid brain damage.
    Roland sent Griffith into the service station with a list of supplies and a request for a takeaway hamburger while he took the chance to enjoy a cigarette. Griffith didn't take long before returning with food and then they were moving on. The road stretched on, and on into the distance.
    When their walk at long last took them to the edges of Guyra the sun had set and they were navigating by star light. Guyra began as a row of small houses on one side of the road and empty, green fields on the other. With each step, they became increasingly doubtful that the mass of buildings and lights in the distance was a town at all. More likely, this vision of civilisation was an illusion conjured by their desperation for something more than cows and empty roads. Then, suddenly, they stood at the centre of a spider-web of roads connecting houses, shop fronts and small local businesses, including a motel along the highway.
    “I was kind of expecting something bigger.” Griffith said.
    Roland shrugged. “In a part of the world where cows outnumber people?”
    Roland and Griffith silently agreed it was time to stop. They checked into the motel and went to their room to rest. The motel sat on the high-way, connected by a driveway but otherwise pleasantly isolated by its walls and a modest, well kept garden. Each had its own car space and a single window with a private view of that car space and not much else. Roland and Griffith were given room eleven and their view included a car space filled with somebody else's car. Griffith opened the door and immediately pulled out his map. Roland followed him and closed the door behind him, watching Griffith unfold his map over one of the beds and begin tracing the many lines with his finger.
    “There's a tiny little town not far north of here called Llangothlin. That can't be more than a couple of hours up the highway. Then there's nothing until we reach Glencoe. That's probably at least full day's walk.”
    “There's nothing between Llangothlin and Glencoe?”
    “Nope!”
    “Can we reach Glencoe before dark tomorrow? Never mind – I don't trust you.” Roland studied the road map, retracing Griffith's planned route.
    “Sure we can. We just have to start early.”
    “How early?”
    “Well, if we begin before the sun comes up we can definitely reach Glencoe before the sun goes down again.”
    “We're going to need a rule about what ideas you keep to yourself.” Griffith opened his mouth to protest but Roland shot him a silencing glance. “Do you have anything sensible to suggest?”
    “How about we walk until it gets dark and let our accommodation work itself out?”
    “What did I just say?” Roland felt his voice get louder and his heart pump faster.
    “It worked for me in Armidale!” Griffith folded his arms across his chest and stood toe to toe with Roland, waiting.
    “I'm going to have a shower.” Roland stared Griffith down for a few seconds and then started for the bathroom. He didn't know whether to knock some sense into the kid or laugh at his tough guy act. He obviously meant well and there was no sense fighting with him. Roland stopped at the bathroom door. “We should go and find some dinner. Then we can talk about tomorrow.”
    “Sounds good.” Griffith smiled and