Chapter 1: Marci
Darkness had completed recolouring the day's blue sky black with a dribble of fading pink to the west indicating where the sun had slipped over the horizon when Cedric saw the hitchhiker.
Oh dear, a young woman alone in the wild, or was she? He looked about for her companions, but saw none. Well, old boy, he thought, picking up a young woman in these circumstances at your peril. Drive on, you clown!
At least that was his intention, but as he passed the woman he caught the stricken look on her white face and his cold heart yielded.
Cedric stopped and in the rear-view mirror saw her jogging towards him, humping a huge pack.
"Thank you for stopping. I'm Marci. Are you alone?"
Cedric tossed up whether to answer yes or no, uncertain which would be the answer she wanted. It had to be yes, however, because he was alone.
"Never mind, you're old enough to be my grandfather. May I jump in?"
Cedric wondered whether to cup his ear as say 'What?' like shaky old grandfathers do in the movies.
What was the question? Never mind, she'd already darted around the front of the camper van and was opening the passenger side door.
He flipped on the cab's twin ceiling lights and Marci said, "Oh, what a cute little truck."
You're not half cute yourself, leered Cedric, glimpsing what appeared to be a fully developed chest of impressive proportions as Marci's all-weather jacket parted when she climbed in and hauled her pack on to her knees.
Cedric grabbed the pack and tossed it back into the passageway between the seats.
"Hi, Marci. I'm Cedric."
She took his outstretched hand and shook it, saying, "I should be kissing this hand out of gratitude; I'm so thankful you stopped because it's rather dicey trying to hitch a ride in darkness.
Cedric could have suggested something else he'd rather she kiss.
"Were to, Marci?"
"Oh, the next town where I can get transport to Lake Taupo."
"That will be Matamata, roughly fifteen kilometres away. Look, there is a river just up ahead. What say we pull into the car park and I prepare us some hot food and coffee and then I'll take you on to Matamata?"
"That sounds great, Cedric. You are ever so kind to a foreign girl."
"Are your foreign?" he asked, straight-faced."
"Oh yes, I'm American, Cedric. "Can't you tell by my accent?"
"Do you have an accent?" Marci looked at him closely, surprised that he wasn't grinning stupidly.
"Where are you from, Marci?"
"Oklahoma."
"Oh, is that in Texas?"
"Marci couldn't believe this. Here was a guy from Down Under who was ignorant about the geography of the biggest and greatest country on the planet."
"Cedric, Okalahoma is..."
"It's cool, Marci. I was just pushing your button. I've been to Oklahoma City twice; my sister lives in Stillwater and still works at the university...
A New Zealander? Marci sensed there was a connection. Cedric, not Maggie Bellows at my old university, OCU?"
Cedric nodded.
"Christ, Cedric. Do you know who she is? She's a legend, an authority on nurses' rights and has been a major force in bringing political pressure to bear on discrimination against nurses in the armed forces."
"I know who she is," grinned Cedric. "My young sister began playing nurses from the time she could bandage me."
Cedric parked the vehicle and poured two glasses of wine. Marci took hers on a stroll along the otherwise empty car park while he cooked bacon, eggs, tomatoes and hash browns.
Marci made a phone call to advise someone of her whereabouts. She and Cedric sat on the riverbank on folding chairs talking like old friends.
At eleven, Marci asked, "Where can I sleep, Cedric?"
"Er, I can make up a bed over the driver's cabin, but it's hot up there. The alternative is my double bed – I guess you have got a bed roll in your pack."
"Just the normal bed will be fine," said Marci.
"Er, I'll go for a stroll while you do your teeth and whatever."
