The
GPS is sending Oscar all over the place, making him drive in circles.
Directions from Jasmine get him where he needs to go. Unfortunately,
when he's following his publisher to the next venue, the car stalls
and he loses Patrick.
The
car started up on its own, hurling him into oncoming traffic as the
light changed at the intersection. Spinning the wheel, he got back in
his lane, accompanied by the shouts, honks and finger gestures from
other drivers.
"Sorry!"
He called to no one in particular. "I'm from out of town!"
He
caught up with Patrick at the next light. His phone rang.
"Thought
I'd lost you, buddy."
"Car's
being a pain in the butt, Pat."
"You
okay?"
"Yeah.
I'm fine. Keep going."
"Okay.
Call if you need me."
"Yeah."
He hung up, tossing the phone on the passenger's seat.
"Calculating
route."
"You
aren't even supposed to be on, you stupid, sorry, crappy, piece of
.... Shit!" The car stopped dead in the middle of the
intersection. "Oh, no! What's going on?"
Nothing
he did this time would restart the car. He sat there, holding up
traffic from all roads, desperately trying to get moving. A police
officer pulled up a few minutes later. Oscar's automatic window
refused to go down. He mimed that he needed to open the door. The
police officer stepped away from the car.
"I'm
sorry," Oscar began. In a shaking voice he explained his
problem.
"Won't
start, huh?" The officer looked angry, turning red in the face
as the car purred to life.
"I
swear! It was totally dead. It got hit by lightning last night. It's
been acting up every since."
"Just
get out of my intersection," the cop growled. "Move it!
Now!"
"Yes,
sir. I'm moving!" Hopping back in, he fastened his belt and took
off. "Dammit, now I've lost Patrick." He tried to call, but
the phone, which had been fully charged that morning, was totally
dead.
Desperate,
he set the GPS. "Calculating route," the cheery voice
greeted him. "Right turn in five miles."
"Well,
at least it's working at the moment—I hope."
He
followed the GPS which seemed to be on the right track. Less than
three miles from his destination, it directed him off the main road
onto a side road.
"This
isn't the way Patrick said to go," he mumbled. "This can't
be right."
"Of
course it's right," the GPS said in the same neutral voice.
"Left turn in 1.6 miles."
"Wait
a second." Oscar slammed on the brakes, skidding to a halt on
the shoulder of the road. "Did you talk to me?"
"Left
turn in 1.6 miles." There was a pause. "You can't make the
turn unless you get back on the road, moron."
"You
did talk! What the hell!" He tried turning the GPS off but it
wouldn't comply.
Pounding
the dashboard, cursing like crazy, he succeeded to make his fist
hurt. The GPS stayed on. The car started moving, despite Oscar's
attempts to turn it off. Yelling every profanity he could think of,
Oscar eased back onto the road, hanging on for dear life as the car
accelerated rapidly, passing the rest of the traffic.
"Left
turn coming up!" The GPS shouted. "Slow down, idiot!"
Oscar
hit the brakes, slewing around the corner like a madman. The Prius
swung wildly across the road, finally coming to a shuddering stop.
Before he could get his shaken nerves under control, the car started
moving again.
"Calculating
route."
"I
made the turn. What the hell?"
The
car started up again, driving quickly down the narrow, hilly road.
Terrified, Oscar clung to the wheel, hardly steering, as the little
hybrid careened along the road. It came to a stop at an intersection.
"You
have arrived."
"I'm
in the middle of nowhere!" He yelled, beating the steering
wheel. "Where am I?"
"Oh,
so you admit you need me now?" The GPS sounded smug.
"Get
me out of here."
"Say
the magic word."
"Get
me out of here, you useless piece of crap!"
"That's
not the magic word." The voice was decidedly hostile.
The
car started again, hurtling along the road at ninety, running stop
signs, narrowly missing other vehicles. It came to another stop at
the crest of a desolate hill. They were well out of town by this
time. Oscar's phone was completely dead. He got out of the car,
slamming the door, keys in his pocket. As he walked down the hill, he
heard the distinctive sound of the motor starting. The crunch of grit
and gravel filled his ears as the car backed up, passing him, cutting
off his retreat.
"Get
in the car," the GPS voice said.
©
2018 Dellani Oakes
No comments:
Post a Comment