Reordinate the Fate

Fifth Destination: Refill the Equipment

"Here we are. You have to wake him up now.”

Max could see even it’s only with the corner of his eye, it is clear that Stevan was fast asleep with his head leaned to the window. After his stomach filled up with the big portion foods, the boy seemed uneasy and moved uncomfortably. A while after that, his lazy character returned and he slept soundly throughout the approximately three hours of trip.

"Get up, Stevan."

Risa complained to herself in her heart that she doesn't have any courage to hits Stevan hard on the arm like she used to do to wake up her friend. She could only lightly touch and pat Stevan on the thigh in the hope that the boy will fastly wake up.

Luckily, this time Stevan issn't hard to wake up!

Risa can see the man's eyes open slowly, “Get up. We've already circled a quarter of the mountain. Snow will be visible soon. We arrived at the rest area and had a lot things to do.” Risa leaves Stevan and exits through another passenger door.

"The air here is as cold as the previous camp site!" Stevan is right. This mountain -as a natural object- can be approximate as close to the forest mountain they camped on before, but the temperature was clearly a whole lot different. Although only a different dune, the temperature here -it's still not the peak- already feels like they're on the top of the previous mountain.

"Can I help you?" Risa comes closer to Will.

Will was behind and unloaded the baggage. "Max said that we're going to change the tent and put the heater in the trunk. Can you take this tent to the shop? That shop is a branch of this camping car rental place.” Risa turns his head to look a shop right across the parked car, "Okay."

"Need my help too?"

Stevan is already go out from the vehicle. His eyes is open brightly and his sleepiness can not be seen. “You can carry this stick, trashbag, and empty gallon. Go across and put down the stick. Throw the trashbag in the dump at the end corner of this rest area,” Will points to a place about a kilometer from where they were standing. "Then, you take this gallon to the convenience store on the other end and exchange it for a new one." Will pointed a kilometer to the other side.

"What? You are really intended to makes me move!”

Will chuckled. Of course that's what he wants.

★★★

Cliff and Max meet without stopping to Risa in the opposite direction. Risa can sees that the two of them are lifting different items. Max was carrying a large bag and carrying the metal sheet in his hand. Meanwhile, Cliff looks strong with a portable heater same as his size that he holds up in both hands.

"We will put our backpacks on each lap. The food supply bag will also be placed in the middle seat with you later. Some of these extra items we need for the equipment will limited the space in the trunk.” Max lifted the base of the baggage and put down the bag he was carrying, then forced some other camping equipment bag into the space under too. It's narrow, but still manages to fit in.

Max closes it and directs Cliff, "Put the heater on over here."

The little boy obeyed Max's words and patting his hands, which is slightly blackened afterwards. “Aren't we going to get any facilities up there? Why did you have to carry it from this rest area?” Will asked.

“Oure next destination is exactly the same as before. It's just that it's more extreme and comes with snow covering up every surfaces.There is only a guard's house there and the place is not open to the public. Frankly, there is a camping area about 100 meters from here, that's why they have many stalls providing snow camping equipment. We take the equipment, but the camping area is not our destination.”

"Please bring this!"

Everyone turns their head to one direction. Risa and a large sack of charcoal that she pulled. "Hey-hey. Don't pull it.  You can tear up the the sack if you do it afterwards.” Max immediately come over and pick it up himself. Looks easy for him but it's very heavy.

"Cliff, there's still firewood to bring.” Risa lowered her head and hold on to her knees. Wiped the sweat drops that begin to appear on her forehead. Cliff is about to passed Risa to the shop, but stops for a moment, "Are you okay, sis?" Risa nodding and is about to say 'I'm fine', but Cliff is already walking faster and go away from her.

Did he really intend to ask?

★★★

"I am back!" Stevan shouted as the four of them leaned back in the car. Relieves fatigue after organizing and lifting things up. "Where should I put this gallon?" Max gets out of the driver seat and opens the trunk. Show Stevan where to put gallons.

“We still have one gallon. Why do you have to gaining more weight in this car by adding another gallon?” Max replied, "Because at the next destination, clean water will be even harder to find." Stevan stared in confusion, "Isn't there a lot of ice there?"

“We can't eat the ice or drink the liquid from the ice there, Stevan. The fact is, running water is usually cleaner than not flowing or stagnant water. All the more, water that turns to ice. Usually the ice is formed and captures the pollutants in the city and freezes harmful substances, it can also mix with the soil and other chemical substances below. It was also stepped on by humans and littered with several kinds of animals.” Max closes the trunk again, "We can't drink it at all. For the sake of our health trip.”

The man moving to the side of the camping car, “Since he's back, let's have a lunch. Next destination takes another long ride and energies to burn." Max considered for a moment, "We might be an hour late than we planned, but that's okay."

"Let's go now!" Risa gets up and closes the door of the camping car, followed by the others.

★★★

"But was I right? This place is pretty slack on days like this.” Stevan replies to Cliff's words. The five of them walking towards one of the fast food restaurants in the reat area while talking about how quiet the shop and stall are. There are only two large trucks that stop right in front of the convenience store. The drivers are also only old men who are consuming caffeine and smoking cigarettes to keep themselves fresh.

"Nobody will go here and camping on a normal day like this, Freak. We already discussed it at the beginning of the trip.” Risa chimes in with her head turning left and right, “A situation that suits the most for me and Will. Right?”

All Risa gets is a short nod from Will as replies.

They enters a fast food restaurant which turns out to merge the place with an organic food restaurant as well known as the fast food restaurant. "No wonder this fast food restaurant looks bigger than usual." commented Risa.

"I'll order organic food then." Max does not really choose instant and fast food. No, not disliking it, the man is only aware that healthy food helps more in increasing and maintaining stamina.

"I'll get the order food if you choose organic." Max volunteered. Risa raises her hand, "Whole grain burger set with orange juice." Cliff followed, “Grilled chicken and black rice for me. Match the drink with Risa's.”

Will rises to his feet, “I’ll get the same with Cliff. I'm going to order americano at a fast food restaurant. Anyone want to join?” Stevan stands up, "I'm coming with you."

Soon the two of them returns. Just then, Max also returns with a tray of orders on it. Max himself chose spaghetti with pesto sauce. He sees Will, who comes with two cups of americano and chocolate float.

“There is another tray.” Cliff stands up and says, “I’ll get it.” Not long after that, the little boy coming back with another tray and sits beside Risa.

"What did you order?" asked Risa as Stevan sits across from her.

“The restaurant is famous for its burgers, but I'm in the mood for the fried chicken this time. So I ordered that.” Cliff looks at Stevan, "If I remember carefully, the first time we met, you also ate fried chicken from the same brand."

Stevan paused and recalled briefly, “I don't know. I don't remember. Maybe I'm not in the mood, I just like it.” Furthermore, there are no conversation. Everyone eating and finishing their food in silence.

★★★

"Good afternoon, thank you." The five of them comes out of the warm clothes rental place after Risa said goodbye as behalf of everyone.

“We rent it for a week? Aren't we only stay at the fifth location for four days?” Max replied to Stevan's question, “It is true. But I'm not saying we were only out in the cold zone for four days, right?"

"Is it means that the sixth destination still on this snowy mountain?" Risa guessing.

Max nodded, “It's still in this cold place. I'll tell you the details later. Now we have to go. "

The five of them approaches their camping car and brought in all the warm clothes that had rolled into one in their arms. All black, just different sizes. Risa is of course medium, Cliff and Will take large, while Stevan and Max take extra large. They rent one size up their original size, Max says it's great for getting the warmth out of a warm jacket. Besides that, the five of them also chose boots of their own size. For services, they get headgear and scarf on free charge.

"This vehicle has really become full and cramped." said Stevan as he sits in the camping car. The boy is holding his bag and sees the food supply bag tightly closed beside his feet.

“It won't be this messy and full when we get back. Take it easy." Max replied. "Now we will head to our fifth destination, the snowy mountain peak!"

★★★