Cascadia's Fault

One More Time with Feeling

Caz closed her eyes against the rocking and swaying, her head thumping with every step. Exhaustion dragged and the movement lulled. The next thing she felt was being jiggled and Johnny muttering, “I can see the camp, you might want to wake up now.”

Her brain couldn’t seem to process words, her eyes couldn’t seem to open.

“Caz, you don’t want Joan to plop you into the nearest camp car and drive you to Newport. You gotta wake up. She hasn’t seen you yet. C’mon, open your eyes.”

She struggled through the black and the weight that seemed to want to keep her and blinked blankly at Johnny’s faces inches above hers.

“Can you stand? Are you ready? Because I don’t think Jem can stall any longer.”

She nodded and Johnny lowered her to the ground, keeping a tight hold on her shoulders until she stopped swaying. Caz gripped his forearm as she found her balance, then steadied.

Seconds later, Joan made her way through the throng of teenagers, Jem and CJ in tow. Johnny tucked her into his side like he did it every day. Considering how tall he was, it didn’t take much. Caz could admit to herself that she was grateful for the support, especially since it felt like the whole earth had tipped an extra five degrees on its axis.

Joan scanned her from head to foot then said, “Alright, we’re going to run through it all again” and had her following a finger with only her eyes, then shined a light and had her track it. Finally, she peered closely into Caz’s eyes while shining the light directly into them, making Caz feel like a thousand knives had just been pushed into her brain.

Joan stepped back and nodded, “Well you look better, but I would be happier if we got you checked out. Vomiting?”

Caz shook her head.

“Okay, you definitely should have done that by now. And you didn’t actually lose consciousness?”

“No, ma’am.”

Joan cracked a smile, “Aright, then, we’ll leave it for now, but you’ll find me if any of that changes, yes?”

Relieved, Caz tried to smile back, “Yes, ma’am.”

Joan patted her arm. “Go find your gear, then everyone’s meeting in the main house. We’ll take roll, see which buses still need to arrive, and try to get us back on track. You’ll be given your assigned cabins and schedules at the end, okay?”

Everyone nodded and muttered their way through affirmations, then headed toward what had been their bus and the famous backpack still laying by its lonesome in the middle of the yard. Those who had also been on that bus were already picking through the pile to find their belongings. They joined the mayhem, digging through duffels, backpacks, and suitcases.

Caz found Johnny’s bag and heaved it over to him. She was pretty sure it weighed more than she did, especially since she still felt like she was living an inch above the ground with her head an inch below. Everyone stopped when they heard the victory whoop. CJ held his backpack over his head and did a quick boogie that could only be interpreted as a happy dance. Caz shook her head, “We’re all in trouble now. He’s going to be devising cruel and unusual ways of killing us off as soon as he talks us into a game. And do not doubt that he will talk you into a game.”

Jem pulled her backpack and duffel up over her shoulders, “Well, you only live unlimitedly in the game once.”

Caz smiled grimly, “That’s what you think.”