Best Laid Plans

After a quick bite to eat and a coffee in hand, I found myself arguing with the driver of the bus that was supposed to take me to the resort. Apparently, the bus had blown its engine and it would be an extra three days before it was fixed as they literally had to order a new engine. "Why not just get a new bus?"

"That would actually take longer," said the masculine lynx who was the mechanic.

"Shit. Well, is there anywhere I can rent a car?" I asked and the mechanic and the fox driver glanced at each other.

"Uh. Sure. But, stay on the paved roads until you get to the turn-off for the resort. Do NOT turn off sooner or you'll be in Kinila territory and...you'll be their problem," warned the mechanic as the driver quickly scribbled out a number for a car rental place.

I was lucky that they had a single SUV left. And I was extra thankful they decided to deliver to the hotel so I could load up my luggage. Apparently, I was the only one who wasn't willing to wait for the bus to get fixed. I even asked if anyone wanted to join me and no one took me up on the offer.

The ride was quiet. Too quiet. No radio stations out here and the SUV didn't come with anything to play music with, so...it was just me and the sounds of the road. I was about an hour into the trip when my right rear tire suddenly went flat and steam started pouring from the hood. Pulling to the side of the road I sighed in frustration as I went to assess the engine first. Just steam. The radiator cap bouncing around like chattering teeth. I thought that was the only problem until I saw the connection to the electric motor was severed. I don't know for how long, but quickly checking my fuel gauge, I saw that I was pretty close to empty. "Shit!" I spat. With a sigh, I went around to the back to get water from my luggage. I figured I'd check the spare, unscrewing the large wing bolt and, expecting something mildly heavy, I put a lot of strength into lifting it off, only to fall on my ass 'cause the thing was plastic. "Fucking hell? Well, they're not getting a good review."