Chapter 5

© Copyright 2008 by Elizabeth Delayne



“Wow ... it’s better than on TV.”

Jamie silently followed Felicity into the back of the motor home. In the front was a small kitchen area, booth style table and luxurious couches on either side. One of them, Felicity explained could open up into a bed, but most people just switched in and out of the bunk beds, depending on who needed sleep or not, or just dropped flat down on one of the sofas.

They passed bunk beds, two on each side, a bath with the shower on the right and the toilet on the left, then peeked into the back master suite. Further exploration back through revealed their things. Her pillow had been placed on one of the bunks and opening the closet, Felicity found their suitcases stored in individual oversized cubbies.

There were cameras on the bus, some of them easy to see, some—Jamie was sure—hidden. After all, it said so in their contract. Only the bathrooms were safe.

The bus was lined with windows, included a television, and a laptop, to help them on their journey. Cameron took that seat, and Felicity joined him across the table. Jaime set her backpack down beside one of the sofas, and sat down next to George. Thessa sat down next to Felicity.

Tyler came on the bus last, followed by a camera man. He took the driver’s seat as he always had since becoming leader of his own team.

“You’re going to drive?” George asked. He didn’t sound alarmed, simply surprised. “You’ve had less sleep than we have.”

“Just for a few miles, before Bob takes over,” Tyler said, glancing back and offering George a nod of his head.

“Who’s Bob?” Cameron asked.

Just then, someone else stepped onto the bus. He was an older man with greying hair. His arms and hands work worn and his face creased with years in the sun. Jamie smiled—recognizing the look from her grandmother and a half dozen of her grandmother’s friends. He was a man used to manual labor.

Tyler held out his hand. “Everyone, this is Bob. Bob ... my team. George, Jamie ... Thessa, Felicity and Cameron.”

Bob nodded, but said nothing and sat down on the end of the sofa, on the other side of George. A newspaper materialized from the side of the seat. As Tyler started up the bus, the camera man took his place on the steps in the entrance. The bus rumbled to life and they pulled away.

“Always seems more dramatic on television,” Cameron muttered as he turned the computer to face him.

Thessa and Felicity giggled.

Jamie looked at George, then reached in her backpack for her book. At some point someone would clue them in on what they were doing or where they were going. For now, they just needed to bide their time.

Moments later, the bus rolled to a stop. Tyler stood and stretched, stepping out of the way for Bob.

“That’s it?” Jamie asked.

“That’s it,” Tyler said and sat down at the table beside Cameron. “The network execs get a little nervous when I drive.”

“Couple of tickets in your past?” George asked.

“No ... just not one of their own minions.”

“The star doesn’t drive the bus,” Felicity quipped.

“In their eyes, I suppose that’s their reasoning. In mine ... it’s a lot less stressful.”

“No kidding,” said Cameron. “This thing can’t move when it has too.”

Tyler smiled. “Besides, we all have to get to know each other from scratch,” he pulled a pack of cards from his pocket. “Anyone up for a friendly game of gin?”

* * *

Tyler had a number of rules for himself for leading his team. No one ate alone for more than 24 hours. More than that was too much time to think, to brood, to separate one’s self from the team. Another was that he never suggested games that could use less than his whole team or not work if someone wanted out. They couldn’t put boundaries on themselves.

Unless, of course, it was video games.

They’d pulled out the Play Station before they were halfway to San Francisco. He sat in what team member Alexis from five years ago had christened the comfy chairs ... chairs, according to her rules, could not always be used for gaming.

But he and Cameron used them now.

“So, how do we know where we’re going?” Felicity was stretched out on one of the sofas watching the sky as the bus drove on and on.

Not looking back from the game, Tyler said, “Bob knows where we’re going.”

She glanced back at Bob. “So we don’t really have anything to figure out?”

“Sure we do,” he jerked to the left, putting his body behind the animated football game he was playing on screen. “It’s like a key, we figure it out, unlock Bob. And we have to do it before we reach a certain point or Bob puts on the breaks.”

“Has that ever happened?” asked Thessa.

“Sure it has,” Felicity answered. “Two seasons ago they were stopped at a rest stop forever. Overnight.”

“Nearly two,” Tyler amended for her. “And it wastes more time because they make us take the time to dissect it in the viewing room and we have to do shots of me driving the bus, pulling over, disembarking the bus.”

“Doesn’t seem to be anything reality about it,” said George, from behind his personal laptop.

“Rule number one. It’s television,” Tyler responded, his eyes still on the game he played with Cameron. “Never forget it.”


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