Roads Of Passage, Part 6

Roads Of Passage
by Blackbladder
Part 6

Upon walking into the building, they were greeted by loud rock music, drunken
laughter and second-hand smoke from lit cigarettes and cigars.  

Maxine approached the bar and squeezed between two chain-smoking elderly men
and looked towards the male bartender.  

"Hey gorgeous.....I need your assistance." Maxine shouted, trying to vent her
command over the loud rock music.  

The bartender looked at Maxine with his bright blue eyes and returned her
stare with a welcome smile.  

"What can I get you,miss?"  the bartender asked.

Meanwhile, Pandora stood nervously in the saloon observing the environment
for the first time.  Even though she was of legal age to drink, the idea of
gettin drunk never appealed to her in any way.  The smell of drink and smoke
represented a new world for her.  The smell of smoke reawakened her memory on
the smoky daydream she had on the road.  However, the smell was not as
repulsive to her as this was a bigger space.  The smoke smelt as realistic as
it did in her dream.  Whilst the thoughts of her daydream were at the
forefront of her mind, she couldn't help evesdropping on a conversation
between two very merry drinkers at a  nearby table.

"What's the story about the Removal Man?"  

"It isn't a story, Bruce...it's true.  You remember Ronnie?  I think He paid
a visit to Ronnie just a couple of weeks ago."

This eerie myth seemed to silence Pandora's smoky thoughts temporarily as she
evesdropped closer on the conversation.

"Ronnie hasn't been seen since.......never turned up for work or anything.
Ronnie comes up to me one day tellin me there's somebody followin him all
over the place.   He sees this figure at his work, in the middle of his
garden............even in his bedroom!  This thing takes many guises until
one day Ronnie goes missing after leaving the workplace on a Friday night.
Some sources tell me they saw a figure walk towards Ronnie's car in the car
park.  Since then, no-one has heard from our Ronnie."

"There must be another explanation for that.  That's bull." 

"I swear, Bruce - this is true.  The Removal Man stalks his victims down and
toys with them of his own choosing..."

Maxine returned from the bar and ushered her friends to take a seat in the
corner of the saloon.  They each took a seat as Maxine began explaining the
response from the bartender.

"Ok peeps, bad news is that the bartender says there are no hotels in the
area..."  

They all groaned in frustration and fatigue.  Rose's doubts over this trip
had increased and she looked despondent.

"...but he is gonna have a word with staff member about putting us up for the
night."

That news seemed to go down better with all of them as they sat in the
saloon.  

"Relax peeps, everything is gonna be fine.  No need to worry, Pandora."
Maxine put her hand around Pandora's shoulders as she noted the student's
unease.  

Minutes later, a woman with long, black hair approached the group of friends
with a tray of beers and laid it down upon their table.

"Hi, my name is Iona.  I am a waitress here.  You are lucky coz I only work
during the day.  These beers are on the house....I hear you folks are needin
a place to stay for the night."

"You're right, Iona....can you help us out?"  Daisy asked.

"Yeh......I actually need a lift home anyway so we will be helping each other
out.  You will have to wait til I have finished my shift.....is that gonna be
a problem?" Iona asked, whilst removing the drinks from the tray and placing
the container back in her hand.

The group all shook their heads, simply appreciating the kind offer of
accommodation.

"We are very grateful for your help.  Don't worry about us, at least we will
get a good drink whilst waiting."  Maxine said confidently.

Iona smiled, then returned to her duties, clearing tables and changing
barrels for the bartender.

The group all sat nervously for a few moments, all feeling the effects of a
long day before Maxine broke the silence with a sip of her beer.  

The taste of a cool beer reawakened her need for a cigarette.  Being in a
smoky atmosphere removed her inhibitions of her friends, and removed the pack
of cigarettes in her jacket pocket unapologetically.  Rose grimaced as Max
lit up instantly, feeding her starving lungs with the nicotine they had been
deprived throughout the journey.  For the first time in the journey, Maxine
felt comfortable smoking and could now indulge guilt-free in front of her
friends.  Whilst Pandora and Rose frowned at the actions of their smoker
friend, Daisy was confused on her feelings over Maxine's smoking.  The fresh
smoke no longer seemed pungent as it did in the past.  Her thoughts returned
to the positive experience she had at the Gas Station.  However, she was
going to conceal this from her friends and remain loyal by their side. 

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