Time and Again

Vista.
    "It's certainly full of trees." Susie sighed at the luxury of moving without effort. Because she knew Jim was sulking, she patted his knee. "Are you from around here?"
    "Originally." Confident that Cal would find the way now, she shifted to face their passengers. "Cal's from Philadelphia."
    "Really?" Susie debated flexing her foot, then decided not to risk it. "So are we. Is this your first time out here, Mr. Hornblower?"
    "Yes, I guess you could say it's my first time here."
    "Ours, too. We wanted to show our sons a part of the country that was still unspoiled. And we have."
    She gave her husband's knee another squeeze.
    Resilient, Jim swung an arm over the back of the seat. "This is one trip they won't forget."
    The boys exchanged looks and rolled their eyes but wisely kept silent. There was still a chance for that hotel.
    "So, you're from Philadelphia. What do you think of the Phillies' chances this year?"
    Cautious, Cal tried to be noncommittal. "I'm always hopeful."
    "That's the ticket." Jim slapped Cal on the shoulder. "If they tighten up the infield and beef up the pitching staff they might have a shot."
    Baseball, Cal realized with a grin. At least that was something he could relate to. "It's hard to say about this season, but I figure we'll take our share of pennants in the next couple hundred years."
    Jim gave a bark of laughter. "That's taking the long view."
    When they reached the clearing, their passengers were all in a more cheerful state of mind. The boys leaped out to chase after a rabbit. Susie stepped out more slowly, still favoring her legs.
    "It is beautiful." She looked out over the layers of mountains, where the sun was hanging low. "I can't thank you enough, both of you." She glanced over to where her husband was already yelling at the boys to get busy and gather some firewood. "You saved my husband's life."
    "He looked in pretty good shape, actually," Cal commented.
    "No. I was going to kill him in his sleep." She smiled as she eased the pack from her back. "Now I won't have to, at least for a couple of days."
    Jovial, Jim walked back to give his wife a hug. She winced as he squeezed tender muscles. "I tell you, Suze, a man can really breathe up here."
    "For the time being," Susie murmured.
    "Not like Philadelphia, bless it. Why don't you two stay for supper? Nothing like eating under the sky."
    "You're very welcome to," Susie added. "On tonight's menu are the ever-popular beans, with the addition of hot dogs if the cold pack worked, and for dessert some delicious dehydrated apricots."
    "Sounds great." And part of him was tempted to stay, just to sit and listen. He thought the Rankin family as entertaining as any daytime drama. "But we've got to get back."
    Libby offered her hand to Susie and added a sympathetic pat. "If you follow the trail to the right it'll take you back to Big Vista. It's a long hike, but a pretty one." And one that would take them in the opposite direction from the ship.
    "Can't thank you enough." Jim dug into his backpack and pulled out a business card. The gesture had Libby smothering a chuckle. You could take a boy out of the smog, but- "Give me a ring when you get back, Hornblower. I'm sales manager at Bison Motors. Cut you and the little woman a good deal, new or used."
    "I'll keep it in mind." They climbed back into the Land Rover, offered a wave, then left the Rankins behind. "New or used what?" Cal asked Libby.

CHAPTER 12
    Cal thought quite a bit about the Rankins. He had asked Libby if they were an average American family.
    Her response had been amused. If there was such a phenomenon, she'd told him, they probably fit it.
    They interested him perhaps because he saw several parallels between them and his own family. His father, though no one would ever have confused him with big, beaming Jim Rankin, had always had a love of nature, unspoiled land and family trips. Like the other boys, Cal and Jacob had spent a good deal of time sulking, whining and rolling their eyes. And when the chips were down and the limit was reached, it had always been Cal's mother who had laid down the law.
    Families, it seemed, were consistent over time. It was a comforting thought.
    They had had their fire and brandy when they had returned to the cabin. Then, because Libby was always one to organize, they had gone up to her machine to finish the report.
    They would need three copies. The first for the capsule, the second for the ship-and Cal-and the third for Libby.
    He'd had to