The Tunnel: Albany
The man's home sat back behind a veil of balsam firs, far enough from the road that one could not hear the occasional hum of motor and rubber there. His wife got out of the front passenger's seat, and her Sunday dress caught the wind and its white lace edges whipped around a pale pair of ankles. She walked to the back of the station wagon, and her face was lost to them then; the Devil wanted to see it once more, to glance once more upon those green eyes and painted lips. He wanted to smell once more her vanilla perfume, but it too was lost to him, even as she freed the little pigs from their sty in the back.
The man let off the emergency brake, and the car rolled forward, putting its weight upon the layer of gravel bits beneath and playing upon them a dull but soothing song. The little pigs didn't look back, and neither did their mother.
The ride to Albany passed in mostly silence. The man would point out their notable land features and marks, and the Devil would say something like "Hmm, that's interesting." Bart couldn't tell if such comments were meant in earnest or if the Devil was just humoring their host. The station wagon hummed along down the Ethan Allen, and the man had a smile on his wintered face. There was green all over, and it was fitting as they were passing through the Green Mountain National Forest, that's one thing he had pointed out.
The Ethan Allen gave way to the New York 7, and the Devil gave especial interest in their surroundings whenever they crossed a body of water. There was the Tomhannock Reservoir first, with the road passing low and directly over its center. Bart thought it just a small lake, but the Devil had sat up and leaned into the window glass as they crossed. Then there was the Hudson river, a rippling, flat band of blue separating forests on either side. It passed quickly out of sight, but
the Devil did not look away until the Interstate turned sharply south.
"It's not much, but it will keep you boys fed and warm until the mornin, and my conscience clean," the man said. He was holding out a wad of dollars for them to take, holding them out through the driver's side window, which was only half rolled down.
"If you insist, my friend," said the Devil, taking what had been offered.
"You gonna be OK gettin back this late, sir?" asked Bart, he leaned over to look the man in the eye, to let him know he appreciated the lift.
"Oh, sure. It's a nice ride back, even in the dark."
The man let off the emergency brake, and the car rolled forward, putting its weight upon the layer of gravel bits beneath and playing upon them a dull but soothing song. The little pigs didn't look back, and neither did their mother.
The ride to Albany passed in mostly silence. The man would point out their notable land features and marks, and the Devil would say something like "Hmm, that's interesting." Bart couldn't tell if such comments were meant in earnest or if the Devil was just humoring their host. The station wagon hummed along down the Ethan Allen, and the man had a smile on his wintered face. There was green all over, and it was fitting as they were passing through the Green Mountain National Forest, that's one thing he had pointed out.
The Ethan Allen gave way to the New York 7, and the Devil gave especial interest in their surroundings whenever they crossed a body of water. There was the Tomhannock Reservoir first, with the road passing low and directly over its center. Bart thought it just a small lake, but the Devil had sat up and leaned into the window glass as they crossed. Then there was the Hudson river, a rippling, flat band of blue separating forests on either side. It passed quickly out of sight, but
the Devil did not look away until the Interstate turned sharply south.
"It's not much, but it will keep you boys fed and warm until the mornin, and my conscience clean," the man said. He was holding out a wad of dollars for them to take, holding them out through the driver's side window, which was only half rolled down.
"If you insist, my friend," said the Devil, taking what had been offered.
"You gonna be OK gettin back this late, sir?" asked Bart, he leaned over to look the man in the eye, to let him know he appreciated the lift.
"Oh, sure. It's a nice ride back, even in the dark."
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