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indicating the other side of the hill. “Fine. But what if they have other ideas?”
    I could see that her mood was rapidly deteriorating, and I was beginning to get a little exasperated myself. “Look, Debra, we don’t even know if there is anyone. I doubt there is, honestly.”
    That wasn’t exactly true. I certainly hoped that whoever had massacred that convoy had had the good sense to move on immediately afterward. But they might just as easily have been lying in wait down there, hoping the wreckage would attract more victims as they came to help. I wasn’t about to mention this to my wife, however.
    “Well, if you don’t think there’s anyone down there, let’s just take our chances and drive on through. We could probably make it through on the right shoulder without any problems.”
    Uh, oh. “I just said I doubt that there’s anyone there. I can’t be sure until I go down and check it out.”
    She mulled it over for a moment. “But you really don’t think there’s anyone there?”
    Good. She was giving in. “No, I really don’t.”
    Her smile was very nearly vicious. “Okay then, which side do you want?”
    I gaped stupidly as the implications sank into my skull. “What do you mean?”
    “Well, if there’s no danger, and this is just a precaution, then two of us should get it done twice as fast. And you did mention that time is of the essence.” Her smug grin was infuriating.
    “Now wait a minute!” I nearly exploded. “I just said I didn’t think that there was anyone there. There’s no guarantee that I’m right. And if you think I’m going to let you risk yourself just because you happen to have a stubborn streak, you’re sadly mistaken.”
    Well, that did it. Her grin disappeared, and genuine anger laced her voice. “And if you think I’m about to go sit in the van and twiddle my thumbs while you go play GI Joe, then you are sadly mistaken!”
    Our voices had risen as we argued, and the kids looked up the hill. Struggling to stay calm, I asked in a low whisper, “What if I’m wrong, Debra? What if there’s trouble?”
    “’Then I’ll come back very quietly and let you know.’ I think that was exactly how you put it, wasn’t it?”
    “Oh, come on! Listen, I know how you feel, but be reasonable, for Christ’s sake!”
    Major mistake. Her voice was suddenly icy cold. “Be reasonable?” she hissed. “I am being reasonable. You’re the one that thinks that just because you’re a man, you’re more qualified to walk in the woods. Well, you listen to me for a second, mister. I’m smaller than you, lighter than you, and can outrun you. And unless I miss my guess, your precious martial arts training doesn’t teach diddly about woodland stalking, so I’m just as well-trained at that as you are. So what do you have to say to that, Mr. Haiya-mama kung fu super shit?”
    To say she was pissed off would be like comparing Krakatoa to a Roman candle. The thing that bothered me was that, when I really stopped to consider, she was correct on all counts. I was acting like a stereotypical insecure, macho male. I knew that on an intellectual level. But this was my family, damn it! I didn’t want to chance any of them getting hurt if I could possibly help it.
    Logic and emotion battled. Logic presented a way out. “All right, what do you suggest?”
    Surprise quickly replaced the anger in her eyes. “What?”
    I shrugged. “You’re right. I’m being an idiot. So what do you suggest we do?”
    Quickly recovering her composure, she replied, “Just what I said a minute ago. You take one side, and I’ll take the other. We’ll get done twice as fast and be on our way as quickly as possible.”
    “All right.” I nodded amiably. “But what about the kids?”
    She paused, appearing less certain. “They’ll stay in the van. You showed Megan how to use the rifle, so they should be just fine.”
    “Fine. But what if something does happen to us? Not that anything will, but what if? Say