Read Rocky Mountain Die for Free Online

worse the weather is going to be. Winter doesn’t end by the calendar in Colorado. March and even April can have some nasty storms come through.”
    “Well fuck March and April, then,” I said. “They can kiss my ass.”
    Everyone turned and looked at me. I could see the worry on their faces which usually meant that I’d said something wrong in a weird way.
    “What?” I asked.
    “Why did you mention your dad?” Stella asked.
    “Huh? I didn’t,” I replied. “I said fuck March and April. I was making a joke.”
    “No, you said your dad wasn’t going to be at the game,” Stuart said. “Then you whistled.”
    “Ha ha ha, guys,” I responded, lifting my one middle finger. “Is this funny to you? Mess with brain-addled Jace? Good one.”
    Then shit went really weird.
    Skip that, please. Get to the road.
    What? No, I can’t just skip the fact I had my first seizure. Wait…
    Then tell the story. But hurry, Jace. Time is ticking.
    I’m really confused.
     
    ***
     
    “Jace? Baby?” Stella asked. “Wake up, Jace. Can you hear me? Wake up.”
    “I can hear you,” I said and tried to sit up, but Stenkler was there and he pushed me back down.
    “Rest,” he said. “You blacked out. I’d say you had a small seizure, but I can’t be for certain since I wasn’t here.” He looked about at everyone in the RV. “I have said I’d prefer to be with him for most of the journey. Only way I can monitor his digression.”
    “My digression? Way to go negative, man,” I said, trying to sit up again.
    “Stay,” Stella says.
    “But the floor of this RV smells like feet and rotten oranges,” I replied. “I’m gonna puke if I have to stay down here. At least get me up on a couch.”
    Stella looked to Stenkler and he nodded. Stuart, John, and Buzz lifted me up and set me on the couch.
    “Rotten oranges?” Stenkler asked. “Have you been smelling that a lot lately?”
    I shrugged. “Maybe.”
    “We’ll need to find a medical facility as soon as we reach Denver,” Stenkler said. “And I must insist I remain with him until then.”
    “We’ll see,” Stuart replied. “You’re still not quite one of us, doc. I think we all feel more comfortable with you under watch along with Kramer.”
    “You realize that Dr. Kramer is kind of nuts, right?” Stenkler asked.
    Stenkler? Talk about hi m .
    Stop that.
    “Yeah, we know,” Stuart said.
    “He’s also a true medical genius,” Stenkler said. “And I’m not exactly a mental slouch. Keeping us together, where we can discuss our options and possibly collude, isn’t the best idea. As far as you know, we are planning to escape together.”
    “Is that so?” Lourdes asked, looking menacing.
    “Nah, he’s full of shit,” Critter laughed. “The man is soft. He wouldn’t last more than a day out there. And Kramer is a coward. He likes havin’ his meals brought to him and havin’ people die fightin’ for his safety. He’ll stick around as long as we let him.”
    “Regardless,” Stenkler said. “Jace’s neurological deterioration is alarming.”
    “ You r neurological deterioration is alarming,” I replied. “Ha!”
    “That there,” Stenkler said, pointing at me. “Why else would he mention a toaster at a time like this?”
    “Toaster?” I asked. I looked at Stella. She nodded. “Shit.”
    “This decision isn’t based on anything Dr. Stenkler has said or on Jace’s condition,” Lourdes announced. “But we are leaving in an hour. Spread the word.”
    And then she was gone and the cold air was whipping into the RV again.
    “I’m going to find the kids,” Stella said. “Will you be alright?”
    “I’ll stay with him,” John said. “You guys go administer.”
    “I’ll stay too,” Critter added. “Nice and toasty in here.”
    “You are coming with me, Uncle Crit,” Buzz said. “We have work to do making sure all the vehicles are ready. I’ll need your help.”
    “You don’t need my help on nothin’,” Critter said. “You