Chapter 10
ERIN
It was torture for Erin to see Sam. The shame was acute and to watch him stroll into the building with his head high like he was already the winner made it worse.
She was so embarrassed about that kiss. The kiss that she had instigated and he had seemed to like, or so he’d said.
Now, though, it felt tacky, a bit clumsy and she so wished she could go back in time and withdraw any and all of her advances.
They had two hours until the ferry set sail and Erin suggested that they try and find something cheap to eat.
‘I doubt we’ll find anything cheap here but we need something. I could do with a big coffee at the very least,’ Martha said and it was as if all the teams had the same thought as they dispersed to find sustenance.
They did both get a coffee but the woman that served them suggested to get food on board the ferry as there was a lot more choice. They drank their coffees and finished off a packet of crackers they’d bought while they waited.
They were all boarded and by ten the ferry began its eight-hour crossing.
Both Erin and Martha had sleeping bags in their backpacks and pulled them out, ready to try to make a nest for themselves and catch some sleep before the big push to the checkpoint in the morning.
The ferry was huge with plenty of comfortable chairs but whether they would be able to shut out the noise going on around them was another matter.
‘We don’t know anything more about our checkpoint at the moment but we know we need to get to Tlell.
The ferry docks in Skidegate, so while the others wait for more information I think we need to find out about buses or trains or taxis, or a lift,’ Martha said.
‘I really don’t want to throw it together at the last minute. ’
She had the map laid across their laps and it looked to be about forty kilometres to Tlell. The map wasn’t detailed enough to show bus stops or a railway track and the guidebook they’d been given didn’t have that information either.
‘Most of these passengers have cars. I think we should quietly ask the question before the others do.’
‘I’ll go,’ Erin said, getting up. ‘I need to stretch my legs. I’ve spent too much time sitting today.’
‘Okay, you ask for info or a lift and I’ll get us some food,’ Martha said.
After walking the length of one side of the ferry, Erin learned two things very quickly; one was that there was no public transport and two, that no one seemed to be going north.
‘You could get a taxi,’ one woman said. ‘But it will cost you about a hundred and sixty dollars.’
Erin thought about all the money they had saved to get to this point and hoped they could at least get to the first checkpoint on as little a spend as possible. She thanked the woman and moved on.
‘Erin,’ called an unwelcome voice behind her.
She turned to see Sam standing in the aisle between the seats. He was wearing that soft shirt again but this time Erin remained unmoved.
‘What?’ she said.
‘Can I talk to you for a moment? I want to apologise.’
‘Apologise for lying and making a fool of me? Er, how about no!’ Erin said, sounding a little like an angsty teen rather than the twenty-five-year-old woman she actually was. She noticed Sam’s mouth twitch.
‘For what it’s worth, I am sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a shit; I was taken by surprise and then when we’d talked more I didn’t want to spoil what was happening between us by being honest.’
By surprise at how stupid I am, Erin thought as she turned away, trying not to think about what had happened between them. She was not going to let this man stop her from finding a lift. Because she was convinced that’s what he was doing. Like great-uncle, like great-nephew. Trying to trip her up.
‘Back at the hotel you told me that Harrison duped your grandmother in some way and that was why she lost the race. You have him all wrong. He would never do anything like that. He’s just not that sort of man,’ he said, but Erin didn’t turn back or wait to hear more and she moved to the opposite side of the ferry to ask others for help.
When she returned to Martha there was a sandwich and a hot chocolate waiting for her, which she fell upon with great delight.
‘I found a lovely old chap with a van who will happily take us to Tlell,’ she told her grandmother. ‘He says we can’t miss it as it’s bright green with a black roof and a red bonnet. We can meet him on the car deck when we dock. He’s called Hank.’
‘Fantastic,’ Martha said and wrapped her sleeping bag around herself. ‘I’m going to try and get some sleep.’
Erin let Martha rest her head on her shoulder and she was glad to see her grandmother fall asleep fairly quickly. Erin, on the other hand, dozed on and off for most of the night but by the time they docked in Skidegate she didn’t feel at all rested.
* * *
‘That bonnet isn’t red,’ Martha said on the car deck at seven thirty. ‘It’s rust, I’m sure of it.’
Erin couldn’t disagree and really the van didn’t look roadworthy at all but she didn’t have a chance to share her doubts about it getting either them or even itself to Tlell as the tracker was emitting a loud beep. Martha took it from the zip pocket of her bag and read the information out to Erin.
When you get to Tlell head to the bridge then take the path to the beach.
‘I’m feeling nervous now,’ Erin said. ‘It’s going to be a mad scramble from all of us.’
And she had noticed that both Femi and Liz, and Don and Pete were all climbing into cars. She was more pleased to know that Sam was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he’d fallen overboard, she thought with a smile.
‘We’ll probably be jogging at the end. I’m not sure I can run. I did get quite a lot of sleep, miraculously. I think I’ll be okay. And don’t forget, we can’t lose at this point. We just gain a time advantage the quicker we get there,’ Martha said.
Erin remembered Cally explaining that they would have their time of arrival recorded. They would all have to stay for thirty-six hours at the hotel and then they’d be able to leave in order of their arrival with the time difference as an advantage.
‘We can do this,’ Erin said and when the old chap, Hank, arrived with a toothless grin they all climbed in. Noah threw his bag into the open back of the truck and when the ferry docked they were off.
‘We don’t mind at all if you want to drive fast,’ Martha said.
‘Well, that’s a nice thought, but this old girl won’t get over fifty, so slow and steady wins the race.’
No, it bloody doesn’t, Erin thought as they left the terminal in Skidegate. She just caught the back of Sam and Harrison climbing into what looked like a brand-new car and she let out an annoyed breath.
‘Is there a secret shortcut?’ she asked Hank.
‘Nope,’ he said. ‘Just the one road to Tlell.’
‘We’re very grateful to you,’ Martha said with a glance back at Erin. Her expression was clear: be grateful too.
‘Yes,’ Erin echoed. ‘We are. Very grateful indeed.’
It was a beautiful stretch of road at least and they had plenty of time to enjoy it as they were travelling so slowly.
This is free, Erin had to keep reminding herself.
On the next leg of the journey, they could cover ground more quickly on coaches and trains hopefully.
Although, at this point, they didn’t know where they were going next, of course.
And besides, Erin really needed to concentrate on this leg before she was off on the next.
The sea was on their right as they travelled north and eagles swooped down to rest on the huge fir trees.
‘Bald eagles,’ Hank said.
‘Oh, we don’t get those at home in the UK. Or bears, or moose,’ said Erin. ‘Unless you go to a zoo, of course.’
‘I don’t agree with zoos or wildlife parks,’ he said. ‘These beautiful creatures should be able to roam free.’
Erin watched another eagle soaring before gliding down to the edge of the water. It wasn’t far from her window and it was huge.
‘I agree,’ she told him and pulled her journal from her bag to make notes. One day when she looked back she’d be grateful to herself for bothering. Then the brand-new car taking Harrison and Sam to Tlell overtook them at some speed and she snapped the book shut, her mood cooling again.
‘Was that Harrison waving?’ Noah asked, and Erin cut him a look.
‘No, I don’t think so. Hank, you live in a beautiful part of the world. Tell us more about it,’ Erin said, keen to change the subject. Martha really didn’t need to be wound up any more than she already was.
When they were dropped off at the bridge and made their hasty thank yous and goodbyes to the old man, they found the footpath to the beach and began to run. It was harder going on the stones and then the tracker rang out again with their next alert.
After 1 km find the woodland path. Head to the hotel and cabins.
‘Right,’ Martha said. ‘Keep your eyes peeled.’
Erin was more concerned that she couldn’t see any other contestants. They were probably all already there with gin and tonics, waiting to watch Erin and Martha turn up last.
‘There,’ she said suddenly, seeing a sign for a woodland trail.
They didn’t stop jogging until they could see the hotel and they were both up the steps and through the front door before they allowed themselves to stop and take huge gulping breaths. There was a woman on the reception desk with a book in front of her.
‘Welcome to Haida Gwaii,’ she said and Erin stepped forward to turn the page.
They had come last, which wasn’t a huge surprise. Harrison and Sam had checked in twenty minutes previously with Femi and Liz close on their tails. Then Priya and Tara next with the twins just after them.
‘It’s just a twenty-minute lead,’ Martha said. ‘Plus, we don’t know how much they spent to get here. We might be leading with cash at the moment.’
‘I’m so knackered,’ Erin said sinking into a chair.
‘Think how I feel,’ Martha said, sinking down next to her and rubbing her knee.
‘How many miles to St John’s?’
‘It’s about 8,000 kilometres,’ the receptionist said.
Erin smiled wanly at her, wishing she’d not voiced that rhetorical question out loud.
‘And that’s if they send you on a direct route along the Trans-Canada Highway, which they probably won’t,’ Noah said.
The cameraman, who Erin had forgotten all about, was sniggering gently behind her.
‘They? Isn’t that you? Is that professional?’ she asked him.
‘Just injecting some fun. And I’m only here to point the camera. I’ve nothing to do with the rules,’ he told her with a smile and then turned to the receptionist. ‘Can I check in too, please? Oh, and is there anywhere I can do a jigsaw?’