“I can’t explain it.” Nikki took a cigarette from her bag and lit it, dragged on it. “But it’s really big.” She blew a stream of smoke. “We need to get something first. You gotta trust me. Let’s go.”

Janie and Marie exchanged excited glances, picking up their pace as they followed her, as they always did.

Nikki was the leader.

Three

Eternity, Manitoba
2000

Nikki led them out of town along the path in the fields that bordered the highway. Not far in the distance they saw their destination: The Big Sky Horizon Truck Stop, busy with rows of big rigs with their growling diesels and hissing brakes rolling in and out of the stop, heading across Canada or into the United States. Huge flags flapped from chrome-tipped poles that reached high above the main building where the girls entered. Nikki led them into the big store.

Janie watched Nikki go to the discount jewelry section and study a tray of rings as she and Marie went up and down aisles offering T-shirts, caps, sunglasses, along with country music CDs.

Other sections had stuffed animals and toy trucks; while others had jumper cables, gloves, caps, snow brushes and ice-scrapers, coolers and sunscreen, testament to the fact that the weather in this part of the country was blistering in the summer and bone-cracking cold in the winter.

“The weather here’s kind of biblical,” Janie had always said.

Nikki found them in the aisle with potato chips and beef jerky.

“Okay, I’m done. Let’s go.”

“What is it we’re doing?” Janie said. “Why’re you so mysterious?”

“You’ll see. You both need to sneak out tonight and meet me at eleven on the corner near my place. It’s important. Be there.”

That night at eleven, Janie and Marie found Nikki on the corner smoking. When they arrived she’d reached into her bag, withdrawing a small bottle. Under the streetlamp they saw a vodka label but the drink was orange.

“It’s called a screwdriver and I made it extra sweet. You both need to take a gulp,” Nikki said.

Janie and Marie each took a drink, shuddering as the sweet fiery liquid warmed their throats.

“Whoa,” Marie said.

They walked through the night to the creek and into the woods. Guided only by moonlight, Nikki stopped at a secluded spot. Breezes rustled the leaves; birds and insects cheeped and clicked in the night.

“It’s creepy here,” Marie said.

“You guys ever kill anything?” Nikki asked. “On purpose?”

“What do you mean?” Janie said.

“I’ve killed squirrels and birds in here.” Nikki chuckled. “Threw stones to wound them, then I finished them off, stabbing them with a stick.”

“That’s so gross!” Janie said. “Why’d you do it?”

“To see what it was like,” Nikki said.

“Did you feel bad after?” Marie asked.