Date: 2023-07-01
From: Reservoir Rd

To: PA Route 309/The Lookout Hostel
Miles today: 17.0
Weather: clear sky

Argonaut - Edward NortonPacer - Jessica AlbaThe Colonel - Samuel L. JacksonBegin SceneThe interior of a medical ward. All around people are in medical beds. Across the room, a set of double swinging doors opens. A nurse walks through, followed by Argonaut and Pacer.Nurse: We're doing the best we can with what we got, but we can't perform miracles.The nurse stops next to a bed with a patient who is laying awake. She points to the patients feet.Nurse: Plantar fasciitis. It'll need to be amputated. The patients head snaps up to the nurse.Patient: Wait, what?!Before the patient can utter another word, the nurse grabs a meat cleaver from a nearby tray and with one swing severs the patients foot from his ankle. The patient screams as blood shoots everywhere. The nurse puts the bloody cleaver back on the tray and walks away. Argonaut and Pacer follow.Nurse: Such a shame to see something like that happen to one so young.Pacer: This is all the ATC's doing.Argonaut: (rolls eyes) Not this again.Pacer: Don't roll your eyes at me. This is just like the "water." I was right about that and I'm right about this too.Argonaut: (mock indignation) You always have to bring that up. I told you, my glasses were dirty!A man in a military uniform walks into the medical ward and approaches our two heroes.Military Man: The Colonel is ready to see you. Please follow me.Nurse: Good luck to the both of you. The feet of the nation depends on your success. The nurse turns and walks away. Argonaut and Pacer follow the military man down some halls and into a small briefing room. Our heros sit in some front row chairs.Behind the podium stands the Colonel. Behind him is a large projection screen.The Colonel: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! I have had it with these motherf***ing rocks on this motherf***ing trail!!The Colonel presses a button on the podium and an old dark grainy picture of a sinister looking Virginian appears on the projector screen. He's looking at the camera with yellow eyes and in the process of pouring a bucket of rocks on the ground.The Colonel: Thirty years ago, those damn Virginian volunteers started bringing their rocks up to Pennsylvania and dumping them on the trail. They knew that Virginia rocks and Pennsylvania soil don't react well together. Now every year the rocks multiply and grow bigger and if it isn't stopped, there will be dire consequences. You two are to go out on the trail, find rock zero, and put an end to all this cobblestone nonsense. Any questions? Before any other word can be spoken, a uniformed woman walks in and hands a report to The Colonel. He thumbs through it quickly then angrily looks at the uniformed woman.The Colonel: Is this for real?Uniformed Woman: Its been confirmed twice sir.The Colonel: God damnit!!The Colonel turns back to our heroes.The Colonel: The ATC has been playing us all along. We just received word that they have been purposefully rerouting the trail to go through as many rocks as possible for years. Pacer immediately looks at Argonaut with gloating satisfaction. Argonaut covers his face with his hand. Pacer looks back at The Colonel. Pacer: Colonel, we're just a couple of hikers. We're not qualified for this.The Colonel: That's not what my file says. You became canoe experts in a week. You've been thru-hiking for months. You're as qualified as anyone we've got. Hikers feets will never be safe if this menace isn't stopped. We need you, no the country needs you to do this.Pacer and Argonaut look at each other for a few moments, nod, and turn back towards The Colonel. Argonaut and Pacer together: We're in!!The Colonel nods.The Colonel: Then you're dismissed. God speed.End SceneBreakfast: Pancakes and eggs.Lunch: California trail mix and French onion Sunchips Dinner: Short Rib Shepherd's Pie and a root beer at Thunderhead Lodge. The Shepherd's Pie was much better than the chicken pot pie from yesterday. Dessert: I forget what they were called, but it was three small cream puff shells filled with vanilla ice cream and topped with chocolate sauce and almonds. It was good, but not as good as I was expecting.