"Sure, mom, we're leaving. Yes, I'm taking in, bye."
Lana turns off her phone before her mother asks her again if she remembered to fill up the car.
Of course she did.
And at different gas stations.
She arranges the last of her purchases in the trunk and, after making sure she didn't forget anything, gets comfortable in the passenger seat, waiting for her wife to appear.
A minute later, the two of them are on their way to the country house where Karol's family is gathered with Lana's mother.
"Did you put the coordinates in Maps?"
Lana raises her hand to reach for her phone in the holder, but Karol stops her.
"Don't worry. I already put it in and you checked it three times."
"And on offline Maps?"
"Twice."
Karol wants to look at her wife's lovely face, but focuses on the road ahead of her, through her sunglasses.
"You better sleep. You woke up early today and we'll only get there in a few hours."
Lana looks at the road, the surrounding landscape gradually becoming free of human constructions, giving way to green.
She looks back at Karol who is relaxed next to her.
"Just a little bit more and we'll switch places."
"Don't worry about it."
It is almost thirteen hours when Karol decides that it is time to take a break for lunch and rest. She looks at the desert landscape on both sides of the dirt road she had entered an hour ago.
As anticipated by Lana, the cell network had disappeared after a few kilometers run and only gave signs of life in some stretches.
By this time, she had already gotten rid of her sunglasses, thrown them in the backseat and was concentrating on not driving over too many potholes so as not to wake her wife.
Some houses start to appear and a town with a main street opens up before her eyes. Before she can stop herself, she slams both hands on the steering wheel and her excitement wakes Lana, who rubs her eyes.
"Are we there?!"
"Sorry, love, I woke you up by accident."
Lana opens her mouth and taps her face, looking around. She squints at her phone and looks around again.
"Is this a village?!"
Karol slams her hands on the steering wheel again and points ahead.
"Look, a little shop. Let's stop there."
Before Lana can say anything, Karol is already pulling the handbrake and getting out of the car. Lana follows her out, and the two look at an old man sitting on a log at the door of the shop.
Karol approaches and Lana follows in his wake, trying to peek inside the establishment.
"Good afternoon, sir. Do you happen to know if there is a hotel around here?"
Lana almost laughs at her wife's naivety, but notices the wrinkled face beneath a leather hat, barely changing. He looks from side to side and then looks back at them, shaking his head.
"There is none of that here, ma'am."
He points his index finger towards the end of the street and the two follow it until they see a green house.
"There is Mrs. Neide who rents a small room for those who come here aimlessly, but her nephew is using it now."
The two look at each other and Lana notices Karol's tired expression.
"Isn't there anywhere I can at least wash my face?"
The old man takes off his hat, scratches his head and then points behind him.
"There is a bathroom in the back, but the water comes from an artesian well."
Karol looks at Lana, deciding that this is better than nothing. Lana looks inside the shop once more and when she is convinced that it is empty, she turns to Karol.
"Do you want me to go with you?"
Karol shakes her head.
"Someone needs to stay with the car. I'll be right back."
And without worrying about who might be watching, Karol leaves a kiss on Lana's lips and walks to the side of the little shop until she disappears from sight.
Lana looks at the old man who seems not to have blinked since the last moment she looked at him. She checks the car and her eyes fall on the little church across the street.
"Is there mass?"
The old man, who seems to have slept with his eyes open, straightens up.
"Only on Sundays. The priest comes from the neighboring town."
Lana agrees and crosses her arms, kicking a small stone away.
"Do you know how long it will take to get to Passo Pequeno?"
The old man takes off his leather hat and scratches his head.
"If I'm not mistaken, about two hours. It's been a while since I left here."
Lana doesn't doubt that it's true. Karol turns the corner of the little shop with her face damp and her curly hair tied up in a bun. She goes to the car and gets her wallet, returning to Lana's side.
"How much is it?"
The old man doesn't even blink.
"For using the bathroom."
He takes off his hat and scratches his head, looking from side to side. Before he can say anything, Karol leaves a ten dollar bill in his hand and the two say goodbye, getting into the car.
As she starts the car, Lana watches the old man enter the little shop and close the door.
Karol takes a cereal bar from the glove compartment and the two set off on the remaining journey.
"He said it's two hours to Passo Pequeno."
Karol looks at her blankly and Lana explains again:
"Obviously I didn't tell a complete stranger where we're going. I don't know if he's a black market human organ seller."
Karol reaches for her glasses in the back seat and puts them on her face.
"If you say so."
"If he comes after us, I can't forget to tell him that my liver is regenerated and that I wear contact lenses, because I'm nearsighted."
Karol laughs and leans over the gearshift to kiss Lana on the cheek, who pretends to be angry and then bursts out laughing.
After another three hours, the two arrive at the country house full of adults and children running everywhere.
Lana parks the car near the others and the two get out, breathing deeply of the fresh air.
"Lana!"
Mrs. Roberta approaches her daughter and Lana hugs her mother, leaving a kiss on her head.
"Did you bring everything I asked for?"
"Yes, it's in the trunk."
Mr. Miro and Mrs. Flora, Karol's parents, approach to unload the car. Mrs. Flora hugs her daughter and daughter-in-law, happy with the arrival of new guests.
"How was the trip?"
Mrs. Flora asks, noticing the tired expressions of the two.
"Everything went well, Lana took care of everything."
"It must have been boring, not a single living soul on this journey."
Mr. Miro says as he loads his hands with bags. Lana looks at Karol who looks back at her.
"We passed through a village on the way here."
Mr. Miro finishes picking up all the bags and closes the trunk door.
"Oh, yes, everything is in ruins now. It's been a long time since the last resident abandoned it. Such a shame. Every time I came here, I would have a drink at the store that was there."
Mrs. Flora puts her hands on her hips without noticing the shock on Karol and Lana's faces.
"And you're not ashamed to say that, are you?!"
"It was just a drink."
They walk into the house laughing and Mrs. Roberta notices her daughter's paleness.
"Are you feeling something, Lau?!"
Lana shakes her head and both of her arms.
"Yes. Just a little tired."
"Come on, let's go in. You need a shower and some rest."
Mrs. Roberta goes in first and Lana hugs Karol's arm, who is not much different from her old self.
"I think it's better to leave this alone."
Lana agrees and the two go in without looking back.