The inside of the house was more spectacular then the outside. The walls and floor were constructed of hard cherry wood with a fine glassy finish. There was a winding staircase that extended twenty feet to the second floor. The back of the house was one enormous window with a door leading to the deck. The deck covered an area that was the size of an average starter home. It over looked a fabulous white water river, on the bank were beautiful wildflowers of spectacular colors. On one end of the deck was a Hot Tub that looked as though it could easily accommodate twelve people.
"You live here alone?" I asked.
"Yeah, well that is most of the time, you would be surprise how many women have shown an interest in me since I've bought this place." .
"No, Marty actually it wouldn't surprise me one bit. I decided in the hospital that I was giving up the pursuit of wealth and material possessions but this place certainly makes a strong case against that notion."
"Don't be silly, sure its beautiful but even beauty becomes tiresome. I don't know where the answers lies but I can assure you it isn't in gilded palaces."
"Maybe not but it would be a cool place to ponder the questions for awhile."
"No, what ever it is that people are seeking it lies out on the road, somewhere. Becoming stationary is like poison for humans. It robs them of their souls."
"If you feel that way Marty, why don't you come with me. I told you I'm planning an extended trip."
"No, my days on the road are over. I still yearn to know of the adventure but I know longer have the will for the actual experience. That's why I'm willing to finance your trip on the condition that you will relay your experiences to me."
"I feel bad taking your money Marty but I do want to go so I guess you have a deal."
"Great but the financing stops if you join into one of these cults. I expect you to spend some time with them but if you stay for an extended period the money stops. Deal?"
"Sure, no problem I don't want anything to do with cults."
"Believe me you'll run into plenty of them out on the road and they'll all want you to join. Don't ignore them they'll a big part of what's going on in this country and that's what I want to find out about. Just don't stay, get to know what they'll about then move on."
"It sounds like you're really scared of these little fringe elements of society," I said.
"You've been away for some time Tim, you don't know. This isn't just another fad. This is some kind of movement but no one is controlling it. The country is divided up into thousands of fanatical groups and each is only interested in their own believes. Whatever it is that held this country together is gone. There is no such thing as shared values or purpose any longer. Something is about to break and its going to be soon."
"Damn! If I had known all this I might not have been so quick in requesting that discharge."
"Hey, I'm sorry here I am sounding like the prophet of doom and I haven't even offered you your first beer as a free man."
"Don't mind if I do", I replied.
"Behind the Whirlpool your find a small fridge full of them."
"Well of course, you wouldn't want to walk all the way to the kitchen. You rich dudes what a fucking life."
"Hey I would have had the French Maid fetch you one but its her day off."
It was nice to be talking about women and beer instead of the cults. I was very interested in what was going on in the world but I could only absorb so much at once.
"It seems your beer consumption hasn't diminished with your new affluent lifestyle."
"You know I never really get drunk anymore, I like to keep a light buzz going at times that's all."
"Never actual drunk but never really sober, hey Marty."
"No, its not like that it just relaxes me."
Marty seemed to be genuinely offended by my ribbing. Apparently, he recognized he had a problem and didn't need me there stating the obvious.
"Hey, sorry man I don't mean to sound like I'm lecturing. I'm hardly a poster boy for proper living. Besides, a cool beer is just what I need about now. I would be damn disappointed if you didn't have any."
We both became more at ease with one another. We sat drinking our beers and watching the river rush past beneath us. It really was a beautiful place. No, matter what anyone might say people aren't just handed mansions in the woods. The people who purchase these homes did so through a lot of personal pain and stress. Who the hell was I to get on Marty for having a couple too many beers? The world and people had changed during my time in the hospital. I needed to be aware and respect this fact.
"So, what are your plans for this little odyssey of yours, Marty asked."
"Where I want to travel through as many places and see as many things as possible. I hoped to save money by camping out as much as possible."
"Just ride across the plains like some new age gypsy."
"Yeah, something like that? Why does it sound stupid?"
"Not to me, it sounds great. But even without the burden of expenses it won't all be easy, you know."
"Yeah sure I do. If it was going to be easy it wouldn't be any fun."
"Well, you got the right spirit, anyhow. You know I had all your things sent here from PA. Just in case you decided to hang here for awhile."
"I appreciate it but I kind of got my mind set on traveling."
"O.K., well your know where to find it when you get back."
When I looked into Marty's eyes I think we both had the same realization, there wasn't going to be any coming back.
"So, what's your means of transportation for the trip," Marty asked.
"Why the bike of course? What you think I was going to do it in some steel box, no cars for me, man."
"No, I figured a motorcycle but which bike."
"I only got one, Marty. The Katana."
"You know as well as I do you can't travel across the country in that supped up little toy."
"Well, yeah I guess I do? It was something I was going to bring up latter but now that you mentioned it. You still got that Goldwing."
"Yeah I saw this one coming, I got it tuned up and ready to go, last week."
"Thanks, Marty. I owe you a lot."
"Just share the experience with me, that's all I ask. Living vicariously through you will do this almost middle age heart good."
We continued talking through the night. It was great catching up on old times. Marty filled in the blank parts on what happened to me right before I entered the hospital. It was interesting to hear but it didn't really impact any of my plans for the future. What's past is done. To me there was only tomorrow, no yesterdays..
For the conclusion of Delta's Dust read the Epilogue
