one plan after another

 Mannie wasn't so sure Sadie was being truthful to him. She looked a little out of it. How in the world would they ever get to the mines underneath the city.

He brought her peppermint tea with vanilla bean and a secret herb he didn't mention. It was from the old country and he didn't have much of it, but maybe it would do the trick.

"We'll be fine," he sort of smiled. Naturally, he didn't think it true, but what else could he do. He had the backpacks ready with meal bars, water and flashlights. Of course, most would wonder about a shovel, but he thought a knife did just as well, they couldn't take that much with them.

"Dress warmly." He wasn't sure he'd given her the most appropriate attire, but add a hoodie and they were good to go.

She sipped the tea, but mentioned her neck and how her back felt. "What's going on?"

"It just takes some getting used to." He shrugged ever so calmly.

"You mean, you've swallowed a spider before and you have a map on your back, too?" She looked puzzled but at least she was still and listening to him.

"Oh, I've had my share of scorpions and snakes," he told her. 

"Sometimes, I think I would rather be home with what's going around than being here," she winced hard but shook her head, no. She said she'd get used to the map on her back.

"Well, I don't know many who would get used to a map on their back," he sighed and patted her head, suddenly he remembered his favorite dog, Riddle for some odd reason. Maybe he'd ingested a little of the ancient herb. But for a moment, he was certain he really knew Sadie really well. Just not in this life.

"Will, this take very long," Sadie asked after another sip of the hot tea.

"Of course, it won't take long," he bit a grin to keep from laughing. Honestly, he had no idea how long it would take.

"Will we have to go by plane?"

Mannie shook his head, no.

"I hate flying," Sadie told him.

Mannie nodded.

"And we are the only two going?"

Mannie nodded. He shrugged then, "Unless I need reinforcements." As he said it he got out a burner phone. Just in case they needed to keep in contact. "But where we're going it's kind of unlikely you can pick up a signal. So try not to get lost."

Sadie's laugh was small. He could see now she hated him very much.