Chương 80: [80] Stairway to heaven
We then drove to Banff.
Cassidy, who had taken the wheel, glanced at a small object resting in the cup holder. It was a CD, its silvery surface gleaming in the dim light of the truck's interior. Curious, she reached for it, pulling it out to examine it. She glanced at the title, a smile spreading across her face. "Would you look at that," she murmured, her voice a mix of surprise and delight.
"What's that?" I asked, leaning over from the passenger seat to look at what she held.
"It's a Led Zeppelin CD," she replied, holding the CD up for me to see. Her eyes twinkled with mischief and excitement.
"You like Led Zeppelin?" I asked, raising an eyebrow at her. It was surprising to find a classic rock fan in our midst.
"I love them," Cassidy responded, her face lighting up at the mention of the band. "My uncle used to play their songs all the time back home."
Without wasting another moment, Cassidy pushed the CD into the slot. There was a moment of silence, then the strains of a familiar tune filled the cab of the truck. The intro to "Stairway to Heaven" was unmistakable, the haunting notes of the guitar bringing a sense of tranquility to the otherwise tense atmosphere.
The song seemed to transport us to a different time, a time before the apocalypse. I found myself looking out the window, the music resonating within me as I watched the darkened landscape pass by. I could feel Cassidy's gaze on me, her smile softer now.
I turned to meet her eyes, sharing a quiet moment amidst the haunting melody. Her hand left the wheel for a moment to squeeze mine, a warm reassurance amidst the chill of the night.
As Robert Plant's voice flowed from the speakers, the lyrics seemed to take on a new meaning. "There's a feeling I get when I look to the west, and my spirit is crying for leaving..." The words echoed our own feelings, our own desires for escape, for freedom.
It was a poignant moment, the five of us there in the truck, listening to the strains of "Stairway to Heaven." It reminded us of a world that once was, a world filled with music and joy, a world we all yearned for.
For those few minutes, we weren't just survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. We were just people, people touched by the power of music, united in our shared humanity. The music offered us a brief respite, a moment of escape from the harsh reality of our situation.
And as the song slowly faded into silence, we were left with a renewed sense of hope and determination. The road ahead was long and uncertain, but together, we knew we could face whatever awaited us. All we needed was a little faith, a little hope, and a good soundtrack to accompany us on our journey.
***
As our worn-out truck rumbled through the untouched wilderness, the sun had reached its zenith, casting long and deep shadows over the rugged landscape. There was a raw, untamed beauty in the land that unfolded around us, a striking contrast to the terror that lurked unseen, the undead menace that had usurped humanity's dominion over the earth.
The journey had brought us along a winding highway, the asphalt cracked and overgrown with persistent vegetation, a testament to the resilience of nature reclaiming its territory. The road curved and dipped, revealing panoramic views of stark ridges crowned with dense forests. Stands of pines and aspen rose defiantly on the hillsides, their dark green boughs swaying gently in the mountain breeze. The crisp, clean scent of pine resin and the moist earth filled the air, a sensory delight that evoked a deep sense of tranquility amidst the chaos.
On either side of the highway, wide expanses of untamed wilderness stretched to the horizon, carpeted with a lush green that seemed almost impossibly vibrant. Wildflowers adorned the landscape, their riotous colors contrasting vividly against the sea of green, their petals dancing in the wind as if oblivious to the grim reality of the world.
The majestic peaks of the Canadian Rockies loomed in the distance, their craggy tops crowned with eternal snow, standing tall and unyielding against the azure sky. The sun, high in the sky, painted the mountains with a rich palette of warm hues, from the earthy browns of bare rock to the silvery white of snow-covered peaks, creating a breathtaking tableau of raw, untamed beauty.
As we approached Banff, the scenery grew even more stunning. The road dipped into a valley, the surrounding peaks standing like silent sentinels, their rugged facades etched against the clear blue sky. We passed by glacial lakes, their tranquil surfaces reflecting the lofty mountains and the sky, their clear waters shimmering in the sunlight, a mirror to the world above.
A river snaked its way through the valley, its crystal-clear waters bubbling over a bed of smooth stones, whispering tales of its eternal journey from the high mountains to the sea. The sight of a herd of elk grazing on the verdant riverbank, their majestic antlers glistening in the sunlight, added a sense of vitality and life to the landscape.
We got off the car and couldn't help but admire the scenery.
"Wow, it's beautiful," I murmured, staring at the mountains in the distance, their peaks coated in snow glistening under the sunlight.
Kaya's eyes widened in wonder, her gaze fixed on the tranquil lake nestled at the foot of the mountains. "It's... breathtaking," she whispered, her voice barely audible against the rustling of leaves. "I've never seen a lake so serene... like a mirror reflecting the sky."
Cassidy, her arms crossed over her sports bra, leaned against the side of the truck. She gave a low whistle of appreciation. "I've been in a lot of places," she mused, "But Banff... It's like a fairy tale. Unbelievable that something this beautiful survived the chaos."
Hazuki, silent until now, pointed to the herd of elk grazing on a nearby meadow. "Look," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "Wildlife is thriving... despite everything." Her gaze lingered on the animals, a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
"Survival... that's the law of nature," Yan-Hua chimed in. She squinted against the sunlight, her gaze scanning the sprawling greenery that surrounded us. "And it seems to apply to beauty as well. It persists despite all odds."
I looked at each one of them, their faces lit up with awe and wonder, their eyes sparkling with newfound hope. The magnitude of the scene in front of us had momentarily rendered us speechless. After a brief silence, I broke the stillness.
"It's... it's surreal. Almost like a dream," I said, my voice trembling with the weight of the emotions flooding through me. "But it's not just the beauty of the scenery. It's all of you, here, with me, against all odds... That's the real wonder."
They turned to look at me, surprise etched on their faces. Then, one by one, they broke into smiles, the sight of their joy more beautiful than the mountains, the lake, the elk, the forest. This was our new beginning.
"Look there," Kaya said, pointing out toward the horizon.
We all followed her gaze to the sight of the town nestled in the valley, dwarfed by the grandeur of the surrounding mountains. The afternoon sun highlighted the distinctive red roofs of the town, making it stand out amidst the vast expanse of green and white.
"Is that Banff?" Cassidy asked, squinting her eyes to get a better look.
"Seems like it," I replied. "From here, it seems so... peaceful."
Yan-Hua let out a soft sigh. "Almost as if the apocalypse never happened. As if life is still normal there."
"But we know that's not the case," Hazuki said, a note of sadness in her voice. "The world has changed. We all have changed."
"True," I agreed. "But if we're lucky, maybe we'll find that some things remain the same. Kindness, hope, community... These are things that can survive even the worst catastrophes."
Cassidy snorted, a smirk on her face. "That sounds like something out of a Hallmark movie, Chang."
"Maybe," I said with a shrug. "But don't you think we could use a bit of that now?"
The others fell silent, each lost in their thoughts as we continued to gaze at the distant town. We were all aware of the challenges that lay ahead. But for now, we allowed ourselves a moment of peace, a moment to admire the quiet beauty of Banff.
Q: Have you been to Banff before?
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