”…and as always don’t drift from the right way.”

The radio host’s last words bring me back down to earth and I regain full control of my 18-wheeler. The highway hypnosis is piling up these days as my sanity slips away, and I still can not find the reason. It can not be the constant isolation or the stress. Then why? Why can not I find the reason of my own decay? Could it be that I eliminated the options too quickly? Damn, too many questions. If I do not stop thinking, hypnosis will take over the wheels once more and I know that I do not want to end up like James. Poor lad crushed those bikers like insects on the glass and did not even realize it until he heard the sound of the bending metal. At least that’s what he said in court. Poor lad…

I finally stopped at The Gleaming Beef, the only decent restaurant on the road to Westhaven. Truckers know where to eat and rest on their highways, and you can bet your money on a dinner with a truck parked in front of it. Especially that license plate! I can recognize that truck even in the thick fog. The bright green color and matte purple stripes shouting that Slim Tim is performing his art inside. I get out as I feel the last of the warmth from the setting sun and get in that shiny, beef shaped doors.

The smell… Fine as ever. ”Joshua! Hey Joshua!’ and here is the voice I was expecting, Tim spoted me first as always. I greet him with my hand, but it won’t be enough, right? ”Come, come sit with us!” Us? Who is the other person? Ah, I will learn that soon anyway. After giving my order I sit down right next to him, since there is a black coat hanging on the other chair. Probably belongs to the second part of the ‘us’.

”Hello there Timmy. You are eating the whole cow again, I presume.”

”Just the whole ribeye, my friend. Gotta keep my form, you know.” He stifled a laugh and cut off a piece as big as my four fingers. Oh, and now he’s eating it like a starved child. Classy.

”The sauce is the same, right? The secret of the universe, I mean.”

”Yeah they keep the standard wanna taste from mine?”

”Nah, I know you do not like to share your food.” Tim nodded and smiled with the happiness of his unshared meat. Surely this happiness can not be described with words.

”So Timmy, who is your secret companion?”

”Ahh not a secret, he just went to pay his bill. A hitchhiker named Larsing.” He gulped down another piece. ”A not-so-talkative fella. Here he comes.” He waved his hand as he tried to devour his last piece of steak. ”Hey Lars, I want you to meet Joshua. Joshua this is Lars, the lost soul of the highway. He’s on his way to Westhaven for unfinished business. Yeah, I do not know about that either. Lars, this is Joshua, a colleague of mine. I do not know where he’s heading.” Did he just say soul? Huh.

”To Eternostad, to Czarna Lipka headquarters.” I replied and extended my right hand to shake. He did not hesitate and shook my hand. The hitchhiker looks like he is in his mid-twenties, his hair is in shape and his clothes are not dirty. Looks like Tim found him at the beginning of his journey.

”Nice to meet you Lars. I hope old Timmy has not frayed you with his stories yet.” Tim loves to tell his stories from the war. It’s been 10 years since that damn war ended, but men… He still misses those days. I think I have heard the drunken bear story a thousand times but never a dark story. He is keeping them for himself I guess.

”The pleasure is all mine. Oh, I almost forgot. Tim, I paid yours too, in return for the ride and the good company.”

Tim’s eyes grew teary with joy. Prepaid free food is tantamount to hitting the jackpot for him, and besides, there’s something to tell. I worked with him in the same guild for 3 years and he liked the meal vouchers more than his salary. If only I could find such simple happiness in life like this…

”Oh, you do not had to. You were a better company. I did almost all the talking.” Ah Tim, I could have bet my truck on that.

”And I pay my gratitude for the stories. In cow parts. It’s a shame we had to part ways.”

So Tim is not going for the west. Then he’s on his way to north. Lumendell, perhaps?

”Did you miss your old town that much, Tim or is it the Lumendellise women you are missing?”

”Ah, I missed them both, but no, I have to get past Lumendell real quick. I have some green goo for Simarol. The ATNG will pay extra if I can make it in two days.”

So that is why he eats faster than usual. His truck is waiting for him outside…

”Since you are going to Eternostad, you can take Lars to Westhaven, that is acceptable, huh?”

Normally I do not let hitchhikers ride with me, but since Tim trusted him, I can make an exception.

”Well, why not?”

”Lars?” Asked Timmy.

”Sure, a reliable ride will be greatly appreciated. Thank you. Both of you.” Said Larsing, the hitchhiker.

”Mr. Joshua, cutlet! Mr. Joshua, cutlet!” The waitress called out. My lamb cutlet is finally ready. Now I can taste the roadside universe myself.