The battered pickup sped down a rural highway in America. Aisling sat in the passenger seat with the window rolled down, her head resting against it as the fierce wind outside whipped through her exquisitely groomed golden hair. She silently watched the endless prairie on either side of the road race backward.
"♪♪♪♪I like that old time rock and roll!♪♪♪♪♪"
The radio in the backseat played the cheerful, catchy "Old Time Rock and Roll." Roy floored the gas the whole way, drumming on the steering wheel while howling along with the music in the car.
"♪♪♪♪♪With that old time rock and roll!♪♪♪♪♪♪♪♪"
Having temporarily escaped danger put Aisling in a much better mood. A faint smile remained on her face the entire time, and she was far more tolerant of the noise Roy made beside her.
When the song ended, the radio switched to AC/DC's "Highway to Hell," and Roy began howling again.
"♪I'm on the highway to hell—♪highway to hell—♪"
"..."
The smile disappeared from Aisling's face.
"♪Lord, I can't change, won't you fly—free bird, yeah—♪"
"..."
Aisling's gaze toward Roy had turned murderous.
"♪GOOD MORNING, Vietnam!♪"
"Enough! You're too damn loud!!!!"
Aisling snatched the radio Roy had left in the backseat and shut off the rock music that had been bombarding her all morning.
Roy, fully focused on driving, glanced at the enraged Aisling beside him and silently shut his mouth.
Peace returned to the car. Only the engine's hum and the wind outside the windows continued to murmur softly.
The vehicle sped onward and soon entered Missouri. The vegetation across the boundless prairie on both sides of the road gradually grew lusher, and the trees became denser. Roy began driving through the woods.
Other than occasional stops at rest areas for the bathroom and gas, Roy barely