The mountain road was slippery and treacherous after the rain. Fortunately, the Bone Woman was an excellent driver, and the Mercedes G55 SUV's performance was superb. The journey had been relatively smooth, but their pace was slow. After more than two hours of driving, they had only made it halfway up the mountain.
After rounding a bend, a township bus appeared up ahead. Its old, small interior was packed with people.
Tomorrow was New Year's Eve, so the mountain folk who worked in the county seat and other towns were all rushing home today. It was a national tradition—the New Year had to be spent at home with one's parents and children. Otherwise, it just wouldn't have that festive spirit.
The bus was filled to capacity, and every passenger was carrying large and small bags of luggage and New Year's goods, so it was moving very slowly. The Bone Woman trailed it for a while before growing impatient. She flicked on the turn signal, preparing to accelerate and pass.
