#anywhere

Meanwhile, at the mailbox

Back at the Lodge, unaware of the current truck drama, Kerri checks the mail.

there's a photo attached to what would otherwise be a blank post card...

It's of the Dawntreader... standing in front of ..is that Stonehenge?

No, it's carhenge! Nebraska

Typed on it are the words "Having a wonderful time, thinking of you guys!- DT!"

"What on earth...?" Kerri frowns and looks at it closely.

And then with one hand she mimes taking an old-fashioned picture (aiming at the photo itself), and then uses a finger to "write" on the picture's surface the words she quietly sings: "Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?" (Bunk for Willow Whisper)

And it lights up

Ready to respond

"Hello," she murmurs. "Who took this image?"

"I am confused about everything, but the one I remember is Elvis the king!" It whispers.And sounds apologetic

She frowns. And while she suspects she'll get a similar answer, she asks, "And who typed these words?"

"It's really baffling, but I have to say, Elvis' partner was JFK"

Again that apologetic tone llike the card is sure it's been played with

An exasperated huff, and she allows the cantrip to fizzle. And then she has her phone out and is calling Gerd.

Gerd answers the phone "Aunt Kerri? You're not texting. Is everything okay?"

"No, things are not okay, but I think they can be made more right in short order. It involves a quick trip...just a blink of an eye. Please come over, and I'll explain more."

"Okaaay" She sounds dubious, but sure enough shows up. Quite quickly in fact as she flciker flashes there "You need to go somewhere?"

"More that I need to retrieve something from somewhere." And she shows her the photograph. "Somebody thinks they're funny."

"Why would uncle Frank go to Carhenge?" She asks

"I don't believe he did." She shows her the note. "All I can get from a Whisper is that this is the doing of Elvis the..." She frowns, thinking. "Well, Elvis and JFK. What I'm wondering is if you would be able to get it back."

Gerd's no fool. She knows that the Hearth has new suspicions.

"Uhm.. Hearth? It was the Mountain who asked me to flicker flash it to Nebraska this morning. Which I thought he could do himself but when the Mountain asks...." She explains "I just figured I knew a place there he didn't. "

Kerri's eyes get wide, and she STARES at Gerd.

Then a narrow look. "Are you fooling me now?"

Gerd says "Are you sure you're not yanking ME around? The mountain asked me before dawn to flicker flash the Dawntreader to Nebraska"

She says "I figured he wanted to avoid the april fool stuff"

"That...would be a very unusual prank for him. For him to send the Dawntreader somewhere far away from himself?"

Gerd says "I would NEVER flash the Dawntreadeer without the Mountain's permission. Vali's the joker, not me.. wait, what do you mean away from himself? He was in it"

Now this is interesting, because Kerri KNOWS Frank was here after dawn

"He was here this morning. Wait...Gerd...where was he when he asked you to do this?"

"On the street actually, about ..15 yards from the lodge I think?" She says looking weirded out "Hearth Kerri, I was there.. he asked me. He told me it was a big favor and gave me dross to use for it"

"Oh, I believe that's what you saw, Gerd. I do. But I wonder if it was actually Mountain Frank you were talking to." A sigh. "Is this a place you know and can get to?"

"What, Carhenge or the road? Sorry I'm not being snarky I just.. i"m feeling too SURE of anything now so I want to be clear"

"Carhenge. I want to get the rig back quickly. We can soothe the Mountain's temper later."

"let me grab some more dross" She asks. It belongs to the lodge so the hearth handles supplies and she's not going to anger the mountain AND the Hearth "I got a feeling I'm in trouble and I didn't even have fun getting here"

"No, no, you got tricked. Not your fault. And the dross is on me. Come on." And she leads Gerd back to the Lodge, quickly.

And she follows "Not my faulttt, but if the Mountain is angry with me it IS my problem"

"Oh, agreed. Which is why I'm planning on running interference for you. But let's get the rig back first."

Kerri gets a few pieces of dross from the Lodge reserve and offers them over. "This enough for us to get there, and then get back with the Rig?"

"This is where I'm supposed to say I'm a troll and can take care of myself.. but thank you SO much"

"Yeah, that's more than enough " She nods

"Good, because I'm coming with you. If there's trouble at the other end, I don't want you facing it alone." She makes sure either SallyMae or Brogan are set to take over for the moment.

Brogan's eyes light up "Someone took the Mountain's truck?" A pause then a grin 'His revenge upon who did his will be EPIC!"

Kerri sighs. "It just might be. Ready, Gerd?"

"Your squire is scary, Hearth. Just saying. Ready" And she takes her hand and begins to cast.

"We got a great big convoy, the words to the song I don't know. But we got the Dawntreader missing, and so we've got to gooooo"

and the two vanish