"Lost among the Peaks" for the Crossover Challenge on Uncle du Jour.
This is my homage to the soon to be revived televison show "Twin Peaks"... The series has developed a cult like status, as it was so different for a television show that began its journed in 1990. At the time it was riveting to watch, and the bizarre characters kept the viewers coming back for more of the avante guard and peculiar story lines. Sadly the show only lasted 2 seasons, and a hurried effort to resolve a mystery was filmed becuase of the announced cancellation. The show was up against several major network shows which doomed it to extinction.
Hoping the revival is going to be even better!
“Well you have managed to get us lost yet again Napoleon,” Illya Kuryakin huffed, making his comment without even opening his eyes.
“We’re not lost.” Solo pulled over, taking a quick look at the map beside him on the bench seat of their car. “We’re somewhere in Washington, state that is."
“One could only hope.” Illya opened one eye, and instantly he spied sign for a town uphead. The placard was worn, and the name wasn’t readable but he could clearly see the mileage indicated to reach it.
Will you look at those mountain peaks?” Napoleon said.
“Stop trying to deflect from the fact that we are lost.”
“Hey you can’t blame me for trying. Better than listening to you and your sour mood.”
“For once I agree with you. Your lack of navigational skills has me yet again, as you say, sour. How did you ever make it through Survival School, much less graduate at the top of your class I will never know. To think I made it my lofty goal to beat your records.”
“You never told me that Illya, though I knew you beat a lot of them. I was sort of following your progress.”
“Then you know my navigational skills are far superior to yours,” Kuryakin quipped.
“Then why did you let me drive if I’m so bad and you’re so good?”
“Because I do not know which is worse, you complaining that you never get to drive or your lack of a sense of direction.”
Solo’s reaction was one of classic puckered up lip disdain.
“Napoleon, just drive two miles more and we will find civilization, if I dare call it that. There we can inquire where we really are. It is a good thing our assignment was cancelled as Mr. Waverly would be wondering where we have gotten to.”
“Why tovarisch, that’s a wonderful idea, thank you,” Solo grinned.
“You are welcome, but what idea did I give you?”
“Call headquarters and have them put a homing signal on my communicator. They can tell us where we are.”
“If you want to know longitude and latitude Napoleon.”
“They can look up to see where that is.”
“Yes, they can and such a wonderful non-essential usage of UNCLE technology. Of course by doing so, you will have alerted them to the fact you are again lost.”
“You mean we, don’t you?”
“You are the one doing the driving.”
“You had the map.”
“And you ignored my directions instead, taking what you thought was a short cut my friend.” Illya crossed his arms in front of his chest as he made his point.
“A very good point. So I guess we’ll mosey on down the road, two miles as you said and find this little haven amidst the lofty redwoods. Have you noticed the size of these things?”
“Yes but they are not redwoods, they are sequoias. However the giant sequoia and redwood are closely related, they do exhibit many individual characteristics that distinguish them from each other... “
“Thank you Smokey the Bear for that forestry lesson. Hey will you look at that,” Napoleon chuckled. “A diner.” Napoleon pointed to a bright yellow and white sign with bold black letters indicating it was a Cafe.
“Good, pull in. I am famished.”
“Why does that come as no surprise?”
“Well we can ask directions as well,” Illya smirked.
They parked the car and headed into the Double R Diner, seeing a placard that indicated it was open seven days a week. Out of habit, they scanned the place as they opened the glass door and stepped stepped inside.
There were a few tables and chairs in the front to the left and right of the entrance, but the rest of it looked like a typical diner, with a checkered linoleum flooring and a near circular counter; the stools in front of which were topped with faux red leather.
The perimeter of the interior was lined with booths, each one with a white curtained window beside it on the right side of the establishment. The ones located to left of the counter simply lined the interior wall; that was where the agents headed.
They walked to the farthest booth, seating themselves nearest the rear exit located next to the kitchen.
The kitchen itself had a pass through window to deliver the meals, to the right of it was as sign indicating the restrooms were located down a short corridor.
Simple, clean, cozy and normal for once. It felt very welcoming.
Immediately they were approached by a blond waitress, a fresh faced young girl dressed in a crisp mint green and white waitress’ dress.
“Hello gentlemen, I’m Norma and I’ll be your waitress today. How ya’ doing?”
Illya was about to grouse; Napoleon was sure of it and he spoke first, stopping his partner with a wave of his hand.
“Well we’re just fine pretty lady. Could we see a menu please?”
“Why sure,” she snapped a piece of bubblegum in her mouth. “Coffee?”
“That would be perfect, thank you Norma. Black please. This place is pretty busy isn’t it?”
“Well it’s a regular stop for over the mountain pass travelers and locals. No one ever goes away hungry.” Norma answered before spinning on her heels.
She was off before Illya could speak up, preferring to order tea, but it was too late.
The waitress was back in a minute carrying a tray with two cups of coffee on it; tucked under her arm were a pair of menus.
After looking over the choices, they both ordered cheeseburgers with fries and coleslaw, though Napoleon opted for something called an ‘Everything Burger’ as it came with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions served on a sesame seed bun.
Illya decided on something a little less involved but still hearty and that was a double cheeseburger with swiss on a Kaiser roll. He did request extra pickles on the side.
“What is the soup of the day?” He asked.
“Potato and corn chowder, though we have chicken noodle and French onion soup.”
“I’ll take a bowl of the chowder.”
“A bowl really, not a cup?”
“He’s a growing boy,”Napoleon winked.
“Okay a bowl it is.”
Illya’s soup arrived first and just as he finished it the burgers appeared.
As they dug in, both men remained wary of their surroundings. There was something odd about the place but neither of them could put their finger on it.
A young woman, looking quite forlorn, was sitting by herself; she was cradling a small log in her arms, as though it were a child. No one seemed to pay heed to her.
Seeing them looking in her direction, she rose from her chair and walked towards them, pausing in front of their booth.
“I carry a log, is it funny to you?"
That’s all she said before turning away and walked out the door of the diner.
“I’m not even going to try figuring that out,” Napoleon whispered.
When it came time for dessert Norma recommended the cherry pie. It seemed to be what everyone else was devouring, so it had to be good.
The vivid red pie slices arrived, each served with a mountain of fresh whip cream on top...no wonder all the patrons were eating it. It looked so inviting.
“Wow,”Illya said, tasting his first mouthful. ”It has a buttery, flaky crust, and the filling is an equal balance of tart and sweet.”
“Ah from Smokey the Bear, now to food critic,” Napoleon mused.
A juke box began to play out of the blue, not your typical music heard in such a place. It was sort of jazzy, eerily discordant, with snapping fingers keeping time. It made Illya sit up and take notice, but what caught Solo’s attention was a pretty dark haired girl sitting at the counter opposite them.
She seemed to be playing with her coffee cup, running her painted red fingernail nail along its edge. She slowly oozed from the stool, and began to dance and sway to the music, moving her body very sensually. She was wearing a tight pencil skirt and a very clinging white top.
On the far side of the counter people were walking along the length it but they were moving...backwards?
The two agents looked at each other, and after wolfing down their cherry pie, they tossed money on the table and left in a rush.
Just outside the door was a dark haired man speaking into what looked like some sort of communications device, addressing some woman named ‘Diane.’
The agents avoided making eye contact.
Illya slipped behind the wheel and started the car, barely giving his partner a chance to get into the car.
He hit the gas, sending gravel flying into the air as the tires spun as their silver car sped down the highway.
Neither of them spoke until they were a fair distance away.
“So much for normal tovarisch.”
“Napoleon, we forgot to ask where we were.”
“I know, but that place was just too strange; gave me the creeps. Though I have to say they made a damn fine cup of coffee.” He gave a thumbs up.
“Yes I agree and that gorgeous cherry pie was worthy of an epic poem,” Illya sighed. “Look there Napoleon, that is a redwood. The bark of the giant sequoia is bright reddish brown, whereas that of the redwood is a dull chocolate brown. The foliage of the giant sequoia is scalelike and somewhat resembles that of the junipers; redwood foliage is in the form of two-ranked needles like the hemlock.
The giant sequoia is the largest tree in the world in volume and has an immense trunk with very slight taper; the redwood is the world's tallest tree and has …”
“Oh boy,”Solo mumbled. “This is going to be a long ride.
He pulled his communicator. “Open Channel-D. Can you get a fix on our position?”
Hoping the revival is going to be even better!
“Well you have managed to get us lost yet again Napoleon,” Illya Kuryakin huffed, making his comment without even opening his eyes.
“We’re not lost.” Solo pulled over, taking a quick look at the map beside him on the bench seat of their car. “We’re somewhere in Washington, state that is."
“One could only hope.” Illya opened one eye, and instantly he spied sign for a town uphead. The placard was worn, and the name wasn’t readable but he could clearly see the mileage indicated to reach it.
Will you look at those mountain peaks?” Napoleon said.
“Stop trying to deflect from the fact that we are lost.”
“Hey you can’t blame me for trying. Better than listening to you and your sour mood.”
“For once I agree with you. Your lack of navigational skills has me yet again, as you say, sour. How did you ever make it through Survival School, much less graduate at the top of your class I will never know. To think I made it my lofty goal to beat your records.”
“You never told me that Illya, though I knew you beat a lot of them. I was sort of following your progress.”
“Then you know my navigational skills are far superior to yours,” Kuryakin quipped.
“Then why did you let me drive if I’m so bad and you’re so good?”
“Because I do not know which is worse, you complaining that you never get to drive or your lack of a sense of direction.”
Solo’s reaction was one of classic puckered up lip disdain.
“Napoleon, just drive two miles more and we will find civilization, if I dare call it that. There we can inquire where we really are. It is a good thing our assignment was cancelled as Mr. Waverly would be wondering where we have gotten to.”
“Why tovarisch, that’s a wonderful idea, thank you,” Solo grinned.
“You are welcome, but what idea did I give you?”
“Call headquarters and have them put a homing signal on my communicator. They can tell us where we are.”
“If you want to know longitude and latitude Napoleon.”
“They can look up to see where that is.”
“Yes, they can and such a wonderful non-essential usage of UNCLE technology. Of course by doing so, you will have alerted them to the fact you are again lost.”
“You mean we, don’t you?”
“You are the one doing the driving.”
“You had the map.”
“And you ignored my directions instead, taking what you thought was a short cut my friend.” Illya crossed his arms in front of his chest as he made his point.
“A very good point. So I guess we’ll mosey on down the road, two miles as you said and find this little haven amidst the lofty redwoods. Have you noticed the size of these things?”
“Yes but they are not redwoods, they are sequoias. However the giant sequoia and redwood are closely related, they do exhibit many individual characteristics that distinguish them from each other... “
“Thank you Smokey the Bear for that forestry lesson. Hey will you look at that,” Napoleon chuckled. “A diner.” Napoleon pointed to a bright yellow and white sign with bold black letters indicating it was a Cafe.
“Good, pull in. I am famished.”
“Why does that come as no surprise?”
“Well we can ask directions as well,” Illya smirked.
They parked the car and headed into the Double R Diner, seeing a placard that indicated it was open seven days a week. Out of habit, they scanned the place as they opened the glass door and stepped stepped inside.
There were a few tables and chairs in the front to the left and right of the entrance, but the rest of it looked like a typical diner, with a checkered linoleum flooring and a near circular counter; the stools in front of which were topped with faux red leather.
The perimeter of the interior was lined with booths, each one with a white curtained window beside it on the right side of the establishment. The ones located to left of the counter simply lined the interior wall; that was where the agents headed.
They walked to the farthest booth, seating themselves nearest the rear exit located next to the kitchen.
The kitchen itself had a pass through window to deliver the meals, to the right of it was as sign indicating the restrooms were located down a short corridor.
Simple, clean, cozy and normal for once. It felt very welcoming.
Immediately they were approached by a blond waitress, a fresh faced young girl dressed in a crisp mint green and white waitress’ dress.
“Hello gentlemen, I’m Norma and I’ll be your waitress today. How ya’ doing?”
Illya was about to grouse; Napoleon was sure of it and he spoke first, stopping his partner with a wave of his hand.
“Well we’re just fine pretty lady. Could we see a menu please?”
“Why sure,” she snapped a piece of bubblegum in her mouth. “Coffee?”
“That would be perfect, thank you Norma. Black please. This place is pretty busy isn’t it?”
“Well it’s a regular stop for over the mountain pass travelers and locals. No one ever goes away hungry.” Norma answered before spinning on her heels.
She was off before Illya could speak up, preferring to order tea, but it was too late.
The waitress was back in a minute carrying a tray with two cups of coffee on it; tucked under her arm were a pair of menus.
After looking over the choices, they both ordered cheeseburgers with fries and coleslaw, though Napoleon opted for something called an ‘Everything Burger’ as it came with two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions served on a sesame seed bun.
Illya decided on something a little less involved but still hearty and that was a double cheeseburger with swiss on a Kaiser roll. He did request extra pickles on the side.
“What is the soup of the day?” He asked.
“Potato and corn chowder, though we have chicken noodle and French onion soup.”
“I’ll take a bowl of the chowder.”
“A bowl really, not a cup?”
“He’s a growing boy,”Napoleon winked.
“Okay a bowl it is.”
Illya’s soup arrived first and just as he finished it the burgers appeared.
As they dug in, both men remained wary of their surroundings. There was something odd about the place but neither of them could put their finger on it.
A young woman, looking quite forlorn, was sitting by herself; she was cradling a small log in her arms, as though it were a child. No one seemed to pay heed to her.
Seeing them looking in her direction, she rose from her chair and walked towards them, pausing in front of their booth.
“I carry a log, is it funny to you?"
That’s all she said before turning away and walked out the door of the diner.
“I’m not even going to try figuring that out,” Napoleon whispered.
When it came time for dessert Norma recommended the cherry pie. It seemed to be what everyone else was devouring, so it had to be good.
The vivid red pie slices arrived, each served with a mountain of fresh whip cream on top...no wonder all the patrons were eating it. It looked so inviting.
“Wow,”Illya said, tasting his first mouthful. ”It has a buttery, flaky crust, and the filling is an equal balance of tart and sweet.”
“Ah from Smokey the Bear, now to food critic,” Napoleon mused.
A juke box began to play out of the blue, not your typical music heard in such a place. It was sort of jazzy, eerily discordant, with snapping fingers keeping time. It made Illya sit up and take notice, but what caught Solo’s attention was a pretty dark haired girl sitting at the counter opposite them.
She seemed to be playing with her coffee cup, running her painted red fingernail nail along its edge. She slowly oozed from the stool, and began to dance and sway to the music, moving her body very sensually. She was wearing a tight pencil skirt and a very clinging white top.
On the far side of the counter people were walking along the length it but they were moving...backwards?
The two agents looked at each other, and after wolfing down their cherry pie, they tossed money on the table and left in a rush.
Just outside the door was a dark haired man speaking into what looked like some sort of communications device, addressing some woman named ‘Diane.’
The agents avoided making eye contact.
Illya slipped behind the wheel and started the car, barely giving his partner a chance to get into the car.
He hit the gas, sending gravel flying into the air as the tires spun as their silver car sped down the highway.
Neither of them spoke until they were a fair distance away.
“So much for normal tovarisch.”
“Napoleon, we forgot to ask where we were.”
“I know, but that place was just too strange; gave me the creeps. Though I have to say they made a damn fine cup of coffee.” He gave a thumbs up.
“Yes I agree and that gorgeous cherry pie was worthy of an epic poem,” Illya sighed. “Look there Napoleon, that is a redwood. The bark of the giant sequoia is bright reddish brown, whereas that of the redwood is a dull chocolate brown. The foliage of the giant sequoia is scalelike and somewhat resembles that of the junipers; redwood foliage is in the form of two-ranked needles like the hemlock.
The giant sequoia is the largest tree in the world in volume and has an immense trunk with very slight taper; the redwood is the world's tallest tree and has …”
“Oh boy,”Solo mumbled. “This is going to be a long ride.
He pulled his communicator. “Open Channel-D. Can you get a fix on our position?”