Beacon Point Page #2

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I'll catch up.

Go ahead.

Hello?

Guys.

Hello?

Guys?

Guys, hold up.

You guys are gonna see things

those tourists on the

main trail never see.

Just gorgeous.

You okay, Dan?

Yeah.

I'm fine, no problem.

Alright, let's relax for a second.

It's the first time I can remember

not having internet or

a cellphone that works.

Technology's a crutch, kid.

Government wants you hooked

on it so they can watch you.

Control you.

It's a scam.

I wouldn't call it a crutch.

I'd call it pretty good living.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

Seen the news lately?

No.

It's everywhere, man.

Surveillance drones,

NSA information gathering.

Spy satellites.

They're taking away our rights

and our privacy bit by bit,

and no one really cares.

That's scary sh*t, man.

This was once all Cherokee land.

It was considered sacred ground,

and trespassers would

be killed on sight.

The Nunahee, or the Immortals,

were said to inhabit these mountains.

They were the protectors.

Spirit guides.

And they would help the Cherokee.

Legend has it when the

Cherokee were driven

from these lands, the

Nunahee left, leaving a void.

So, what happened?

Without the protectors,

the Shadow People came

to haunt these mountains.

Consider it the white man's curse.

He's just trying to scare you.

Trail talk.

Ghost stories.

I dunno, I find it fascinating.

I'm just trying to tell you guys

about the legend, that's all.

I think it's sad what we did to them.

The Cherokee.

It was actually disease

that killed more Indians than anything.

Stuff the Europeans brought over

that they weren't immune to.

It's true.

I'm turning in, you guys.

We got a busy day tomorrow,

I suggest you do the same.

Good night, Drake.

What are you doing?

Nothing, taking a piss.

Is that weed?

No, no, no, no way.

I can smell it.

I don't care, I'm cool,

let me have some.

Seriously?

Yeah, of course.

Used to smoke all the time in college.

You know, I used to play

guitar in a metal band.

Of course, that was a long time ago.

Come on.

Come on.

Okay, fine.

Sh.

Sh.

Sh.

That's harsh.

Yeah, it's good weed, be careful.

Thanks, I'm good.

What was that?

Did you hear that?

I dunno, maybe.

- Boo!

- Oh my God.

Damn it, Drake.

I almost sh*t myself.

What are you guys doing out here?

Nothin'.

Takin' a piss.

Together.

Come on.

You shouldn't leave the campsite.

It's dangerous out here after dark.

Ah, get out of here, out!

What was that?

A bear.

He got into the food.

Is it gone, are we safe?

Yeah, he ran off,

he was just after the food.

Who left the food out?

I told you, you have to put everything

up in the tree at night.

Drake, I'm so sorry.

I forgot, I didn't mean to.

Clean this stuff up

before the bear comes back.

Hey, Drake, I'm sorry about last night.

I got hungry, and I forgot

to put my snack pack away.

It was stupid.

Munchies.

Look, you gotta stay focused, alright?

This is no joke.

Nature is not forgiving.

I'm gonna make a mountain man

out of you yet, Dan I promise.

Hey, so I was thinking,

we should all have trail names.

Reading this book, Just Passing Through,

they all have trail names.

'Kay.

Yours is Snickers.

That's awesome.

No, not like that, like Wandering Wolf

or Soaring Eagle, something cool.

How 'bout Wolf Down Snickers?

Whatever, Cheese, what's up with that?

My dad named me that as a kid

'cause all I ate was cheese.

This one time, I ate this whole block

of Velveeta cheese, and I was

stopped up for a week.

Been there, done that.

Way bad.

Yeah it was pretty strange

meeting Sam for the first time.

It was at Dad's funeral.

And neither of us had

any idea that he had

this whole other life going on.

I was an only child before that.

That's crazy.

You mad at him?

Your dad?

No, not really.

He's gone.

I've got a brother now, kind of cool.

I dunno, I thought it would be good

to do something, just the two of us.

It's good you're taking

the time to do this.

My dad was

always working.

And then, he had a heart attack.

I wanted to do this for him, you know?

And for me.

I just kept thinking,

"I don't wanna end up like that...

I don't wanna regret not doing things."

Yeah, I know what you mean.

Although it did take me two years

to work up the nerve to do it alone.

I wouldn't say that you're alone.

Hey, is this right?

Drake?

Drake?

What?

Are we lost?

No, we're not lost.

Well, where is the trail?

Yeah, where are going?

Hey, I got a GPS.

It's about a half-mile ahead, alright?

Relax.

Look, I'm sorry but

this doesn't seem right.

How would you know?

Have you been here before?

Maybe you'd like to lead.

Drake, come on.

Let's just go.

Legend has it the Cherokee

called this place Strawberry Fields.

'Cause in the springtime,

before the grass grew tall,

the place was filled

it wild strawberries.

Are there snakes in here?

Yeah, absolutely.

Really?

Just watch where you step.

You don't bother them,

they don't bother you.

Come on.

Hey, Drake, take a look at this.

It's an Indian grave marker.

Leave it alone.

What did I just say?

What are you doing?

You know, being a trail master...

I'm surprised you don't

know that garnets,

rubies, even emeralds have

been found in these parts.

I thought you were

Silicon Valley egghead.

True.

But I also have a Bachelor's

degree in geology.

Thought I might go on this trip

and find the next chalk emerald.

Check this out.

Yeah, it's an Indian bead, put it back.

No, it's not an American Indian.

It's like

some type of little scarab.

It's got markings, look at that.

I said put it back.

It's bad luck to disturb a spirit house.

I don't need you jinxing

us the rest of this trip.

Come on, let's catch up

with the rest of them.

I'm coming.

I get the feeling he's never

been here before.

It's like he's pretending

to recognize things.

I dunno, I trust him.

Yeah, well, I have no idea where we are,

or to be honest, where we're going.

Well, if it makes you feel any better...

I wouldn't let anything happen.

We're gonna be fine, 'kay?

Okay.

Hey Drake, Drake.

When exactly are we going

to Klingman's Dome?

What?

You don't wanna go there.

Place is overrun with tourists.

My dad said it's the most beautiful spot

on the trail, I mean,

I have to go to it.

That's not the way we're going.

Well, that's the whole reason

I picked this hike.

You don't need this Disneyland map.

It's a joke.

What are you doing?

Trust me, you're gonna see

plenty of good things.

Knock knock.

You okay?

He pisses me off.

I mean,

it's not the map, not really.

It's just the one place my dad wanted

to visit that he never got to go to.

Come on, come back to the fire.

No.

No, I'm going to bed.

Brian?

Brian?

Drake?

Guys, this isn't funny.

Drake!

Drake!

Drake!

Jesus Christ.

It's just a dead coyote, come on.

What would do that?

Where are it's eyes?

Nature's funny, kid.

I once saw a baby calf with two heads.

Who can explain that?

Come on, Zoe.

Come on.

Okay, okay.

Payback's a b*tch, dude.

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