Runa had broken her fall into the bush by landing on Faro, and she popped her head out of the bush to make sure there were no other vehicles. Jumping back onto the grass, she brushed off the leaves and twigs that had gotten stuck on her clothing. 

"I dunno.... if I had to guess, I'd say that maybe the owner has the fancy car, but the employees drive the truck? I can imagine the owner there selling the stuff, then getting in his fancy car while his employees schlup back the unsold honey. I mean, I don't know what else it could be. I figure there aren't too many rich people with money emergencies on a Monday night."

Staying off the road and close to the trees, Runa and Faro cautiously made their way toward the farm. It was right around dinner time, with about an hour of daylight left.

"What do you think the move is, Faro? Do we try to load up the honey ourselves now and make a break for it as quick as we can? Or do we wait for nightfall? I know a couple guys who would try to rob the house as well, but that seems like a bigger risk for who knows what reward."

They angled around to the side of the house where they could see in one of the windows to the dining room. Maybe there they'd figure out who was in the car?"

"Picking it up quick seems smartest.  I don't need to knock over the fella's house.  Probably just full of old farm junk and what not... though that car definitely does give a guy pause."  He smirked.

"Did you ask me along cause you don't know howta drive yet?"  He smirked.  "I could teach you, ya know.  And you'd look aces behind the wheel of something like that.  I bet Mezzo has a chop shop who can make sure that no one can finger that car as belonging to anyone but you if we were to take it rather than a beat up ol' farm clunker."

Runa watched the house carefully.

"... well I didn't only ask you to help because I couldn't drive. But it is a nice perk. Still, now doesn't seem like the best time to learn, does it?"

She paused. 

"But do you really think Jack would be impressed if we took that one back too?"

Runa seemed unsure, tempted by the idea of impressing Jack, but wondering whether it was worth the additional risk.

"What do you think? If you take the truck I could always take the car... it couldn't be that hard, right?"

"Hell yes, Jack would be impressed!  It's a great car and after the way that schmoe talked to you, he deserves to be down one nice car.  And driving is easy, once you get the car started then it's pressing a pedal with one foot and turning the wheel the way you want to go.  One pedal stops the car the other makes it go.  Couldn't be more simple.  You're a smart girl, I know you could do it."

He smiled at Runa and looked at her for a little longer than normal, picturing her behind the wheel of a car, cruising down the street with the window down and her hair flying out behind her.  Of course, he was in the passenger seat in this daydream ... 

He shook his head.

"Look if you're all that worried about it, we could load some honey into the boot of the car.  I'll drive it.  What do ya say?"

Well, it certainly sounded simple enough. And she wasn't going to look like a scaredy-cat in front of Faro.

"No, let's load up the truck. You can drive that; I'll take the car."

It didn't take long to load up the back of the truck. What Faro lacked in sartorial finesse, he made up for with strength and enthusiasm. They didn't fill up the entire truck, but they got enough to keep The Cat and Phoenix well stocked for a couple years, at least. And they had an extra couple boxes in the trunk of the car, as well.

Faro checked the car and found the keys tucked up behind the visor. He pointed to the pedals and explained things to Runa, then started the car and ran to the truck. 

The drive out was one of the most terrifying, exhilarating experiences of Runa's life. She swerved a lot at first, and at one point she almost accelerated into Faro's truck, but she got the basics down and managed jerky, ungraceful, and barely accident free. 

By the time the car lurched to a stop in an empty parking garage, Runa was running a gamut of emotions. She practically fell out of the car and looked up to Faro.

"That... was amazing..."

She took a deep breath, trying to balance the fear leaving with body with the excitement of having succeeded.