The Road to Uluru

Pablo and Mario had always dreamed of seeing Uluru, the huge red rock in the middle of Australia. So when they finally landed in Alice Springs, they rented an old car and planned to drive there the same afternoon. It was about four hundred and fifty kilometers away. "That's nothing," said Mario. "In Spain we drive that far to go to the beach."

The man at the car rental office did not look so sure. "You must carry plenty of water," he told them. "At least ten liters each. And you shouldn't drive at night. The kangaroos come out after dark, and you really don't want to hit one." Pablo nodded politely. Mario was already looking at his phone.

At the supermarket, they bought chips, chocolate and two small bottles of water. "We don't have to buy more," Mario said. "There are gas stations on the way." Pablo wasn't sure, but his brother was older and he was always the one who decided.

The road was long, straight and empty. For hours they saw nothing but red sand, dry bushes and the occasional truck. They stopped to take photos, then stopped again for a nap in the shade of a tree. When they started driving again, the sun was already low in the sky.

At the only gas station they found, a woman with a big hat was closing the shop. "You boys should stay here tonight," she said. "There's a campground behind the station. You mustn't drive on that road in the dark." Mario laughed. "We'll be fine. We've got headlights."

Twenty minutes later, a kangaroo jumped out of the darkness. Pablo shouted, Mario braked hard, and the car stopped just in time. The kangaroo looked at them for a second and hopped away. Then the engine made a strange noise and died.

They sat in the silent car for a long time. Their water bottles were empty, their phones had no signal, and the night was getting cold. "Maybe we should have listened," Pablo said quietly. For once, Mario didn't argue.

Two hours later, a pair of lights appeared behind them. It was the woman from the gas station in an old pickup truck. "I had a feeling you'd need me," she said, and handed them a big bottle of water. She towed their car back to the campground, where they slept under more stars than they had ever seen.

The next morning, they drove to Uluru in full daylight with twenty liters of water in the back seat. The rock was even more beautiful than in the photos. "You know what?" Mario said. "Next time, you can make the plans." Pablo smiled. "Next time, we have to follow the advice."