Page 49 of Phoenix Fire

What was it?

The dream had to have some meaning. She concentrated on each surreal segment of the dream that remained in her memory:

Carlton's face quaking into sharp focus, his lips forming silent words that teased her comprehension … Jason's face, quietly flashing into chisel-like prominence, like a sculpture on onyx, gritty, tired, forlorn, and resigned. Beyond the edges of his image, flaring out all around into a dissipating white light, was a desert landscape. A high desert landscape?

Suddenly, the desert in her dream came to Myrena with temple throbbing recall and relevance. She became excited, euphoric, with the growing awareness of the dream's intended meaning. It had to be the intended meaning.

When Carlton and Jason were in their early teens, John and Myrena had taken them on several occasions to a spot north and west of Bartlett Dam, near the Bartlett Reservoir, just south of the Horseshoe Dam and Reservoir. It had become one of the boys’ favorite picnic spots in the spring and fall. Jason loved the area and had often as an adult gone there for relaxing quiet time. Had the land not been state and federally owned, Jason would have undoubtedly considered a resort project for the area.

Had Jason gone there?

Was that the message the dream had intended for Myrena?

Jason's car was found not too far from that area. Had he taken a hike and gotten lost? That would have been out of character for Jason. Yet, with all that had happened recently, he might not have been thinking clearly.

As she sat in her recliner she became convinced that the dream was an omen. No other explanation came to her. Coincidence was simply not an option.

She felt the quickening of her pulse, a surge of adrenaline, and, for the moment, she might have been young again, awaiting the doorbell and the arrival of a young man named John, the college heartthrob who kids today might call a 'hunk,' the young man she most definitely was going to marry. She smiled through the nostalgia, her eyes blurring with tears, and through an incipient pain that reminded her of her imminent date with destiny.

She picked up the remote control call pad and touched the button that would bring Wardley.

Just as Wardley stepped into the sun room the telephone rang.

Chapter Thirty-three

Jenny felt the need to call Grandma Myrena.

Not knowing exactly what she would say, she knew that it was important to keep Myrena informed, even if there was nothing to report. Jenny was surprised when an excited Grandma Myrena came on the line.

“Jenny, my dear, I've had the most remarkable experience, a dream, actually, and while the world might see me as 'flipping my lid,' you must trust me.”

There was strength and hope in Myrena's voice, much like the time she and Jenny had first met. The strong sweet matriarch was infecting Jenny with fresh hope just listening to her.

“I know where Jason is!” Myrena paused just long enough to let the words sink into Jenny's consciousness.

Jenny could not contain herself. “Oh, God! Grandma Myrena, where is he?”

“It's okay, Jenny, settle down. I'm about to tell you. Just a bit northeast of Carefree, there's an old campground with an abandoned well. The well top still has its rock foundation for the most part and there's a warning sign to keep people away from it. It's north of Bartlett Dam, off the old Horseshoe Dam Road, not far from the Bartlett Reservoir. It's east and south of where Jason's car was found.” Myrena stopped to gather in her rapid breathing.

“How do we get there?” Jenny asked.

“Okay, Jenny, are you at Jason's car?”

“Yes.”

“Then come back south and take Carefree Highway east to Cave Creek Road. Take that road north and east through Carefree. Do you know that area?”

“Yes, I know it. How many miles east past Carefree?”

“Maybe ten miles. Watch for the old Horseshoe Dam Road. Turn left off Cave Creek Road onto Horseshoe Dam Road, go north about ten miles. As I recall, the road bends a little to the west and goes north again. You will see the campground area and the abandoned well off to your east … Jason is somewhere near there, a little west, I believe, within a mile or so. He's between two rises and out of sight of the campground. He probably doesn't know how close he is to the campground. He used to love going there as a teenager. He and Carlton loved that place.”

“But how do you know all this, Grandma Myrena?”

“There's no time now to explain, Jenny. I'll tell you later. Just trust me. Get there as soon as you can. Convince the authorities that he is there. He will need some medical assistance.” Myrena sighed deeply, winded by her hurried recital.

“I'm on my way. I'll call you back when we find him, Grandma Myrena. Please don't worry. We will find him.”

*****

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