Page 51 of Protecting the Flame

Chapter 8

As she slidanother thick split of pine into the flames, Earl said, “You did…the right thing.”

“Don’t talk.” At the sudden introduction of colder wood, the flames retreated before flaring back to lick at the wood with greedy golden tongues. After a few seconds, the resin heated enough to pop and sputter.

“Nothing else to do.” Pause. “I’m afraid to go…to sleep. Might not…wake up.”

She didn’t know what to say to that. “I’m sorry, Earl.”

His head moved in a weak nod. “Would’ve liked…to see Joshua.”

“I’m sorry,” she said again.

“Way it goes.” At that moment, Hunter let out another plaintive call, and Earl said, “You gonna tell him? About his dad? That’s what…what the wolves were…about, right?”

“Yeah.” Why was this her responsibility? “Should I?”

“Best not to lie.”

“Right.” She gave Earl’s shoulder a squeeze. “Be right back.”

She’d expected tears, and there were a few, but Hunter didn’t cry much. Maybe when your plane has crashed, your legs are trapped, there’s blood in the cockpit, and your dad’s disappeared, you expect miracles to be few and far between.

“Thanks for chasing them off.” Hunter’s eyes shimmered from a cocoon of space blankets and parka. “But what now? You can’t leave him there. I mean, I know you can’t do anything tonight, but…”

Well, she could, but from her story on Thule, she knew the Inuit left their dead to the elements all the time. Without a backhoe, digging a grave in frozen ground was a non-starter. “I don’t know.” Interesting question, though. So far, they’d not had to deal with dead people. “What do you want us to do?”

“Maybe rewind the last four days?” A weird, croaky laugh floated on a breath cloud that Hunter choked off. “I know you can’t bury him. Ground’s frozen. Maybe rocks?” Averting his face, Hunter burrowed deeper into his blankets and parka. “I need to think about it.”

“Sure. I’m sorry, but with everything that’s happened, I forgot to bring your broth and some hot water for your face. Would you like me to do that now?” They were running low on broth; pooling what was left from Burke’s MREs and Will’s two remaining ramen packs, they had about six watery servings left between the two camps. But it was the only humane thing to do.

“No.” Pause. “I mean, maybe later. It’s nice of you, but I kind of need some time. Weird, huh? Been nothing but alone pretty much.”

“It’s okay. I’ll come back in a little while.”

“I’m not going anywhere.” As she started to back out, he said, “I’m not going to make it out of here.”

It had not been a question. “We don’t know that.”

“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter. Blind man could see it with a cane. That Will, he’s all right. He said he’d bring tools, and I know he’ll try his damnedest. I can tell he’s that kind of guy. I was a real prick to him, too.”

“I think Will lets a lot of things roll off.”

“I can’t feel my feet anymore, can’t wiggle my toes. I’ve never had frostbite, but even I know not feeling nothing’s bad.”

“People come back from frostbite.” She’d seen pictures and knew the basics. “If we can get you out, get your feet and legs into warm water, get some circulation back…”

“You don’t know me real well. I’m not a nice guy, okay? I’ve done a bunch of things, and I bullshit a lot. So, I’m telling you, don’t bullshit a bullshitter.”

“No bullshit.” She really did know of a few cases where soldiers developed frostbitten toes, fingers, ears. A nose. “It doesn’t all have to end bad, if we can get you out and warm you up.” It would also be nice if a rescue plane found them already.

“Lot of ifs.” Hunter sank back into in a black brood. “Lot of fucking ifs.”

She waited a few beats then turned to leave. “I’ll be back—”

“Watch out for that Scott,” Hunter said with sudden vehemence. “I mean it.”

She stared at him. “Why do you say that?”

“Because I heard him. He was threatening that old man. Said the old guy was lucky he hadn’t suffocated him for his coat. That black eye Scott’s got? That’s not from the crash. The old guy tagged him.”

“You saw this happen?”

“No, but I heard it. Heard him threaten that old man, and I thought I better keep my mouth shut or he’d come after me next. Turns out the old guy had a bag of jellybeans he was saving for that girl, Mattie in a pocket. Scott accused him of hoarding ’em, but I think the old guy forgot he had them. Anyway, I heard him telling Scott to share and share alike, to eat only a couple and bring me some? Well, he didn’t. Instead, Scott kept them for himself. Said the old guy wasn’t going to last much longer anyway, no point in wasting food on him or me. He probably thought I couldn’t hear, or maybe he didn’t care. I’m telling you, I know guys like him. He’s either coming down or just out of rehab. You gotta watch out. His wife and the little girl? If they get in his way, he’ll do whatever he has to so long as he gets what he needs.” His eyes held hers. “Don’t think he won’t do the same to you. For a guy like that? As easy as swatting a fly.”

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