Page 62 of Burning Justice

“Elias.”

She flinched. “That’s what Crispin is here to take care of. This is about fighting fire.”

“He knew we were coming up here.”

She shook her head. “The fire is probably in the roots, and these old trees are so dry they’re snapping. It’s crazy, but it happens.”

Kane grabbed her shoulders and tugged her around.

A tree exploded in front of her.

“We’re surrounded,” Kane said. “Elias brought us up here to kill us.” He let go of her and strode to Hammer, ignoring the look on his team leader’s face. “It’s a trap.”

“Maybe he’ll come to see our grisly end himself.” Hammer drew a gun from his pack, his eyes narrow on the terrain around them.

“Everyone gather up!” Jade called them all over.

Kane tromped to her. “Sorry. I know I disobeyed orders, but the ground is soaked with gasoline, and those were rigged explosions. This is no ordinary fire.”

She stared at him, coldness in her expression. “Then I guess we’d better do what we do and get it to burn itself out.”

“A backfire?” Vince shifted closer to Cadee.

Orion put his arm around Tori. “That could leave us worse off before we starve the fire of vegetation to burn.”

Skye and JoJo shifted closer in. Skye said, “We need to call for a retardant drop. Or water.”

Hammer and Saxon both looked at Kane. Expressions that probably matched his right now. Determination. The knowledge that this would get worse before it got better.

Kane and Jade. Standing together in the middle of the fire. Facing the fact they could get swallowed up by it.

“We pray and we get to work.” Jade lifted her chin. “Skye, get Tucker on the phone. Explain the situation.”

As Kane watched, fire flickered to life all around them. It swept across the edges of the clearing, flame coalescing with flame. Growing. Moving. Soaking up the gasoline. Consuming all living things. It would burn away everything and leave nothing in its wake.

Nothing but ash.

Smoke filled the air.

Someone started to pray out loud. Another smokejumper picked up where they left off, and then another, until everyone in the group had asked for favor and guidance. For a way to beat back the flames.

Kane said, “Amen.”

Skye stepped away and got on the satellite phone with Tucker, asking for a drop.

Tori started to cough, dragging out tools from their supply drop that had landed before they’d jumped.

Orion glanced at her but tore open another pallet. “I’ve got the chain saw.”

“We don’t want sparks,” Jade said. “Hand tools only.”

“Got it.” He grabbed a Pulaski, and they raced to the trees not yet in flames.

The blaze beat them to it, and they scrambled back.

Vince called out, “We might need blankets!” He grabbed a shovel. He and Cadee ran to a spot on the far side and started shoveling dirt on the fire. Hammer and JoJo did the same nearby, trying to create an exit path. A way through the flames so they weren’t pinned down with no way out, choking to death.

“Find a spot already burned that we can hunker down in!” Jade scanned the clearing. “We’re surrounded!”

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