Through the Storm(28)

“Are you okay?” From a few yards ahead, Madison looked back at him with wide, frightened eyes.

The crackle of fire mixed with the screams of women and men.

“Yes! Go on! I’ll catch up.” Conner raced back only to discover a bent and mangled wheel. He tossed aside the now useless bike but kept the pump thinking Madison might use it. Then he rushed down the hill after her with only a few yards between him and flame.

Screams hung in the air with the smoke and ash.

Finding no sign of Madison, he sprinted west along the freeway and up the slope.

Coughing and wheezing from the foul air, Conner ran past two elderly couples and several parents with small children in their arms and on their backs. Would they be able to stay ahead of the flames? He didn’t know, and had no idea how he might help them. Please God, keep them safe.

Catching a second wind, Conner scrambled up to the crest of the next hill. There a cool breeze swept his sweaty face. The wind had changed direction again. He looked back at flames now hundreds of yards behind him and drawing no closer. Hoping to put much more distance between him and fiery death, Conner continued running until he gasped for air. Then he slowed to a jog and eventually walked.

In the growing pre-dawn light, he spotted a cliff. He jogged from the freeway, climbed through the trees to the rocky outcrop, and stood near the edge of the cliff looking over thousands of acres of forest and flame. No humans would come and fight this fire. How long would it burn? Would it continue to scorch the Earth until the fall rains?

He looked at the freeway. Like a line of ants, hundreds weaved west. Was Madison in that line? Was she okay? Would he be able to find her?

*

Rural Lewis County, Washington, Wednesday, September 7th

Sunlight flowed through open curtains, waking Drake. After dressing, he grabbed the rifle by his bed and walked the few steps to his brother’s room, where Ashley slept. He thought about knocking but decided to let her sleep. With Gruff at his side, he left to feed the animals, including the Hamiltons’ horses, and milked the goat.

Clouds obscured the sun and the morning breeze felt cool. Thankfully, the animals had enough water, saving him the chore of hand pumping. Within thirty minutes, Gruff and Drake had both finished what they had to do and returned to the house.

Ashley stood in the kitchen, wearing a pastel blue robe. She rubbed her eyes. “Have you had breakfast?”

“No, not yet.”

She opened the refrigerator. “I’ll cook eggs and bacon if you start the generator, but then I’d really like a hot shower.”

Anything you want. “Sure.”

She held a green egg in one hand and a blue one in the other. “Are these chicken eggs?”

“Yes. Ready for Easter.” Drake grinned “Just kidding. That’s how some chickens lay them. They’re normal inside.” The smile lingered as he strode toward the garage to start the generator. He used the last fuel from one of the gas cans to fill the tank. How long would the gas last even if they only used the generator a few hours each day? Could he find more fuel somewhere?

Drake fired up the generator. At least for a while, Ashley would have hot showers and he wouldn’t have to pump water for the animals.

Ashley set a plate of bacon, eggs, and crackers in front of Drake. He held one of the crackers, staring at it. “Why did you add these?”

“We’re out of bread. There’re boxes of them in the pantry.”

“Really? Boxes?” Drake smeared jam on one. It would do fine. He took another bite. The food, the fuel, the generator; even the animals and fruit trees, all of it had been his father’s idea, but he had never appreciated it. Thanks Dad. Come home quick, please.

“I was going to ask about the heaters, but I think I know the answer.”

Drake looked out the window. “The clouds are thinning. It should warm up later this morning. I don’t want to use the electric heaters for that—not yet anyway.”

“What about the wood stove?”

For several moments, Drake pondered the question. The smoke would reveal that someone lived in the house, but would that knowledge keep looters away or encourage them. Ashley had said that looters were near her house, not very far away, and that someone had been shooting. His dad would have an answer, but he had none, and decided to put off the decision. “Let’s not use the woodstove yet.”

Ashley frowned. “I’ll get a sweater.”

All the problems that harassed his mind and troubled his sleep drove Drake back to his father’s office and the folders that now provided the only insight he had to his dad’s thoughts. While he read, Gruff curled up nearby.

Several hours later, Ashley, now dressed in jeans and a purple shirt, strolled into the office, carrying a tray. “You look like an executive behind that desk.”

“I feel like a student.” He set the folder down. “Is that tray for me?”

“Yes.” She placed it in front of him. “Water, crackers with cheese, and some apple slices. It’s not much, but I thought you’d be getting hungry. I was going to give you cereal for lunch, but the milk tasted funny so I poured it out.”

Drake felt annoyed but ended up grinning.

“What did I do?”

“The milk tasted funny because it was goat’s milk.”

“You actually drink it?”