Belly of the Beast Read Free

light.
    Water bottle on side.
    Right pole forward, left pole—
    Bottle moving.
    Left ski forward.
     “No,” yelled Niki.
    Right ski forward.
    “The bottle—”
    Left ski forward.
    “—is in—”
    Right ski forward.
    “—the water!”
    Katrina reached forward to plant both poles precisely in line with the bottle and thrust her arms downward.

CHAPTER TWO
One Week Prior
     

     
    The road to the Durango airport zigzagged across a high mesa nestled beside the jagged peaks of the Colorado Rockies. Wheat stubble poked through windblown snow as the headlights of Rob Wright’s big Ford pickup truck cut through the darkness. Niki had driven it often, but today she sat in the passenger seat and stared out the side window. Snow fluttered through the opening at the top.
    Rob parked in front of the squat terminal and carried Niki’s pack to the check-in counter.
    “You sure Alex will be all right with Lisa?” Niki asked Rob as she stood in line.
    “Nothing’s changed since you asked ten minutes ago,” answered Rob. “Don’t be so hard on her. Lisa’s had a tough life. She’s fine as long as she stays on her meds.”
    “I just don’t feel good about leaving Alex.”
    “Look, I tried to talk you out of this trip. You insisted on going. Just because you’re afraid to fly, don’t start attacking Lisa.”
    Niki glanced about, aware that people were staring. She focused on her feet. Niki didn’t know if she was afraid to fly; this would be her first flight ever. What did terrify her was confinement. Even in a car she had to have a window open a few inches. As the line moved forward, she said quietly, “Someone has to go, and I didn’t see you step up. Don’t you understand? Alex is going to die if we sit around and wait. I can’t do that.”
    Rob turned away. “I’m going to the truck to get my coffee. I’ll be back.”
    Niki didn’t bother to reply. She pulled her ticket from her pocket. The ticket jacket said Carefree Travel . “You’ll be fine; flying is easy,” the agent had assured. Niki had second thoughts. She nervously fingered the first ticket leaf. United Express 6042, 12/19/91 6:03 A DRO/DEN/SFO .
    “Next.”
    Niki handed the desk agent her ticket.
    “San Francisco is your final destination today?”
    Niki nodded.
     
    Rob returned as Niki was walking to the waiting room. He held out an old stainless-steel thermos. “Coffee?”
    Niki looked it over. “I can’t believe you still have that.”
    “It’s an heirloom.” He pointed at the biggest dent, one of many. “Remember when we crashed the snowmobile?” he asked with a smile.
    “You were driving. I was pregnant.”
    “I suppose I should have been more careful, but no harm done.” Rob poured thick fluid into the dented top and offered it to Niki.
    Niki shook her head. “I need to sleep on the plane. I couldn’t last night.”
    “This will help.”
    Niki looked at the cup and sniffed. “You’re drinking at five in the morning?”
    “Five-thirty. And Baileys is mostly cream.”
    “You promised you wouldn’t drink while you’re taking care of Alex.”
    “Whatever. I didn’t think this counted.” Rob poured the coffee back to the thermos.
    “I need you right now,” said Niki. “This is hard at best, and Alex had a bad night.”
    Rob set his coffee on a window ledge and stared at nothing. “Don’t think it’s easy for me either,” he finally said. “There’s nothing I can do. Every damn doctor says there’s nothing they can do. And there’s really nothing you can—”
    “I won’t leave any stone unturned. I’ve worked in hospitals. I know that a faceless name is nothing.” Niki tugged at the strap of her backpack. “I’ve got a photo album. I’m going show people at the donor center who Alex is. I’m going to shove photographs in their faces.”
    “That doesn’t seem like you.”
    “Alex is dying.”
    “I suppose you’re mad for the right reasons. You’re a good mother, Niki. Sorry things never quite