Mountain Fire Read Free Page B

haven’t been here by myself for a couple of years, though.”
    Any woman assured enough to spend time alone on a remote mountaintop was obviously resourceful and intrepid. Alex found his interest in June growing. He remembered her nonchalant attitude as she told of her encounter with the grizzly, and offered up a challenge. “I could use the extra pair of eyes, if you want to head out with me.”
    She didn’t jump at the chance, but considered it as she chewed. “Sure. Why not?”
    They cleared away the breakfast remnants and closed the cabin door, blocking it shut to keep out pests. Alex set a brisk pace as they trudged down the north side of Longworth Mountain.
    “The callers said they’d hiked about an hour from the lookout before they discovered the carcass,” he said. “It was in a narrow crevasse off to the left of the trail. They didn’t examine it too closely, as they’d just noticed the time, and realized they’d have to hurry if they were going to get back down before dark.” He hitched his pack into a more comfortable position on his shoulders. “We’ll have to keep our eyes open.”
    On this side of the mountain, it was easy to believe they were the only people for thousands of kilometres. The ever-present breeze sang through the grasses, underscoring the intermittent melody of bird calls, a subtle chorus to the crunch of boots on rocks and the rustle of swinging arms. The track descended at a shallow angle, with the occasional steep section, dodging around large boulders and switching back on itself. They concentrated on the job at hand and there was little chatter. He was pleased June kept up easily, and after about forty-five minutes they were deep in the wide valley. A brilliant sun beamed down on them.
    Alex halted, slung his backpack to the ground, unclipped a water bottle and took a long drink. “We should be getting close.”
    She copied his actions, perching on a rock. “Look.”
    He followed her gaze further down the valley. Three or four black figures flapped lazily against the polished sky, and a rusty, raucous calling drifted on the increasingly heated air. “Good eye,” he said. “Ready?”
    “Let’s go.”
    The trail was relatively straight and level, and it wasn’t long before the fresh scent of wildflowers, dust and leaves was tainted with the stench of death. A low, growling buzz raised the hair on Alex’s neck. He glanced over his shoulder and gestured for June to stay back. She stopped obediently and waited while he stepped toward a cleft in the rock to their left.
    He peered in the opening, covering his nose and mouth with the crook of his elbow. The stink was incredible, but the insects were worse. The grizzly’s carcass was covered in a moving sheet of glossy black flies, thousands upon thousands of them. Hundreds more hung like fog. Soon they were swarming around him, drawn by salty sweat. He backed away from the opening.
    He lowered his arm. “It’s going to be ugly,” he said. “But if you can stand it, I could certainly use your help.”
    She moved forward and looked around him into the narrow space. She sucked in a breath, making a slight choking sound when the full force of the decomposing body struck her, but she stood her ground.
    She turned to him, her face pale under the light tan of early summer, but she regarded him steadily, her voice matter of fact. “What do we do now?”
    He pulled out a small digital camera. “Get some pictures,” he said. “First, with the flies.” He snapped a few shots of the fissure’s entrance, then advanced in, getting various angles. He called back to her, “Let’s see what we can do about those flies now. Cut me a couple switches, would you?”
    She dug a small blade from one of the many pockets on her shorts, and hacked off a few of the leafiest branches from a nearby willow. Then, armed with those, they headed back into the rocky cleft.
    It was a buzzing, foul-smelling hell. Flies shrouded them, blundering