Chương 102

The caretaker cottage sat lower on the slope where the trees thickened. Two chairs stood on the porch facing the woods instead of the road. Louis stopped at the first step and looked back once toward the cabin. The main house stood above them through the trees. Gladice went up first. The front door was locked. She tried it once, not hard enough to break anything, then moved to the side. Savannah followed her around the porch, checked the side window, then the back door. A moment later she called, "Here."

They found her standing by the kitchen entrance, working the latch with a lockpick. Donya looked at her.

"Maybe we should not." Savannah did not look up.

"If they telling the state about us, this is the least of what we doing today." She worked it for another second, and the lock clicked. She pushed the door open and motioned them in. They stepped into a kitchen. The dishes were washed, the counters were clean, and a single fly buzzed against the window over the sink. The room smelled stale but looked clean.

"This is just a house," Donya said. Gladice shrugged.

"That doesn't mean we won't find something." Louis moved past the table. On the counter lay a pair of reading glasses. Angelique noticed them too. She picked them up, then put them back exactly where they had been.

"They didn't seem like they were in a hurry," she said.

"Unless they trying to look like they weren't." Savannah opened the pantry. Inside were shelves of canned food and two cases of bottled water. She closed the door. Gladice checked the windows. Angelique opened the small coat closet and found rain jackets and nothing else. Donya stood near the doorway with her arms wrapped around herself.

"This feels wrong," she said.

"It may be wrong," Willa said. She was already opening a drawer under the television stand.

"But it's better safe than sorry."

"You never break into people's houses before, I guess," Savannah said, without looking at her.

"No." Donya shook her head.

"I didn't."

"Then welcome to the new world." Savannah pulled a worn sofa cushion aside and peered at the floor beneath.

"You get used to it." Louis looked down the short hallway toward the two closed doors at the end.

"The bedrooms?"

"Let me." Savannah walked down and opened the first door. The room had a double bed, a dresser, and a small wooden cross on the wall. The closet held work clothes, a couple of Sunday dresses hanging behind them, and a cardboard box on the floor. Savannah lifted the lid, looked inside, then put it back.

"Nothing," she said. She went to the second door. The second room was used for storage. On the wall above the clutter, someone had nailed up an old park map under yellowing plastic. Willa came in behind her and looked at the map.

"What is this?"

"A map," Louis said. Gladice and Angelique followed. Donya stayed in the doorway and did not come all the way in. The map was old enough to show the area as public land inside the national park. It showed green ridges, blue lines for creeks, and thin dotted trails. The main cabin was not labeled as such, but Barlow's service road was there under a corporate resort name.

"Mountain View Lodge," she read aloud.

"Closed 2012." Gladice looked around the room.

"So this is how he hid it. Bought an old resort and let the maps forget it existed." Savannah nodded toward the map.

"That help us?"

"Probably." Willa followed the line with her finger without touching the paper.

"The service lane. The old ridge trail." Her finger stopped farther west.

"And this." Near the lower left corner of the map, beyond the named trails and beyond the boundary line printed in green, someone had drawn a small black mark. A thin dotted trail ran toward it and disappeared before reaching the mark. Louis leaned in.

"What is that?"

"No idea." Willa looked at him.

"But it's not on the official map. Someone added it by hand." Savannah squinted.

"Looks like somewhere they store contraband. Or dump bodies." Donya made a small sound of disgust.

"Or it could be nothing," Angelique said.

"Just an old note someone made."

"Maybe." Willa stepped back from the wall.

"But it's the only thing in this house that looks like a secret." Gladice crossed her arms.

"I say we check it out." Savannah gave her a skeptical look.

"How far from here?"

"Hard to say." Willa pointed at the scale.

"A few hours' walk at least." Louis looked at her.

"And you think we should go?"

"I think we should know what's there." She glanced around the room.

"If they were planning to turn us in, this might be part of it."

"And if we wrong?" Savannah asked.

"Then we get a nice hike in the mountains," Gladice said.

"I could use some fresh air." Donya shook her head.

"I don't know about this." Angelique put a hand on her shoulder.

"You can stay here if you want. But I think we should go." They looked at Louis. He thought for a moment. If the caretakers were going to the authorities, his group needed leverage. A hidden spot on an old map was the only lead they had.

"Alright," he said.

"Let's go see what's there. But we should leave a note for Barlow."

"Good idea," Savannah said.

"And we take water." They left the caretaker cottage the way they had come in, closing the door carefully and leaving as little sign as they could. Back at the main house, Willa wrote a short note. Went for a walk. Be back before dark. LC She left it on the kitchen table. Gladice brought a dozen bottles of water from storage and handed them out. They put on jackets, even though the day was warming. Then they left the house together and went into the trees through an old trail behind the shed.

The path was overgrown. Fallen leaves covered it, making it soft under their boots.

"Wade and Ruth must use this," Gladice said, pushing aside a branch.

"It's the only way through here."

"Or they don't come here at all," Willa said.

"And it just looks this way because no one's taken care of it." Gladice glanced at her.

"So, we are on a wild goose chase?" You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Willa shrugged.

"Maybe. Or maybe it's something important. We won't know until we get there."

"I hate unmaintained trails," Angelique said, watching her step.

"In Oregon, we have the best trails. Clean and safe. This is just… wilderness."

"Welcome to Dixie," Savannah said from ahead of her.

"The whole state's a wilderness."

"Do you like hiking, Willa?" Louis asked as he used the cane for balance on a root.

"Sometimes." She paused to let him catch up.

"Especially when I was in Germany. The Bavarian Alps are beautiful."

"I've been there several times. I liked it too." He looked at her.

"We should go together sometime." Willa smiled.

"I'd like that."

"And I'd also like to invite you to Hawaii with us after this. The four of us. I think you will love it." Louis glanced at Angelique and Gladice, who were walking ahead of them. Willa's smile widened.

"I'd love to. If you are sure you want me there."

"Of course I do." Louis turned to Angelique.

"What do you think, Angi?"

"About Hawaii or Willa?" She asked without slowing her pace.

"Both," Louis said.

"It will be nice to have another person who appreciates something other than drinking and racing cars," she said, glancing at Gladice.

"And Willa's smart. I like smart people."

"I'm right here, you know," Gladice called over her shoulder.

"We know," Angelique said.

"I'm also smart," Gladice insisted.

"And I'm good at parties. And I'm good in bed. What more do you want?"

"A brain?" Willa offered. Gladice laughed.

"Oh, you got jokes. I like that."

"I try," Willa said.

"I think y'all should get along just fine," Savannah said from the front.

"Long as you ain't kill each other before we get out of this country."

"Now there's an idea," Gladice said.

"Who wants to kill me? Raise your hands." No one did.

"See?" Gladice grinned.

"I'm loved." Savannah sighed.

"You're something else." After around an hour, the trail narrowed along a ridge. Louis's knee began to ache. He leaned on the cane more heavily. Angelique came to his side and put a hand on his arm.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he said.

"Just a little tired."

"Let's rest for a minute," she said.

"Good idea," Louis agreed. He leaned against a tree trunk and caught his breath. The others stopped too. Donya took a water bottle from her pack and drank. Gladice stretched her arms and looked at the sky.

"Nice view," she said.

"We should take a photo."

"Yeah, right," Willa said.

"Let's post it on Tengri. #FugitivesInTheMountains." Gladice laughed.

"That would be hilarious. The press would go wild.

'Prince of the Dominion and his harem spotted in the wilderness.'""I'm not sure my father would find it funny," Louis said.

"Probably not." Gladice sat on a fallen log.

"But it would be a great story. I wonder if they would think we are all crazy."

"They already think that," Willa said.

"True." Gladice stretched her legs.

"So, what's the plan after we get to this mysterious spot on the map? Are we going to find a secret weapon stash? A hidden bunker? A missile silo?"

"I hope it's a missile silo," Savannah said.

"Then we could threaten to nuke Montgomery if they don't let us go."

"I like the way you think." Gladice grinned.

"But I doubt it's that exciting. It's probably just an old still or a meth lab."

"We can get high while waiting for my father to rescue us then. That'd be fun," Louis said.

"I'm not sure if that's a good idea," Donya said.

"Drugs are a sin." Gladice rolled her eyes.

"Everything's a sin with you, isn't it?" Donya's face flushed.

"No. But I try to live a good life."

"Good for you," Gladice said.

"But some of us like to have a little fun. Even if it's a sin."

"I don't think fun is a sin," Donya said.

"But I think excess is." Gladice snorted.

"Excess is something people who have nothing to say about life say to keep from admitting they're boring."

"That's not true." Donya looked down at her hands.

"It's about balance. And respect for God."

"Who cares about God when you can have a good orgasm?" Gladice asked. She winked at Louis.

"Right?" He laughed.

"Agreed." Willa smiled.

"I'm with Gladice on this one. Orgasms are good for your health." Donya's cheeks went redder.

"I… I don't think it's appropriate to discuss such things in public."

"We're not in public," Gladice said.

"We are in the middle of nowhere. And we can talk about whatever we want. Including orgasms. So, what's your favorite position last night, Willa?" Willa raised an eyebrow.

"You really want to know?"

"Of course," Gladice said.

"I'm curious."

"Alright." Willa looked at Louis, then at Gladice.

"Sixty-nine. He has a very talented tongue."

"See?" Gladice grinned.

"I told you he was good at that. And he knows how to use his cock too." Louis felt himself stir and looked away from Willa. Angelique sighed.

"Can we not discuss Louis's sexual abilities in front of everyone?"

"Why not?" Gladice asked.

"He's proud of them. Aren't you, Louis?"

"I am," he said.

"But I don't think we should talk about it in front of Donya and Savannah. They might feel uncomfortable." Savannah snorted.

"Honey, I'm from Atlanta. I've heard worse than this at breakfast. Keep going." Donya looked away, her face still flushed.

"I… I don't mind. I just think it's private."

"It is," Willa said.

"But Gladice asked. So I answered. That's all."

"Fair enough." Gladice looked at Donya.

"So, what about you? Do you have a favorite position? Or do you even have one?" Donya's face turned crimson.

"That's a very personal question. I'd rather not answer."

"Fine." Gladice shrugged.

"More for us. Right, Angel?" Angelique rolled her eyes.

"I think we should get moving. The spot on the map won't come to us."

"Alright." Gladice stood up and stretched.

"Let's go find our treasure." He nodded and followed. They moved under thicker trees. Louis had to watch the roots under his feet. The branches shut out most of the sky, and when the rain started, he heard it first on the leaves above them. By the next bend, Willa's map was wet at the edges.

"Great," Savannah said.

"Exactly what we needed." Gladice wiped water from her face.

"It's light for now."

"Let's hope it stays that way." Angelique pulled her hood up.

"How far?" Willa checked the map.

"Another hour or two. If we're reading this right." The slope dropped along the ridge, and Louis slowed. He planted the cane, but the tip slid in mud. Willa kept checking the map, then the slope ahead.

"Something's wrong," she said. Gladice stopped.

"How?"

"This trail should be lower." Willa turned the map slightly in the rain.

"Unless the old trail washed out and someone cut a new one." Savannah looked upslope into the trees.

"Or we following the wrong path." Donya suddenly said, "Do you smell that?" Louis did. He smelled carrion first. Then the musk of a large animal. Gladice lifted one hand. Her other hand had already moved to the pistol tucked into her belt.

"Quiet." They froze. Ahead of them, branches moved. Savannah's hand went to her pistol too. The bear came out of the brush ten yards ahead. Its black fur was wet across the shoulders, and it was larger than Louis had expected. Its head swung toward them once. Its eyes fixed on them. It stood half on the trail, half in the brush, part of a deer near its forepaws. The bear lowered its head and huffed again. Donya made a tiny sound. The bear's head snapped toward them. Its front paw moved onto the trail.

"Back up," Gladice said.

"Slow." They took one step. The bear took two. Then a cub moved in the brush behind it.

"Oh fuck," Savannah whispered. The bear charged. Gladice fired first. The shot cracked through the trees. The bear did not stop. Savannah fired next. Bark burst from a trunk near the animal's head. The bear veered, roared, and came on faster.

"Run!" Gladice shouted. The line broke. Louis turned. Donya was beside him, already clutching his sleeve. The trail dropped steeply. His cane slipped once and nearly slipped from his hand. He caught himself on a tree. Donya grabbed his arm.

"This way!" she cried. Behind them, Gladice yelled for them to move, and Angelique called his name. Another shot cracked through the trees. Heavy steps hit the trail behind them. They broke out of the trees above a creek. Rain and runoff had swollen the water, and it ran fast between slick rocks below them. Louis saw a narrow footbridge crossing to the far bank, two old beams with rotting cross-planks nailed across them. One rail still stood, but it leaned outward at a bad angle.

Beyond the bridge, the trail continued up into thicker timber. Donya stopped at the edge.

"Louis—""Go." She went first, one hand on the broken rail. The bridge bounced under her. Louis followed. Halfway across, the plank under his bad leg shifted. He lunged, caught the rail, and felt the wood crack under his palm.

"Move!" Gladice screamed from behind. Louis reached the far side and stumbled into Donya. She pulled him clear by the shirt. He looked back. The bear came onto the bridge. Its front paws struck the first boards, and Louis saw the wood sag under its weight. He drew the M1911 from his waist and fired with his left hand. The shot hit the bear high in the shoulder. The animal roared and lunged forward. Louis fired again. The second shot struck lower. The bear's weight came down hard on the old boards.

He heard the left beam split. The bridge twisted sideways, wood tearing under the animal's weight. Planks snapped loose one after another. The bear dropped through the broken middle, hit the creek below, and rolled once in the white water. Then it lodged against the rocks and stopped moving. Donya screamed. Louis grabbed her and pulled her back from the bank. Across the creek, Gladice reached the bank first, pistol still raised. Angelique came beside her, pale and breathing hard. Willa stumbled in after them.

Savannah came last and looked from the ruined bridge to the water, then to Louis and Donya on the far side.

"Louis!" Angelique called.

"I'm alright!" he shouted back.

"Is anyone hurt?"

"I'm okay," Donya said, though her voice shook. Her hands stayed locked around his arm.

"We are fine!" Gladice holstered her gun and let out a shaking breath.

"Motherfucker."

"We can get back!" Louis called, pointing downstream where the water spread briefly over stones.

"No!" Gladice said at once.

"It's not that deep!" Louis said.

"I said no!" Her voice cut through the rain.

"That water takes your feet out from under you and if you crack your head, I can't get to you fast enough! You stay there! We will find another way around!"

"Then what?" Willa demanded.

"The bridge is gone! The trail is gone! We can't go further!" Louis shook his head.

"No! We're close! Donya and I will keep going! You four loop back to the cabin! Donya and I will finish it!"

"Louis—" Angelique began.

"I know you don't like it!" He met her eyes through the rain.

"But we don't have a choice now! We need to see what's out there!" Angelique nodded once.

"Alright!" she said.

"But keep the phone on! Call us if anything happens!"

"Will do!" Willa looked at the map.

"I will try to find a way back to you!"

"Don't risk it!" Louis said.

"Just get back safe! We'll figure it out!" Gladice looked at him for a moment. Then she turned to the others.

"Let's move before something else finds us." They disappeared back into the trees. Louis watched until they were gone, then turned to Donya. Her hair was wet against her face, her eyes wide, her breath still uneven from the run.

"Are you alright?" he asked. She nodded.

"I think so."

"Come on." He started up the trail on their side.

"Let's see what's at the end of this."