James, who’s part of the team that was already on-scene fighting the fire on the mill side of the building, gives us his report. Meanwhile, Robbie’s shaking his head at Hugh, clearly pissed that he’s here, and Hugh’s glaring back defiantly.
After James is done, Robbie up-nods at me and yells, “Axford. C’mere.”
I leave Greene pulling hose and stride over. “Yeah?”
“That stubborn fucker,” he says, nodding at Hugh, “should be home.”
“Told him that.”
Robbie huffs out a breath. “Keep an eye on him. If he’s flagging, you tell me. I’ll get him out of here if I have to club him over the head and cart him out.”
“Understood.” I head back toward the fire.
“And Ames?” Robbie shouts.
“Yeah?” I turn my head.
Robbie’s mouth opens, then closes. He shakes his head once. “Stay safe.”
I nod.
A second later, Robbie moves away, coordinating with a new crew that’s arrived from Mabel and setting up zones.
“Let’s move,” Hugh shouts, and we start advancing with the hose.
The heat from the fire is brutal, even at seventy-five feet out. Greene’s on the nozzle with me backing him up.
I’ve never been to war, but I think this is probably what it feels like. There’s danger literally everywhere I look, but I have to focus on the task I’ve been given and try not to think about the office windows exploding or the way the fire’s eating through the interior of the building like my brother with his sandwich.
“Steady spray!” Hugh orders over the radio. “Wide pattern. We’re trying to cool the exterior. Adjust your angle, Greene.”
He breaks off transmission, but he’s coughing so loud I can hear him from twenty feet away over the roar of the fire.
“Hugh,” I say into my radio. “Step back. I can lead.”
“Fuck. I’m sorry,” he says, giving in at last. “I was helping Delphi at the tree line, making sure we’re not getting spot fires. Will you replace me?”
“Negative. Greene and I are supposed to stick together?—”
“Could use some help over here!” Delphi sounds panicked. He’s not a probie, but he’s not too far off from it.
“Fuck,” I mutter under my breath. I poke Greene’s back. “You got this?” I demand. “You’re line of sight to, like, five other people. You need help, you call for it.”
“I got it, Axford,” he assures me with an eye roll.
I push down my misgivings and start running.
I’m almost around the corner of the building to Delphi when I hear aclang-clang-clangcoming from inside the building. The disconcerting sound of trapped steam bursting metal rivets.
I look over my shoulder, and I know Greene’s heard it, too, when I see his head whip toward the building.
“Greene,” I yell into the radio. “Stay exactly where you are, you hear me? That sounds like a boiler about to burst.”
“What’s going on?” Robbie demands in my ear. “Axford, Hugh, report.”
“Hugh’s out. Taking a breather. I have eyes on Greene, but?—”
“I hear someone in there!” Greene shouts. “Someone’s banging to get our attention!”
