A thrill goes through me.It’s not that I hope the towns burn down, or that people have to be evacuated, or that, God forbid, anyone dies.Hell, I’m gonna do everything in my power to keep all that from happening.But it’s been a long fire season, and most of it’s been boring and backbreaking: digging, controlled burns, sleep, do it again.
If the Saturn Fire burns east, it’ll be achallenge.An incredibly dangerous challenge, but I’ve never let that stop me, and right now I’m itching for something like this.
Porter is pointing at a column of numbers along the side of the whiteboard: temperature, wind speed, dew point, and humidity.I force myself to pay attention.It’s hard, though, because my mind is elsewhere, flying all over the place.
To Spineside Trail, the only way into the Spires.To Eaglevale and Coldwater, both perched on low peaks in the middle of a dense forest with only one road out.To how hard it is to predict where a fire will go even on open prairie, never mind terrain like that.
To Clementine this morning, her body against mine on that tiny cot in the fire lookout.I think about how I wanted to stop the world for that moment and stay there, alone with her, in that perfect stillness.
“Casden,” Porter says.I realize everyone is looking at me, and I’m staring off into space.
“Yes,” I say.
Now there are two men up front: Porter, and an older, gray-haired, wiry forest ranger.
“You’re familiar with the area, right?”
“Grew up in Ashlake, still live there when I’m not with you all,” I say.
I look at the map again.Now Spineside Trail is highlighted, a winding, switchback-filled green line into the canyon.
“And I’ve hiked into the Spires,” I say.
“Good man,” the ranger says, nodding like he approves.“Useful to be sending someone who knows the territory at least a little.Get your pants on straight and your shoes tied right.”
Thismustbe Randy.
The other hotshots all look politely baffled, like they’re not quite sure whether that was a compliment or not.
“Thanks,” I say.
“Come sit down here by me,” Randy says, pointing at a wooden bench.“You can help me out when my memory starts to go a little blurry.”
It’s weird, but I just do as he asks.He seems like a charming weirdo, and I try to humor charming weirdos.
“All right,” Randy begins.“The first problem with Spineside is it’s gonna be about two feet wide.Sometimes less.Sometimes a little more, but expect to get real up close and personal with some rock face when you get in there.Not too personal, mind you.”
Confused laughter ripples through the crowd, and I try not to smile.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Clementine
The momentthe door closes behind Hunter, Mandy looks around furtively, then leans over the counter toward me.
“Clementine, can wepleasetalk?”she stage-whispers.
Fuck.I wish I’d answered the door when she knocked, because now that’s another thing I have to explain.For a moment I consider telling her that I’ve gotreallyimportant work to get done and maybe we can discuss this later, but I don’t have anything that can’t wait five minutes.
Plus, I’m dealing with things like an adult now, remember?
I put my elbows on the counter and lean down.
“About Hunter?”I ask.
The door opens behind me, and I straighten up.Two other rangers walk past us, and when they’re gone, Mandy gives a small, impatient sigh.
“Not here,” she says, still whispering.“Come on.”
