Escaping Yellowstone

by Larry LaVoie

  “Cody, I talked to Wendy.”

  “Is she okay?”

  “She gave up some of her clothes to the children to keep them warm. I couldn’t see her, but she doesn’t sound good. She has to be freezing.”

  “It’s taken me forever to get in here,” Cody said. “There’s a Kubota with a scoop. We might be able to use it.” There was just enough light to see dark shadows. It was hard to make out the different pieces of equipment. “See if you can find a chain. I’m going to see if that tractor will start.”

  The tractor was the largest piece of equipment in the shed. It had a scoop in front. Cody climbed up on the machine. The key was in the ignition. He turned it and the diesel engine roared to life with black smoke belching from the exhaust. He turned on the headlights. It gave him a view at what was inside.

  “I found a chain,” Lisa said.

  “Grab that chainsaw, too.”

  Cody jumped off the tractor, leaving it idling. He pulled a small trailer up and attached it to the rear.

  Lisa dropped the chain in a box and Cody checked the saw for gas before placing it and the box in the trailer. He scanned the room, grabbed an ax and a handsaw. “Okay, that’s going to have to do. You want to ride with me or walk?”

  Lisa looked at the single seat and the large treaded wheels dangerously close to it. The roll bar was the only place to hold on. “I’ll walk.”

  “Stand back.” Cody put the tractor in gear and it lurched forward. He put it in four-wheel drive and the front tires churned the snow as he plowed through it. He raised the bucket high enough he could see as soon as he was free of the building. It seemed to take forever to reach the area around the lodge where the snow wasn’t as deep. He drove around the side where Lisa had said Wendy was. He had a plan, but was well aware that cutting and pulling logs from the tangled mess might kill the very people he was trying to save.

  Cody was cutting through a timber with the chainsaw when Lisa caught up with him.

  “What can I do to help,” she asked.

  “Wrap that chain around that log and hitch it to the back of the tractor.” Cody had unhooked the trailer and parked it out of the way. He was surprised Lisa knew how to hitch the chain. “You know how to drive a tractor?”

  “I can figure it out,” she said. “You want me to pull this out of the way?”

  “Is there anything you can’t do?”

  She dragged the loose end of the chain and attached it to the hitch, climbed up on the tractor. “Stand clear,” she yelled, revving up the engine.

  Cody backed away as she pulled the section of the log from the rubble. As soon as it was safe he continued to selectively cut through the rubble tossing aside chunks of debris. He shut off the saw and yelled for Wendy, but got no response. Lisa climbed on the debris and pointed to the spot where she had heard Wendy.

  “If I cut away this timber, I should be able to squeeze through,” Cody said. “It looks like there’s an area in there that’s still standing.”

  “I can pull that log out of the way,” Lisa said. It was a huge log that had been a major support beam for the building. It was two-feet in diameter and at least forty feet long.

  “It looks like it’s holding up a portion of the roof,” Cody said. “We need to take it slow.”

  “We don’t have time for slow. I’m not hearing any responses.” Lisa was determined to get to Wendy and the kids.

  Cody was as determined, but he knew the risks involved. One wrong move and a bad situation could turn worse. “Just let me cut this and go in and see if I can find them.”

  Lisa saw he was right. A wrong move and the pile of sticks and stones could collapse completely, removing any hope of saving them.

  Cody cut a timber blocking his way to the opening. It crashed down and the entire structure vibrated.

  “I didn’t expect that,” Lisa said.

  “Listen,” Cody said. They heard a far-off rumble. “Get off the rubble,” Cody said, dropping the saw and grabbing Lisa by the hand. They dashed across broken logs and skirted around massive pieces of walls and roofing. They jumped to the snow just as the earth shook again. The violent oscillations caused the rubble to dance and shake and collapse even more. As soon as it was over, Cody was back up on the pile.

  “I can’t find the chainsaw.” Cody said. He was searching around using the cell phone as a flashlight.

  Lisa ran to the tractor and aimed the lights in Cody’s direction.

  “I think I see it,” Cody said. He got down and reached his gloved hand through the opening and moved it around. He felt something grab his fingers and the hair on the back of his neck bristled. He was lying on his stomach with his hand stretched down as far as he could reach and the tiny fingers tugged at his hand. “Meghan, it’s Uncle Cody. Is that you?”

  “It’s Tyler. Are you going to help mom?”

  “Where’s your mom?”

  “She’s right here. She’s not moving.”

  “Is Megan with you.”

  “Yeah. She’s crying.”

  “You be a hero and watch out for her. I’m going to work my way down. I’ll get you out, but you’re going to have to help.”

  Cody got up and waved at Lisa. “I found them!”

  Lisa climbed up the pile of the rubble. She wiped a tear from her face and it quickly turned to ice on her glove. “We need to get to them. We need the chainsaw.”

  “At least we know we’re in the right place. I’m going to poke around some more. There is no way for me to get through the mess.”

  The light from the tractor cast heavy shadows, making it difficult to recognize familiar things. “I’m going to search with your cell phone. Look in the tool box of the tractor and see if there’s a crowbar or anything else that might help.”

  Lisa was already making her way back to the tractor. In a few minutes she returned with a large flashlight. She was ten feet from Cody. “I found the chainsaw.”

  “Good. No crowbar?”

  “It isn’t going to be easy to retrieve.” She stood with the beam passing into the rubble.

  “Nothing is,” Cody said. “You mark the spot and I’ll go after it.” He called down to Tyler. “Hey, buddy, are you ready to be saved?”

  “Please, please, please,” Tyler said.

  “I’ll be right back. I need for you to get with your mom and Meghan. And I’ll be right back.” He pulled off his scarf and tied it to a broken board to mark the spot.

  “Right under my foot,” Lisa said, shining the flashlight down in a space that looked too small for the chainsaw to fit.

  “How the hell did that happen?” Cody said, not expecting a response.

  “Want me to get the handsaw?”

  “Hurry. This is going to take too much time.”

  Lisa stood above the area where Tyler was and talked to him while Cody sawed through boards ten feet away in an effort to enlarge the hole so he could pull it out. Finally, he grabbed the handle and with some turning and twisting freed it. “Got it.”

  He joined Lisa. “Tyler, can you hear me?”

  “I’m scared, Uncle Cody.”

  “Don’t be scared. You need to be brave for your mom and sister. I want you to go to them and make sure none of the wood I’m cutting falls on them, okay?”

  Cody had Lisa hold the flashlight as he cut through a log and another rough-hewn square timber. Each cut he made dropped down to a section of flooring about eight feet below, hitting with a bang. He made the last cut, turned off the saw and called to Tyler. “I’m coming down, buddy. I don’t want to drop on you so get out of the way.”

  He didn’t get a response. He traded the chainsaw for the flashlight Lisa was holding. He started down through the jumbled mess working his body around jagged pieces of broken lumber and twisted metal. Finally, he dropped to the floor. He could tell he was on the second floor of the lodge because he was standing on planking. He shined the light around and saw Tyler huddled close to his mom who was curled up on the floor with Meghan in
her arms. He knelt down beside her and checked for a pulse. She felt cold, but had a slow pulse. He knew she was suffering from hypothermia and need to get warmed up. He removed his parka and wrapped it around her. He grabbed Tyler. “You did a good job. I’m so proud of you. I need you to do one more thing. Remember Lisa? She’s waiting up there. I’m going to lift you up and you need to climb up to her. Can you do that?”

  Tyler nodded. “Are we going to die?”

  “We’re going to be all right. You just climb up to Lisa and I’m going to see if I can get your mother and Meghan to join you.”

  Cody lifted Tyler. “Tyler’s coming up.”

  “I’m ready,” Lisa said.

  Cody watched as Tyler climbed like a monkey through the opening. He then went to Meghan and knelt down by her. “Meghan, I need for you to climb up like Tyler did. Can you do that?”

  “I want to stay with mommy.”

  “Mommy and I will join you, but you need to go first. We’re going to get everyone to a warm place.” He reached out and took her in his arms. He held her head close to his and whispered. “Remember when you and Tyler climbed a tree and your mother got so mad at you?”

  Meghan laughed.

  “This time it’s okay,” Cody said. “See that opening. Just climb toward the light. Lisa is waiting for you. I’m going to lift you up.” He raised her up and she scrambled through the opening faster than Tyler had. He then went to Wendy. She had wrapped a bedsheet and blankets around her and the kids, but didn’t have a coat. He wondered where they were. From what he could see they were in their bedroom, but the bed was gone and only a small part of the room remained. He started rubbing Wendy’s arms and patted her face. “Wendy, can you hear me?” He shined the light on her face.

  “Where’s Meghan?” Wendy asked. She could hardly speak through the chattering of her teeth.

  Cody moved the light. “It’s me, Cody.”

  “I know I’m not dead,” Wendy said. “or I’m in Hell.” She tried to move.

  “You haven’t lost your sense of humor. The kids are already out. I need you to climb up through the roof. You’ve been in an earthquake.”

  “You were always one to state the obvious,” Wendy said, moving to sit up.

  “Slip on my coat,” Cody said. “I’ll lift you to get you started.” He helped her to her feet and held the parka for her. The sleeves hung six inches past her hands. He zipped up the coat and tied the drawstring tightly around her waist. He slipped the sleeves up to her wrists and tightened the Velcro straps to keep them in place.

  “Are you ready?”

  “I think so.”

  “Your kids were troopers. They scrambled up like they were monkeys.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me. How are you going to get out?”

  “Don’t worry about me. I have a plan.” He crouched down. “Step on my shoulders and grab my hands.” He lifted her and watched as she picked her way out. He was still standing at the bottom when Lisa said. “How are you going to get up?”

  “Send down the chainsaw and get them back in the maintenance shed. See if there is a way to build a fire. They need to keep warm.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to try and cut my way through from the upstairs. Send down the saw and stop talking. I need to get to the others.”

  A minute later the chainsaw started to drop through the opening attached to the chain. He unhooked it. “I’ll see you out front.” Cody said. Without waiting for an answer, he pulled the cord on the saw and it burst into a loud roar.

  When Cody had searched the room, he had spotted a possible path that could lead back to the main room he had almost reached before. He hoped to cut his way to the others and then cut a way out from the ground floor. If not, they would have to climb back up through the mess.

  Lisa led Wendy and the kids back to the maintenance building. There was a corner office with a barrel heater with a chimney. It looked like it could burn wood, but on closer inspection she could see it was set up for fuel oil. She found a petcock, opened it and grabbed a match from a box on the desk. She tossed a match into the stove and watched as the flames started to rise. “Pull up a chair, we’ll have heat in a few minutes.”

  “I’ve never been so scared in my life,” Wendy said. “How did you and Cody get out? Do you know where Mom and Dad are? Oh, listen to me. Are your parents okay?”

  Lisa was glad to see Wendy was doing better. She was still shivering and her teeth were still chattering, but the color was coming back to her cheeks, Cody’s coat was helping a lot. Now she was worried about the kids. They had been in bed and had on PJs and were wrapped in a sheet and a blanket.

  Lisa removed her jacket and wrapped it around the kids. “Right after the quake, Cody crawled through the rubble in front of the building and made contact with Blake and our parents. They were in the main room close to the fireplace, but everyone was fine. That was over two hours ago. I hope they are still okay.” Without her parka she was already starting to shiver. She still had on a sweatshirt and mittens. She rubbed her arms. She removed a glove and tested to see if the stove was giving off any heat.

  Wendy grabbed the kids and held them close to her. “Oh my God, I completely forgot about Blake. We’ve been married eight years and I didn’t even think of him.”

  “It’s not like you haven’t had a lot to deal with,” Lisa said, trying to comfort her. “You made sure the kids were warm, risking your own life.”

  Wendy looked down at the oversized coat she was wearing. “My God, I took his coat. It’s a zillion degree below freezing and he doesn’t have a coat.”

  “I’m going to meet him out front when he cuts his way out. Once it warms up in here, you can give me his coat and I’ll take it to him.”

  “How are we going to get back to civilization?” Wendy asked.

  “Let’s take it one step at a time. Maybe we can stay here until someone shows up to rescue us.”

  “Yeah. They say stay put if you’re lost. I guess it applies.”

  “Right now, I’d say stay put if you are warm. I’ve never seen a place as cold as this.” As soon as the stove was putting out heat, Lisa got her coat back from the kids and went to the door that opened to the maintenance bay. “I’m going out and look around. There might be something that can help Cody.”

  She opened the door and a bitter cold draft nearly took her breath away. She quickly closed the door behind her. As she wandered around she spotted a jack and some rope. She set them in a spot where she could grab them later if they needed them. She cracked the door to the office and told Wendy she was going to move the tractor around front.

  ***

  Ten miles south of Mammoth

  Chase and Catherine watched from inside the snow taxi. In the beam of their headlights they watched Elliott crawl up the slope of the slide. He was maneuvering over uprooted trees and around boulders as large as the vehicle he was driving.

  Chase shook his head. “I can’t watch this. I told him we should turn around. He’s going to kill himself.”

  “You’re going to watch,” Catherine said. “If he needs help, you need to be there for him.”

  “This is stupid. We don’t even know if anyone needs us. We haven’t seen a soul since we left Mammoth.”

  “Just this mess should tell you enough,” Catherine argued. She turned back to the front windshield and saw Elliott nearly capsize as he ran his tracks over the broken stump of a pine tree. “Oh, my gosh, Elliott, be careful.”

  Elliott angled the snow-cat down the slope and back onto the road and stopped.

  “Piece of cake. Your turn,” Elliott said over the radio.

  “I don’t know,” Chase said. “You almost turned over.”

  “But I didn’t, did I?”

  “Come on, grow a pair,” Catherine said. “I’ve got my seatbelt on.”

  Chase checked the catch on his seatbelt. “This is the last time I do anything for Elliott. He owes me bigtime for this.”
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br />   “Quit talking and get on with it. These things aren’t that good on gas and we’ve set here for an hour. Are you waiting for summer?”

  Chase followed the same path Elliott had taken. He turned up the slope and turned again near the top to go over the stump. As he eased around the stump his tracks started to slide. He panicked and stepped on the gas causing the track on the downhill side to dig into the snow. As if in slow motion the snow-cat rolled over and over three times until it came to a rest at the bottom of the slide.

  When Chase saw the vehicle was setting upright and neither of them was hurt, he grabbed the radio and said, “Elliott, this is bullshit. I’m heading back.”

  “You just made it past the hard part. If you want to try that again, I want you to let Catherine out first.”

  Chase looked around. The windshield was badly cracked, but still in place. One of the side windows was out. One headlight was broken out. “What the hell. I’m letting Catherine out, but I’ll follow you.”

  “That’s the spirit. We get this trip over with, you can return to your life of leisure getting the locals drunk every night.”

  “Funny.” Chase glanced at Catherine, who couldn’t get the door open.

  “Catherine can’t get out. It looks like you’re going to finish the trip alone.”

  “Put her on.”

  Chase handed the mike to Catherine.

  “It’s me, Honey.”

  “He’s not holding you hostage, is he?”

  Catherine laughed. “I’m fine. If it’s okay with you, I’ll just keep Chase company.”

  “That’s my girl. I’ll keep you in my rearview.”

  “Roger that, over and out,” Catherine said, handing the mike back to Chase. “I always wanted to say that.”

  Chapter 20

  Old Faithful Lodge

  Using the chainsaw, Cody cut through a wall of knotty pine planks and found a young couple who had been crushed when a roof beam crashed down on their bed. He checked for any sign of life. Probably didn’t know what hit them, he thought. The reality of the situation hit him again and he shined the flashlight around searching for another way out. He was still on the second floor. Dead end, he thought. What’s keeping me from going down?