“Okay,” Stefan said. Better her than him.
Lowering Jeremy was much easier than it had been to bring him up. It only seemed to take a few minutes.
“It feels like he’s at the bottom,” Raine said. “I don’t feel any more weight on the rope.”
“Go look and I’ll keep hold,” Stefan said.
Jeremy shouted something but Stefan couldn’t understand.
“He’s clear and he wants you to lift the cable back up.”
Stefan hauled the harness back up as fast as he could. “Let’s go get Cecil,” he said, hoping the man would be strong enough to walk. When they got back to the shelter it was clear Cecil was too weak. He could barely lift his head.
“Let’s just push him on the air bags,” Raine suggested. “The ground is sloped down enough to get him to the edge of the cliff, and if we’re walking beside it holding on, it won’t go too fast.”
They both tried to explain what they were doing, but Cecil either didn’t understand or didn’t care. He just kept closing his eyes. Stefan took apart a section of the shelter so they could just push the mattress right out. Kep jumped on and lay down next to Cecil like it was the most normal thing in the world to be riding around on an air mattress. Phoebe joined them, watching Kep but making no move to get on herself. The mattress slid easily over the snow, and the movement or being out in the cold air roused Cecil some. He looked more alert and, once they were next to the cliff, even had enough strength to sit up so they could help him into the harness once they were next to the cliff.
Stefan still couldn’t get him to say anything. It was as if the old man was listening to someone or something inside him, too occupied to pay attention to much of the outside world. Once he was in the harness, Raine wrapped a skin around him and tied it.
“It will help protect him from scraping against the rocks,” she said, “and help keep him warm at the bottom.”
It was harder to keep a grip when they lowered Cecil, and Stefan felt the pain in his rib as he tried to keep the rope feeding out at a slow pace. He held his breath until he felt the tension on the cord rope disappear. “He’s at the bottom!” Raine said. “I’ll tell you when he’s clear. I hope Jeremy can help him out. Cecil’s trying to stand up, but he’s having trouble. He’s leaning on Jeremy. Oh no!”
“What happened?”
“They both fell, but Jeremy is helping him. Now they’re just sitting. Oh good, Jeremy is rewrapping the skin around him. It had come lose. Bring the harness up!”
When the harness was back at the top, Raine asked, “What about the wolves?”
Boris had joined them too, and both wolves were watching them expectantly, as if all their activity might result in the appearance of food.
“I don’t think the wolves are going to let us fasten harnesses on them and lower them down,” Stefan said. “We’re going to have to leave them here and try to get help as fast as we can.” He couldn’t see any other choice except to leave them behind.
“Let’s get the skimmer down, so Cecil can get in it.” They followed the same plan as they had with Cecil, throwing the end of the cable over the branch of the tree to help them lower the prop. It went down easily for the first few feet, but then they heard it bump against the face of the cliff. There was a distinct cracking sound as it hit.
“I don’t think it’s going to hold together,” Raine said. “The cliff is too jagged, and we can’t swing it out far enough away to stay clear.”
“I know, let’s just keep going though. Maybe it won’t be in too bad of shape once we get it to the bottom.”
They let out another few feet and then Jeremy yelled something. All of a sudden there was no more weight on the rope. When they looked over, they could see why. The skimmer had slid right out of one end of the tarp and fallen to the ground, splitting into pieces, like a broken egg.
“Great,” Raine said. “We’ll have to try the other skimmer and hope it doesn’t fall or hit too hard. We can run more cables around it.”
Stefan hauled the tarp back up. “No, it will take too long. I have a better idea. We need to get the other stunt mattress.”
“I’m not using an air bag to sled down the lower part of the mountain. It was fine to use one to slide Cecil over with us holding onto it and walking alongside. But there’s no way to steer sitting on it. Even though the lower part of the mountain isn’t as steep as a ski slope, it’s a lot steeper than the parking lot.” Raine looked at him as if he had gone crazy.
“We’re not using the mattresses as sleds. We’re going to use them to do a skimmer drop, just like an egg drop in school.”
“You’ve really lost me. None of my tutors ever did an egg drop.”
“I’ll explain while we get the other one.” She hesitated but then followed him as he jogged toward the shelter, Stefan talking as fast as he could. “Everybody does it in science class. You get an egg, a raw one, and you have to figure out the best way to protect it when you drop it from a high place. The ones with air insulating them are always the ones that make it. The others usually just end up a broken mess.”
“I still don’t get it.”
“We’re wrapping the skimmer up in the stunt mattresses to protect it. We’ll tie it to the end of the rope instead of the tarp, and then when it goes over the cliff, it won’t break if it falls or bumps on a rock. Just like a giant egg drop. Wait, we need something else.” He detoured back to the skimmer trailers, picking up the discarded bungee cords. “We’ll use these to fasten the mattresses around it.”
Raine shook her head like she didn’t believe him, but she didn’t argue; so as long as she kept going along with the plan, it didn’t matter.
They dragged the mattress across the snow to the cliff edge and lifted the skimmer on it. When they laid the other mattress on top of the skimmer, Raine said, “Skimmer sandwich.”
“I’d rather have a real sandwich,” he muttered, handing Raine one end of the bungee cord. “I think this is going to work. We just have to get it fastened to the end of the cord rope.”
“Uh-oh,” Raine said. “There’s smoke coming from the prop trailer.”
Chapter 20
Hunted
As Stefan turned to look, a tremendous boom sounded and the prop trailer exploded, sending bits of metal and flaming debris into the air.
The boom echoed back from the cliffs. This time when the rumbling started up the mountain, he knew what it was.
“Is that what I think it is?” Raine whispered. They looked at each other in horror.
“Help me push the skimmer over!” Stefan yelled.
“But it’s not attached to the rope!”
“We don’t have time. Just help me push!”
It took only seconds to slide the skimmer off the cliff. It sailed out and then down, but Stefan didn’t wait to see it land. The rumbling had turned to a roar.
“Go, go, go!” he yelled. “Get down the rope! I’ll be right behind you.”
“Where’s Kep?” Raine screamed.
Stefan looked behind him and saw the little dog crouched on one side of the tree. “Go!” he yelled. “I’ve got him!” Picking up the dog, he unzipped his coat far enough to put the animal down inside against his chest and then zipped it up again, hoping Kep wouldn’t squirm too much and fall out.
When Raine saw what he was doing she grabbed the cord and started to slide down. “Stefan, we forgot the cooler lids and the tape!”
Stefan reached behind him and flung everything he could pick up over the edge. Grabbing hold of the rope, he let himself go over the edge, looking back toward the remains of the lodge to see a colossal mass of snow hurtling toward him. He watched, paralyzed, and then he felt Kep struggling to get out of his coat. He forced himself to slide as he fast as he could, trying at the same time to see how far Raine was below him, not wanting to slam into her. He was amazed to see Boris and Phoebe making their way down the cliff next to him like mountain goats, leaping from one ledge to the next and sliding where there were no ledges.<
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The avalanche surged over the side of the cliff, smashing into the tree that held the rope. The tree tipped like it was being uprooted, and Stefan dropped down, nearly losing his grip as the snow from above pelted him. He saw Raine at the bottom, wading through the snow toward Cecil and Jeremy. Then the tree gave way and Stefan fell the last few feet, the pain in his ribs slicing through him.
He must have passed out because when he opened his eyes, Raine’s face was above his and he could feel her trying to pull him to his feet.
“Stefan, wake up! Are you hurt?”
There was no real reason to answer, because he thought he’d forgotten what it felt like not to hurt. He struggled to his feet, trying to brush the snow off. Boris came up and pushed his nose into Stefan’s hand.
“Hi boy,” Stefan said, too weary to pet the animal. The wolf didn’t look any worse for wear from his trip down the cliff. He realized he didn’t see or feel Kep in his jacket, but then he spotted the dog over next to Cecil and Phoebe.
“That was very scary.” Raine’s face was pale. “I’m really sorry I was so stupid about the pyrotechnics. You had me worried there for a minute. You were out cold.”
“Cold is a good word for it,” Stefan said. “Why didn’t the avalanche bury me?”
“You were lucky; the main part of it missed you. You were even luckier the tree missed you.” She pointed at the evergreen, the remains of it sunk in the snow nearby. “Do you think you can move? Jeremy already has the mattresses off the skimmer, but we’re going to need your help to get Cecil in,” Raine said. “Jeremy told me you already explained to him how it was going to work.”
Stefan tried and failed to force himself to move. Maybe he’d just stay there and send everyone else off for help. He could just lie back in the snow and close his eyes.
“Stefan, are you sure you are okay?” Raine took hold of his jacket. “We really need to get Cecil out of here.”
When he looked over at the old man, the sight of the pain on Cecil’s pale face shocked him back into what had to be done.
“We need to open this up,” Stefan moved over to the skimmer and unhooked the latch, pulling it back. “We’ll get Cecil in first.”
“We need to put Kep in too,” Raine said. “There’s no way he can follow us in all this snow.”
“We can put him on Cecil’s lap,” Jeremy said. He went over to the mattress where Kep lay and picked up the dog.
Stefan hoped the plan wasn’t too crazy. The skimmer might be too heavy with both Cecil and Jeremy inside. It might not slide on the surface of the snow at all.
They helped Cecil in, practically lifting him up over the edge. Jeremy put Kep inside and then climbed in himself. Kep licked Cecil’s face and the man opened his eyes. Stefan was glad to see there was no confusion in Cecil’s eyes, only pain.
“If all the world’s a stage, why don’t we have an audience for this little adventure?” Cecil asked.
“You will, Cecil,” Raine said. “Think of all the interviews you are going to do. After this, everyone will be clamoring for your story. It will make a great chapter in your memoirs.”
The old man closed his eyes again and laid his head back.
“They need to get going,” Stefan said. “Jeremy, don’t let yourself pick up very much speed. The more you turn back and forth, the slower you will go, and the better control you’ll have. We’re going to give you a push. Are you sure you understand how to steer?”
“I think,” Jeremy said, “so I want to try it.” Only a gentle shove was necessary. Jeremy was off down the hill going really, really fast. Phoebe chased after the skimmer, barking.
“Steer!” Stefan yelled. “Turn! Slow down!”
Jeremy pushed down on one of the tube weapons, sending up a plume of snow. The vehicle turned just like it was supposed to. Now Stefan was glad there was so much snow. The skimmer would have gotten out of control on a slope without much powder. He watched until he saw Jeremy make the next turn. Even if he and Raine couldn’t manage to snowboard, Jeremy would at least be able to find someone to help Cecil.
“That means we should go too,” Raine said, picking up the cooler lids. “Let me tape your feet on.” Raine had already figured out which way to wrap, and within a minute Stefan was fastened on. He tried to stand and immediately fell down.
“They aren’t the greatest but I think they’re going to work,” Raine said, finishing hers. She got to her feet and slid a few yards down the hill, twisting around to look back up at Stefan.
Stefan got back up and slid a few more feet, trying to get a feel for how to balance. He fell down again. This had been a stupid idea.
“I’m going ahead,” Raine said. “Jeremy’s stopped partway down. I don’t know if he’s waiting for us or there’s a problem, so I’m going to catch up with them. Are you okay?”
“Fine,” Stefan said, irritated at himself. “Tell him not to wait for us.” Raine took off, and even though she wobbled a bit at the start, she picked up a smooth motion, trailing after the skimmer effortlessly. She hadn’t been exaggerating when she said she knew how to snowboard.
Stefan tried again and managed to travel a little ways before he fell. He got back up. Boris loped beside him, sticking close, either because the wolf realized he was hopeless at cooler-lid boarding or the wolf was just too worn out to dash around like he normally did.
It wasn’t impossible to make the lid do what he wanted, but Stefan fell several more times. He was concentrating so hard on his balance he had no warning. One minute it was just him and Boris and the sound of the lid on the snow. Then a snarling mass of gray fur came out of nowhere, lunging at Boris, knocking him into Stefan. Stefan lost his balance and fell, sliding down the hill. Boris rolled and then leaped to his feet. Both wolves flew at each other, twisting and biting, savage noises coming from their throats. The white-eyed wolf tried to get at Boris’s neck, but Boris turned just in time, and the wolf caught him on the shoulder instead. The fangs sank in and Boris gave a howl of pain.
Stefan pushed off his boots, got to his feet and picked up the lid, putting it in front of him like a shield. He screamed at the white-eyed wolf, trying to distract it.
Another wolf, a black one, exploded from the trees and leaped at the white-eyed wolf, shoving it away from Boris, biting and snapping at it in a frenzy. It was Natasha. Stefan had never imagined such fury in an animal, and he didn’t know how the white-eyed wolf could continue to fight for long. Suddenly the white-eyed wolf dropped to the ground and Natasha leaped at it. When she was almost on it, the white-eyed wolf vaulted upward, catching her by the throat.
She gave one high-pitched yelp and then fell to the ground, unmoving, the blood pouring from a gaping wound in her neck. The white-eyed wolf, its sides heaving, turned back to Boris, who was struggling to get up. Stefan ran forward, putting himself between the two wolves. They circled each other, Stefan holding the shield in front of him, never letting the wolf get a clear shot at Boris. His bootless feet were freezing and he knew he couldn’t keep moving forever. He just had to hope the wolf would give up. It took a step closer and Stefan fell back, nearly stepping on Boris.
He heard weird screeches and whooping noises, and when he turned his head enough to see, he couldn’t believe it. Jeremy and Raine were running toward him, lit flares held high in their hands, yelling what sounded like war cries.
The white-eyed wolf snapped once in their direction, and then he turned and bolted off into the trees. Boris limped over to Natasha and lay down beside her, licking her face. Natasha’s eyes were wide open, staring into nothing. Stefan knew she was dead.
He sank down into the snow, closed his own eyes and then opened them again. He thought he heard more rumbling. If it was another avalanche, he knew he couldn’t go any farther. Raine yelled and pointed down the hill. Down the mountain, in the distance, a fleet of snowmobiles roared toward them.
Raine and Jeremy jumped up and down waving their flares as Stefan watched, too exhausted to move. His first t
hought was to wonder where they’d gotten the flares, and then he remembered Raine saying she’d found some in the prop trailer. He hadn’t realized she’d taken some with her.
The snowmobiles reached the skimmer first and encircled it. Some of the people on them got off and hurried to the open canopy. Stefan could see Cecil raising one arm and he felt relieved the man was still conscious. That had to be a good sign. Cecil waved his hand in their direction and soon some of the snowmobiles were moving again. Stefan thought he spotted someone with pink hair, but he couldn’t tell if it was just a person in a pink hat or if it was really Heather.
Hans was on one of the first ones to reach them, riding behind a man in some sort of official-looking snow gear. As soon as the snowmobile came to a halt, the wolf trainer leaped from it and stumbled to where Natasha lay, falling to the ground and burying his face in her fur. Boris nudged in next to him and the man put one arm around the wolf, drawing him in close.
Mark was right behind Hans. He swept Raine and Jeremy up in a giant hug, all of them talking at the same time. Within seconds there were people everywhere, most of them unfamiliar to Stefan and speaking something other than English.
Stefan closed his eyes again but opened them when he heard Heather’s voice. “Stefan, are you okay?” He opened his eyes to see his aunt reaching for him like she was going to try to hug him. “Your mom is going to have a cow when she hears about this, right after she kills me for leaving you alone. Tell me you’re okay.”
“Heather, I’m good,” he said, holding up his hand to stave her off. “I’ve just got a rib that isn’t so good, so let’s save the hugs, okay? Wow, am I glad to see you. How’d you find out we were in trouble?”
Mark appeared next to her before she could answer, Raine and Jeremy on either side of him. “That’s quite a tale,” the director said. “The cook had her husband bring her into the village because she cut herself and needed stitches on her hand. We heard a very strange tale about hungry wolves roaming the lodge. One of them came into the kitchen while she was prepping food for breakfast and frightened her so much she cut her arm with a knife.”
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