Firestorm

by Ronnie Dauber

  “Yeah. So we grab your Nana, get into your grandfather’s truck and drive to the hospital.”

  Meagan and I both agreed.

  “And where’s the hospital?”

  It had been a long time since we’d even gone into town when we visited here. We usually spent the entire vacation right at Nana’s and Grandpa’s so both Meagan and I had brain strain trying to remember where it was. And then I remembered.

  “Pembroke is the nearest city that has a hospital. Problem is, it’s about sixty miles away.”

  Ali grunted as he smirked at us.

  “Sixty miles? Well, maybe we should just use one of our cells when we get back and call for an ambulance. He needs attention right away and they’ll be able to give it to him. And if that doesn’t work, then we’ll just drive him to the hospital in his truck.”

  We had a positive plan and that gave me a lot of assurance inside that we would get Grandpa to the hospital, which in turn meant that we’d get out of this forest safely. It was at least five minutes later when we heard the rustling in the bushes on the other side of the stream and we knew it was Don and Brad returning. Meagan and Ali jumped to their feet and we got ready to continue on the journey.

  Brad was carrying Don once again and his face was flushed red as he ran frantically towards us.

  “Let’s go. Grab Grandpa and let’s get out of here now.”

  I was about to ask what happened but as he brushed my arm I knew why, and so did Meagan because she went as white as I know I did. Brad and Don both reeked of smoke.

  Chapter 14

  Decisions

  Meagan and Ali threw the backpacks onto their shoulders and then squatted to lift the front of the stretcher. Don was already on Brad’s back so we took the back end and lifted Grandpa at the same time, and then we took off at as fast as we dared along the forest trail.

  The smoke was rolling in at a steady pace behind us and the smell was following us just as quickly, adding even more fear to my already shaking body. I looked back just for a second to get glance at the smoky clouds that were rising above the trees in the distance. I’m not sure how far back it was but it really didn’t matter because I knew that it was moving easily as fast as we were.

  We made it to the fork in the path sooner than we expected and that was a relief, but then we were challenged with which path to take and that just added to the stress. We could take the one that ran along the water and through an open grassy terrain which meant we would be out of the direct path of the fire, but we weren’t familiar with it and had no way of knowing where it ended up. We stood there, each holding a corner of the stretcher as Ali pointed to the left.

  “If we take this it’ll lead us along the water’s edge and should take us to your grandfather’s dock, although to be honest, I don’t remember seeing a trail down by the dock when we were there. And this one takes us back into the forest where we came from so we kind of know it, but I’m not sure if we’ll be able to outrun the smoke that’s coming at it.”

  Brad huffed and shook his head.

  “I think we should take the path by the water and follow it as far as we can. If it doesn’t go to the dock then we can just make our own path up the terrain and back to the forest. We have to go in that direction at some point to get to the house, anyway.”

  Unfortunately, we were not that familiar with this forest and it made it a risky challenge that could mean disaster for us if we chose wrong. My insides were racing and I was almost at the point where I didn’t care which one we took, just as long as we kept going. That’s when I turned and looked behind us.

  “Oh, my gosh, look at it. The sky is covered in smoke and it’s headed along that path. I don’t think we should take the chance with Grandpa. We can’t outrun that. I think we should go along the water. At least there’s more rocks and less trees there and part of it is an open field.”

  Meagan tapped Ali’s arm and pointed to the water.

  “Yeah, I agree. I think we’ll do better with this path. But let’s decide quickly, okay guys?”

  Don began to bounce all over Brad’s back as he pointed anxiously to the water.

  “This way, James. Come on, Pete. We need to get to the boat and it’s down there waiting for us.”

  Ali and Brad were as anxious as we were to just keep going so seconds later we were headed towards the path that led down to the water. I didn’t really have any hopes of finding a boat down but we had to keep Don happy and cooperative so I agreed with him. We spent the next ten or so minutes trekking through the dry grass along the river bank as we headed back towards the house.

  My legs were coated in sweat and they stung from the weeds that scratched against them. The trail was narrow and uneven and every so often either Ali or Meagan would yell out, “Pothole.” We kept a steady pace in spite of it and moved quickly as we stepped over small rocks and bumps along the way. The river was on our left about fifty feet away and it was hard not to get caught up with the heavy clouds of smoke that covered the sky on the other side of it. Even more, it was difficult not to panic as the inferno poked through the smoke.

  The piercing sun rays seemed even hotter now than they did a few minutes earlier and they were burning our skin. We had taken off to find Grandpa so quickly that no one thought to bring sunscreen.

  “Meg, your arms and neck look really red from back here. I guess you’re going to need a good dousing of cream when we get back.”

  “Thanks for reminding me, Sarah. I was trying to forget how much my skin was burning and now I’m thinking of it again. But look at Ali. You’re going to really feel this in a while.”

  Ali smirked and said he’d get over it as he looked at the skies around us.

  “Have you guys noticed that the smell of smoke is getting stronger?”

  As I moved to glance behind me again, my eyes caught the heavy rolling clouds that were sweeping into the trees in the back right corner of us. My heart skipped a beat and I couldn’t help but wonder if the dream was simply an omen of things to come, and that we might not get out of this alive.

  Brad turned to look behind him as well and he groaned out loud.

  “It’s coming faster than we’re running. Looks like it’s covered the whole area we just came from. I’m glad we’re going this way.”

  We were practically running as we headed through the dry terrain but my heart was racing faster than my feet. The forest on the other side of the water was roaring like demeaning thunder, and getting louder and louder as the vicious flames were destroying everything in its path.

  Meagan turned her head slightly as she puffed out a few words.

  “That is so loud, it’s scary. It’s worse than the school band.”

  Ali turned his head slightly.

  “It’s kind of deafening, actually. I just hope it stays over there long enough for us to get out of here. Watch out for these small boulders. Maybe we should slow down a bit until we get over them.”

  We slowed right down to a crawl because the ground was so uneven that we had to step high in many places to get over the jagged rocks that protruded out of the ground. We made it back onto a more level path some minutes later and were able to pick up a bit of speed again.

  I glanced over my shoulder to the other side of Brad and I was startled to see that the smoke was right on our heels. I knew that the fire wasn’t far behind. The challenge was even greater than I imagined because we truly had to outrun the smoke to get back to the house.

  We continued along the path for several more minutes, and each tormenting step we took felt as if we were doing it in slow motion. And that’s when I looked ahead and realized our challenge had only just begun.

  “The path stops here? Are you kidding?”

  We stopped and laid Grandpa gently onto the ground. I’d been so caught up with the fear of the smoke that I hadn’t really been paying any attention to him. He was hot, not just from the heat but with a fever, and we had nothing that could cool him down.

  “Can
we get to the water at all? Maybe we could get some cold water on him to cool him down?”

  Meagan touched his face gently and spoke quietly.

  “Well, I know the cold water might cool him down a bit, but there’s no time. Grandpa, I’m so sorry, but we have to focus on getting out of here.”

  Ali patted Meagan’s shoulder as he looked at the skies all around us.

  “Look, I know that if the water was close by it wouldn’t be a problem, but we have to climb down there to get it and then climb back up and somehow get back up the hill to that path. I don’t think the smoke will give us that much time.”

  We both smiled at Ali and Meagan brushed a long strand of hair from her face.

  “I know. It’s not even an option. We have to get out of here now.”

  Brad shook his head and grunted.

  “That’s for sure. Look at the smoke over there. If we had taken that route it would be on us by now. We’re just going to have to somehow climb up that rocky slope. We don’t really have any other choice.”

  I knew he was right but it was going to be a great challenge for us. Don slid off Brad’s back and pointed to water. He began to jump around anxiously as he shouted at us.

  “We need to get down there to the water where the boat is. It’s the only way of getting out of the enemy’s path. I’m telling ya, if we go up that hill those bombers will fly up it behind us and they’ll beat us to the top.”

  Ali put his hands on Don’s shoulders to quieten him down.

  “Okay, okay. We’ll get to the water, but right now we have to get up that slope. Now, can you walk on your own? Because it’s going to be too much to have one of us carry you.”

  Don pulled away from Ali and shook his head.

  “No, you can’t go up that hill. They are fast and they’ll beat you to the top. We have to go down to the water and get into the boat.”

  Ali clenched his jaw and put his hands on his hips.

  “Okay, I’ve about had it with this game. We’re going to all die if we don’t get out of here and I’m tired of listening to this guy’s rerun of the Second World War. Now, Don is going to have to walk and we’re going to have to be very careful so we don’t bump your grandpa or lose control of carrying him, unless….”

  Ali stopped talking for a second and Brad stepped closer to him.

  “Unless what?”

  “Unless we can get around that side on the left, there. Come on, Brad, let’s check it out.”

  A second later they took off towards the edge of the terrain that stood between the rocky slope we were about to climb and the water. Meagan held onto the rope so we wouldn’t lose Don and then we sat beside Grandpa and tried to tell him that we’d be home soon.

  The guys returned a minute later and Brad motioned for us to get ready to move.

  “It’s narrow and uneven but it’s a better way to go. And by the looks of that smoke, it’s the only way to go. It takes us down towards the water instead of around it.”

  Don grabbed Brad’s arm and tapped his hand.

  “Yes, we have to get to the boat. Those bombers go faster up a hill than we do but they don’t go down as fast so we’ll make it to the boat before they get to us.”

  Don was probably the most irritating man I’d ever met and his constant reference to the bombers was getting to all of us. But as he talked anxiously about the path, Meagan gasped and her face flushed red.

  “He’s right. Oh, my gosh, he’s so right. Remember that show I told you about, the one about the forest fires? Well, they said that smoke and fire travel fast uphill but slow downhill. Wow! He’s talking about bombers and yet he’s giving us the advice at the same time. That’s creepy.”

  Icy chills shot up and down my spine as she talked.

  “That IS creepy.”

  Brad and Ali picked the stretcher up and moved it around in their hands until they were comfortable. Ali said it would be safer if only two people carried it along the narrow path and that we should follow behind. Meagan was holding Don’s rope so she wound it a bit tighter and nodded for the guys to set out.

  The sound of the fire across the water was deafening and the smell of smoke behind us was almost suffocating, but we edged our way slowly in spite of it. I was glad that the guys were carrying Grandpa because my legs were shaking so badly that I was terrified of losing my balance and causing him to fall off the cliff.

  The ledge that we were crossing was only about twenty or thirty feet long but it was also only about four feet wide for the first bit and then it opened to about six feet wide along the way. The first few steps were tedious but sure and then just as chance would have it, Grandpa began to squirm around as he groaned loudly. I was worried that he’d cause the guys to lose their balance and tumble the fifty feet down the rocky bank to the river below.

  We stopped several times for the guys to get their footing because it was difficult for Brad to see the ground through the rugged branches of the stretcher. Don surprised us all by walking calmly and carefully as he followed Brad and I kept praying that he wouldn’t change until we got to the clearing on the other side of this cliff. I was at the tail end and I took advantage of that by looking all around at the smoke and fire and scaring myself to tears.

  But Brad’s sudden shouting to Ali brought me back to reality.

  “Ali, hold your left side up a bit. Come on, he’s moving around too much. Left side up. Okay, okay. That’s better. Keep it up until I tell you to let it down.”

  “You got it, man. I can feel him jerking around but I can’t see him. We’re almost there. Hold on.”

  “Yeah, he’s just in a lot of pain, that’s all, but gees, of all the places to do it.”

  Brad’s anxious voice quickly calmed down as they stepped onto to the wider section of the path, and that’s when I stepped onto the narrow part. I had such a chilling feeling across my neck because where I normally wouldn’t look down, I had to look down because the path was so uneven and I had to watch my every step.

  The wall to the slope on the right of us was about six feet high at the start but got higher as we slanted downwards. I was able to hold on to some stones and roots that protruded out from it and that gave me the stability to get across the narrow passage.

  A few minutes later we were all on the plateau on the far side of the path and I felt as if a mighty load had been lifted from my shoulders. We kept walking for about five minutes until the path opened up more and that’s when we stopped to give all of our shaking legs a rest.

  Don stood up and stared behind us with his hands on his hips.

  “They’re coming. They won’t be long and they’ll come shooting over that hill. We have to get down to the boat.”

  Brad was sitting beside me massaging his right arm as he watched Don out of the corner of his eye.

  “He’s really something. I’ve never believed in omens but this guy could change all that.”

  I wasn’t sure if Brad was serious or being sarcastic.

  “You think Don was sent here to guide us?”

  Meagan was sitting on a broken tree branch a few feet away and stopped rubbing her legs as she looked at me strangely.

  “He’s been right about everything so far. Think about it.”

  Meagan stopped talking and screamed as a loud crack startled all of us. We all jumped to our feet and I gasped so loud that I scared myself.

  “My god, the fire is coming up that hill. We’d be burned if we stayed on it.”

  Don started jumping around and carrying on about how we had to get a move on before the bombers got to the other side of the hill. He was looking back and his voice was loud and anxious as he kept yelling for us to move. The fear in his voice sent goose bumps shivering up and down my arms. We each grabbed onto a corner of the stretcher again and with Don in between Brad and me, and trekked along the edge of the water that sloped downwards. The cracking of the fire beside us was enough incentive to make us move as fast as our legs could possibly go.

  But a
fter a couple of minutes the terrain ended and the only choices we had were to climb the rocky slope that would put us back in the path of the oncoming inferno or dive into the water below and swim our way home.

  Chapter 15

  Premonition

  We had only seconds to decide which path we should take and both of them bordered on nerve racking. Grandpa was stirring and groaning a lot now and his leg was more swollen and redder than it was a few minutes before. He was reaching aimlessly for his wounded leg as he rolled his head back and forth, and I was worried that the poisons from the infection in his leg might go through his body and send him into septic shock. I felt so sorry for him and it was really difficult to ignore him but I had to.

  I had to look away and focus on the urgent problem at hand because we had only minutes to find a way out of this forest and get into a safety zone. That in itself was a challenge as everything around us reminded me that we were now racing against time as the smoke and fire closed in on us.

  The bellowing resonance of the inferno across the water echoed in my ears, and as my eyes glided towards it I couldn’t find a single spot that wasn’t engulfed with the fire. The airwaves were pierced with sharp cracks of destruction that shot through the heavy clouds of smoke as it hung heavily over the water and slowly rolled towards us.

  Ali began pacing as his eyes bounced from the skies around us to the paths ahead of us.

  “Okay, we have to work fast and I don’t really think we have much choice here. That hill takes us back to the house but it’s in the direct path of the fire, and with the wind that’s picked up, it’ll over take us before we get to the top. That leaves us with going by the water but it’s too much of a drop and I’m not sure how to get him down there. But, we have to get down there because from what I see I think the water is going to be our only way of escape.”

  The whole time Ali was talking Brad was leaning over the edge of the river ledge trying to see down the grassy slope that was spread ahead of us between the rocky wall and the river.