The Fire (Northwest Passage Book 4)

by John A. Heldt

  "You bought it for me," Sadie said. "Remember? You bought it right before you left for Montana."

  Way to start the evening, Kevin.

  "I'm sorry," Kevin said. "I guess the whacks on my head caused short-term memory loss."

  Andy laughed.

  "I think it's a lovely dress," Sarah said to Sadie like a supportive sister. "You're very lucky to have a friend who would buy you such a gift."

  Kevin laughed to himself as Sarah smiled at him and raised a brow. He could see that she was going to enjoy the evening as much as anyone.

  The waiter showed up a moment later and took their orders. Kevin and Andy requested beef dishes, Sarah a Cornish game hen, and Sadie a filet of halibut. She had developed a liking for the fish on Easter, when she had cooked for eleven – a number that had tormented Kevin in April like a specter in a Dickens novel.

  When the drinks came, Kevin reached for a glass of whiskey, a spirit of which he had become all too fond, and noted the facial expressions at his table. They ranged from alluring (Sarah) to wistful (Sadie) to blithe (Andy). Sensing that Andy might have other things on his mind, Kevin brought him into the conversation.

  "So where were you all day?" Kevin asked. "You cut it close getting here."

  "I was at the paper," Andy said. "I had to interview some old fart – sorry, ladies – who just moved here from Norfolk, Virginia. He's a Navy man who served on the Monitor and fought at Hampton Roads."

  "Why is he news?"

  "He's news because he's a prognosticator – or at least he claims to be. He has apparently predicted everything from the Panic of 1907 to the winner of last year's World Series. He also predicted the death of one Samuel Langhorne Clemens."

  Kevin smiled and moved his shoulders like he was doing a touchdown dance.

  "I did too."

  "Yes, you did," Andy said. He tilted his head. "Perhaps now you can explain how you knew Mark Twain was going to die. It happened just two days ago."

  "He said he was going out with Halley's comet, didn't he? I was just going with his instincts," Kevin said. "Perhaps you should take this up with Twain."

  Kevin brightened when he saw Sarah and Sadie laugh heartily. He had hoped for light moments like this and wanted to see more. So he pressed on.

  "Did your Navy Nostradamus offer any new predictions?"

  "He did," Andy replied. "He even gave me one for May. He said Edward VII will expire early next month."

  "He's right," Kevin said. "He will."

  Kevin grinned. He remembered learning in a college class that two important men had died during the comet's appearance in 1910 and that one was England's king.

  "Are you sure about that?" Andy asked.

  "Sure enough to wager a dinner."

  "Then I believe we have a bet."

  Kevin glanced at Sarah and saw both amusement and interest in her eyes. He wanted to impress her with additional predictions but decided to take a pass. He didn't need the scrutiny that the comments would invite. His life was complicated enough.

  "What else did this man say?" Kevin asked.

  "Well, among other things, he said that Taft will serve only one term and that an 'unsinkable' ocean liner will soon sink with tremendous loss of life," Andy answered. "He also said that another war is coming and that it will be a big one – much bigger than the war with Spain."

  Kevin stopped smiling. He didn't know this guy – the old fart who served on the Monitor – but he knew enough to conclude that he was the most prescient man on the planet.

  "He got particularly excited about naval matters," Andy continued. "He told me that the European powers are already building warships of monstrous size."

  Kevin looked at Andy and tried to digest everything he had heard. He took a sip of whiskey and pondered a follow-up question when an unlikely party spoke up.

  "He's right," Sadie said. "The British are about to launch a dreadnought with ten thirteen-and-a-half-inch guns and a 22,000-ton displacement."

  Kevin spit out his drink.

  "I'm sorry," Kevin said. He wiped his mouth with a cloth napkin. "They're going to what?"

  "They're going to launch a new class of ships, called Orions. The ships will go really fast too – at least twenty-one knots – but only if all their boilers are working."

  "Who told you that?"

  Sadie beamed.

  "Jane's did."

  "Who's Jane?" Sarah asked.

  Andy laughed.

  "Oh, Lord. This is too much!"

  Kevin looked at Sarah.

  "Jane's is short for Jane's Fighting Ships. It's a reference book on warships from around the world," he said. "A better question is: how did Sadie get her hands on it?"

  Sadie, still smiling, turned to Kevin.

  "I found it in Marcus Duvalier's private library. Maude has given me the run of the place and permission to read what I want."

  Andy leaned toward Sadie.

  "So why read about warships? Are there no novels on the shelves?"

  "There are," Sadie answered. "There are quite a few, in fact. But I've found Jane's more to my liking."

  "Why is that?" Sarah asked.

  "Well, for starters, I like numbers, and Jane's is filled with numbers. It lists the dimensions, displacement, speed, and range of hundreds of ships, among other things."

  "You like numbers?"

  Kevin smiled.

  "Oh, yeah, she likes numbers. Don't get me started on story problems."

  Andy chuckled.

  "My dinner companion is getting more interesting by the minute," Andy said. He finished his scotch. "So tell me, Sadie, do you think this new British dreadnought is a good thing or a bad thing?"

  Sadie brightened.

  "It's definitely a good thing."

  Kevin wanted to jump in with a question of his own but decided to hold off. He leaned back in his chair, smiled at Sadie, and enjoyed the rest of the show.

  "Why is it a good thing?" Andy inquired.

  "It's a good thing because the British need to protect themselves," Sadie said. "The Kaiser is building a navy. Worse yet, he's saber-rattling."

  "He's what?" Sarah asked.

  "He's rattling his sabers."

  Kevin stifled a laugh with his hand. He didn't know what awaited them at the theater, but he doubted that the actors and musicians could top Sadie Hawkins. She was entertainment gold.

  "Rattling his sabers?" Andy asked.

  "Yes," Sadie replied. "The Kaiser has been saying some unkind things. He told a London paper just last year that the English are mad. He said they're as 'mad as March hares.'"

  "That's pretty mad," Kevin said dryly.

  "It is," Sadie said. "I don't know why he's so surly. He should be nice to his family."

  "What do you mean by his 'family'?"

  "I mean the king is his uncle. That's another thing I've learned. All the royal houses of Europe are related to each other. The Kaiser is related not only to the King of England but also to the Tsar of Russia. He's squabbling with the tsar too. I don't think he likes him either."

  Kevin took a break from Sadie and glanced at Sarah. He saw a woman with a wide grin and lively eyes, a woman who seemed to be having a very good time.

  Sarah turned to Sadie.

  "What else have you learned in this wonderful library?"

  Sadie paused for a moment.

  "Well … I've learned a lot about different cultures and other parts of the world. Just yesterday I read about the Pygmies in National Geographic Magazine. The Pygmies are a very short people in Africa. They're shorter than Burke's basketball team."

  Kevin nearly bit through his lip.

  "They are highly advanced culturally and musically," Sadie continued, "but because they're short and defenseless, they've been mistreated and even put in zoos. I found their story very sad."

  "It does sound sad," Sarah said. She sipped some water. "You mentioned National Geographic. Do you like it?"

  Sadie nodded.

  "I can't
get enough of it."

  "I like it too," Sarah said. "I read it as often as I can. I love reading about interesting people and places. Are there other things in Marcus' collection?"

  Sadie lit up again.

  "Oh, yes. There are many things! There are magazines, novels, maps, and even something called the Encyclopedia Britannica. I really like that."

  Sarah smiled.

  "This library sounds impressive. Perhaps you can give me a tour someday."

  Kevin immediately turned to Sadie. He could only imagine how she would greet a request from a rival for a personal favor. To his surprise, she greeted the request with open arms.

  "I'd like to give you a tour, Sarah. I'd like that a lot," Sadie said. "I can even recommend some materials for your classes. There is so much to see."

  "Then let's explore the library tomorrow," Sarah said. "Let's do it right after church. I don't think Kevin would mind. Would you?"

  Kevin chuckled. He had feared that dinner might turn into a catfight. It had instead turned into a lovefest. He again praised himself for bringing Sadie along.

  "I wouldn't mind at all," Kevin said. He grinned. "I might even join you. I can't imagine a better time."

  CHAPTER 42: KEVIN

  The double date, the one thrown together Wednesday afternoon, ended at ten thirty, when Kevin and Sarah said good night to Andy and Sadie at the corner of Pearl and Sixth and watched them start back toward the Duvalier mansion. The single date, the one Kevin had anticipated for weeks, began at ten thirty-one.

  "Where would you like to go, Miss Thompson?"

  Sarah tightened her grip on his arm.

  "I want to go wherever the wind blows," she said.

  Kevin licked the tip of a finger and stuck it in the air.

  "That could be a problem," he said. "Right now the wind is decidedly fickle."

  Sarah smiled.

  "Let's just walk about town like the two wandering spirits we are."

  "That sounds good to me."

  From Pearl and Sixth, Kevin and Sarah went east toward the brewery, north toward two hotels, and finally west toward the school, the river, and the city park. For the first fifteen minutes, they talked about the performance at the theater and only the performance at the theater. That changed when they reached the mostly treeless park, sat atop a picnic table, and stared at a billion stars.

  "She's impressive," Sarah said.

  "Who's impressive?"

  Sarah smiled at Kevin and then looked away.

  "I thought we left the comedy at the theater."

  Kevin chuckled.

  "OK. She's impressive."

  Sarah adjusted a shawl that had begun to slide down her back. Though spring was well into its fifth week, it had yet to chase away the kind of crisp mountain air that made outerwear a necessity.

  "I admire what's Sadie's done."

  "What do you mean?" Kevin asked.

  "I admire how she's made the most of limited opportunities. Most people don't value knowledge like she does. They consider their education complete the minute they walk out of high school, if they wait even that long. She's different."

  "Yes, she's different."

  Kevin put his arm around Sarah and pulled her close.

  "There's something else I noticed," she said.

  "What's that?"

  Sarah looked at Kevin with thoughtful eyes.

  "She likes you."

  "Of course she likes me. Everyone likes me," Kevin said with a grin.

  "That's not true. I can think of at least of two or three people who don't like you."

  "Oh, come now. The men who beat me up were only expressing their affection."

  Sarah laughed.

  "I think we both agree you can do without that kind of affection."

  "You've got that right."

  Kevin smiled and pulled her even closer. For five minutes, the two did nothing but look at the spectacular sky, where the billion stars competed with a shimmering moon and a once-in-a-lifetime comet that was now clearly visible to the naked eye.

  "Kevin?"

  "Yes, Sarah."

  "Do you like her?"

  Kevin frowned.

  "I wouldn't blame you if you did," Sarah said. "She's gorgeous, not to mention charming and funny and intelligent."

  Kevin looked away for a moment and pondered how best to proceed. He figured that Sarah would find Sadie endearing and maybe even intriguing, but he never imagined that she would find her threatening. Did Sarah really believe she wasn't just as worthy of his attention and affection? Maybe she did.

  When Kevin returned to Sarah and looked into her eyes, he saw more fear than fight. He saw not a confident colleague but rather a doubtful and insecure young woman who had probably been burned by more men than he could count on one hand. It was time to take charge.

  "Sarah, I want you to look up."

  "OK."

  "What do you see, besides a billion stars?"

  She smiled softly at Kevin before returning to the sky.

  "I see the comet – and the moon, of course."

  Kevin pointed to the newsmaker high above their heads.

  "Sadie is like our friend up there. She's bright, beautiful, and interesting. She's hard to ignore because she's someone I see every day. She's someone I'll never forget. But like that comet, she'll be gone someday. She'll still be bright, beautiful, and interesting, but she'll be bright, beautiful, and interesting for someone else. She's fleeting."

  Kevin put a hand on Sarah's face.

  "You're not fleeting, or at least I hope you're not. I want you to be that instead."

  He pointed to the moon.

  "I want you to be someone I can see and count on and appreciate tomorrow and the next day and the next. I want you to be the comforting light that never goes away."

  When Kevin looked back at Sarah, he expected to see a nod and saw one. He didn't expect to see a woman with tears streaming down her cheeks, but he saw that too.

  Deciding that the time for talk had passed, he put both hands on her face and kissed her softly at first and then more forcefully. He kissed her with passion and feeling, the way he should have done earlier but was glad to do now.

  When he stopped, he leaned back, wrapped Sarah more tightly in his arms, and took another look at one of the most incredible skies he had ever seen. The moon was nearly full now. In less than twenty-four hours it would complete its ancient cycle, just as it would in May, June, and July. It would once again open a door leading to a time Kevin still called home.

  Kevin planned to walk through that door. He might not do it on May 24 or June 22 or even July 22, but he would do it and do it soon. He would pick a night just like this and walk through Asa Johnson's chamber of stones. He would do it just as he had done it two times before, but with one critical difference. He wouldn't do it alone.

  CHAPTER 43: KEVIN

  Monday, April 25, 1910

  For the first time in two months, Kevin had to work his way through a crowd to find a place to sit in his home away from home. More than fifty people had packed into the Shooting Star, including about forty he had never seen before.

  "What's with the numbers?" he asked Andy. "Is it nickel draft night?"

  Andy shook his head.

  "There was a rockslide today that blocked the entrance to the Pennington Mine. The owners don't expect to have the mess cleared before Wednesday, so they turned the workers loose on the town. I don't know any of these blokes."

  "Did anyone get hurt?"

  "One guy broke his leg running away from a rock. As mine disasters go, this is as good as it gets. The only casualty was the bottom line. You can lose a lot of money in two days."

  Kevin sat at the small table in the corner of the tavern and took a closer look at the men who had crowded into the establishment. They were an interesting lot.

  He could tell from their worn clothes and faces that they knew the meaning of honest work. These men did the dangerous jobs that others wouldn't so that
the others could build mansions with marble sinks, cast-iron cornices, and terracotta facades.

  Kevin could also tell by what he heard that most were foreign-tongued, if not foreign-born. Scots, Welsh, and Irish mingled with Scandinavians, Danes, and Italians. The worker bees of Europe, it seemed, had found a new home in northern Idaho.

  "Is that where you've been all day?" Kevin asked.

  "No," Andy said. He sipped his beer. "I never left the office. I spent the afternoon talking to Bill and Ed."

  "Who are they?"

  "Bill Weigle is a Forest Service supervisor. Ed Pulaski is a ranger."

  Kevin searched his memory. He remembered the latter from Walt's Walking Tour. Pulaski had been more than a garden-variety ranger. He'd been a hero who had saved nearly forty men from certain death in the Great Fire by leading them into a tunnel.

  "What did you talk about?"

  "We mostly discussed the drought, the condition of the forests, and public attitudes. Bill and Ed are worried that no one seems concerned about the drought. They said we need awareness as much as rain."

  Kevin recalled that the inferno had started on August 20. That knowledge suddenly weighed heavily on his mind. He knew something that even Forest Service officials did not. He wondered whether he had a responsibility to tell them.

  He hadn't given the issue much thought because he hadn't expected to stay this long. When he had entered the portal the last time, he had expected to settle matters with Sadie and return to 2013. He hadn't expected to teach school or become involved with Sarah. He hadn't expected to be in a position to change the history of an entire community. Yet here he was.

  "What do you think?"

  "I think they're right. I think this whole bloody state would go up like a match if conditions were right. We need more people like those two. We need better stewards of the land."

  Kevin studied his friend and noticed a change. Andy didn't seem his usual jovial self. He seemed pessimistic, cynical, even defeatist. Perhaps the weight of the world he covered every day had finally pushed him into the ground. It was time to change the subject.

  "Did you enjoy yourself Saturday night?"

  "I did," Andy said. "I wasn't sure at first about that double date of yours. It felt too much like a mission of mercy. Then I asked: 'Who's the loser in all this?' It sure wasn't me. Sadie was wonderful company."