Wildfire Run (14 page)

Luke pulled on the
rope so it started to swing, and when it came close to the trunk he bent his knees, using the tree to push himself forward. He jumped out as far as he could, just clearing the fire as it moved forward, not in a smooth line but more like water flowing in rivulets. Sparks landed on his hair and he smelled it singeing. He picked a path and ran, slapping at his clothes as sparks hit.

When he reached the fence, he bent down to scramble up it, jerking his hand away when he felt the metal. The fence was hot now. The soles of his sneakers stuck as he made his way up the fence and he knew they were melting. At the top,
he leaped down, falling to his knees.

Everyone but Callie was in the cart. Adam, conscious again, was in the front passenger seat. He had one arm wrapped around one of the roof supports. Theo sat in the tiny back cargo area, holding both Comet and Tocho, filling up the whole space. Luke looked behind him. The fire rose over the fence like an enormous ogre rising up to get them.

“I'm going to hang on to the side,” Callie yelled. “Let's go!”

Luke jumped in the driver's seat and pushed on the pedal. They jolted down the hill, Luke trying hard to keep the cart from tipping over. They hit a rock and Callie swung out and almost lost her grip, but Luke reached his arm out and caught her, feeling a wave of fear at the thought of her falling.

They continued on down the hill, weaving among the trees. Luke had never been in this part of the park before. It was rough and uneven, without any signs of a hiking trail. A large stand of pines came up in front of them, and Luke turned the cart to the left, trying to go around. The smoke was so thick he couldn't see more than a few feet in front of them. He swallowed
and looked ahead, trying to push the panic down. In the thick smoke, the fire was an eerie reddish glow, cackling like a witch gone crazy. The smoke swirled around, patches of darker smoke wavering like ghostly figures, or maybe real ones ready to come for him.

Comet whimpered, and without thinking Luke reached back to pet him. Comet licked his hand.

The fear broke then, leaving only rage behind, rage at being afraid. Luke was sick of the fear, sick of it leaching the very breath out of him and dragging him down, as if he were being sucked into a black hole. He wasn't going to let it.

“We'll be okay,” Luke said. “We'll be okay.” He headed straight downhill.

“Luke, I'm scared,” Callie whispered.

“Just a few more minutes,” he said. “We'll be okay.”

They reached a road, but it was running parallel to the fire. The way to the south looked clear for a short distance, but he didn't know if the road curved back toward Camp David. The flames were visible above the trees, leaping high into the sky. He was ready to drive across the road and plunge the cart into the forest on the other side when Callie yelled, “I see a helicopter.” Luke stopped
the cart and leaned out. Callie was pointing to the south. Luke saw the outline but couldn't hear the engine over the roaring fire. Taking a chance, Luke turned the cart in the direction of the helicopter. “We'll follow the road to the south and see if it buys us some time. Hold on.” He floored the pedal and took off down the road, driving until the helicopter was almost on top of them.

“Everybody out,” he said, stopping the cart and leaping out. “Callie, help Theo. I'll help Adam.”

“Luke, something's wrong with Theo,” Callie shouted, Comet in her arms and Tocho clinging to her shoulder. “I think he fainted or something.”

Luke ran around to the other side. Theo was slumped over, almost falling out of the cart.

“Not now, not now!” Luke yelled, trying to pull Theo upright.

The helicopter hovered, the rotors stirring up the hot air. Luke looked up to see a soldier in a harness coming down a cable. The man dropped to the ground in front of them.

“Let's get moving, people,” the soldier said, so calmly it seemed he didn't notice the fire behind them. “I'm going to have to take you all up by harness. We can't chance landing, because we don't know how fast the fire will move.” He held
out the harness to Luke.

“Mr. Brockett, you first.”

“No, I'm going last. Take Theo and Adam. They're hurt.”

“We don't have much time to argue,” the soldier said.

“Luke, you've gotten us all this far. Just go,” Callie said.

Luke took the harness and held it out to her.

“Adam and Theo go first. I go last.” Luke moved back and crossed his arms.

The soldier looked at Luke and then said, “Okay, son, I'm not going to argue with you, because I want out of here. If you're going to be stubborn, at least help me get the harness on these people.”

Once Theo was buckled in, Callie said, “Can you take the kitten too?” She set Comet down and unpeeled Tocho's claws from her hair. Luke could see scratch marks against her face.

The soldier just made an exasperated noise and took the kitten, signaling to someone above, and he, Theo, and Tocho rose in the air. Theo slumped in the harness, not moving. Through the smoke, Luke could see hands reaching from inside the helicopter. The soldier disappeared inside for a moment, then came back down.

“Mr. Brockett, my commander is up there yelling at me to grab hold of you and get you in this harness,” the soldier said. “Now, do I have to do that?”

Luke moved back again. “We both know you can't get me in the harness unless I cooperate, and I'm not going to. I go last.”

“It's no use arguing with him,” Callie said. “Since he's the President's son, he thinks he should get his way all the time. He's spoiled, you know.” She smiled at Luke.

“Okay, okay.” The soldier sounded really angry. “I'm not going to chase you. When it's your turn, Mr. Brockett, I expect you to move fast. You are putting everybody in danger right now with your attitude.”

The soldier moved to get Adam in the harness. Adam was conscious enough to stand leaning on the side of the golf cart until the harness was on.

When the two were in the air, Callie said, “You
are
being really stubborn, Luke.”

“I know,” Luke said. He didn't know why it was so important he go last; he just knew it was right. “I'm spoiled, just like you said.”

The soldier was down again. “Hurry, young lady. We're almost out of time.”

He'd snapped the last buckle of the harness on Callie when Luke felt the ground shift. Callie lost her balance and fell against the soldier.

“It's another earthquake!” the soldier yelled as Luke fought to stay standing. There was a sound like a train and the fire roared up through the forest, the flames billowing toward them, a blazing tidal wave of red. Sparks showered them, and Luke smelled more singed hair. Comet barked.

“Roll, roll,” the soldier yelled, pushing Luke to the ground. “Your shirt is on fire!” Callie, still in the harness, fell toward him as the soldier hit at his shirt and then grabbed his side, rolling him back and forth. It all happened so fast, Luke couldn't make himself do anything; he just let the soldier move him around.

“It's out! Take hold of me.” The soldier reached down and pulled Luke up. “We're all going up together.”

Luke got one hand around the soldier's neck. Callie almost made them fall again as she reached down and picked up Comet. The dog yelped as she put him against her chest. They started to rise in the air, more sparks flying around them. The helicopter rose higher and the motion sent them swinging, first away from
the fire and then closer to it. The flames were so hot, Luke thought they were all on fire. His eyes burned, but when he closed them he felt like his eyelids were melting.

Just when he thought he couldn't stand the heat anymore, he felt cool air on his face. They were up above green trees now, though he could see the fire to the east.

“Hold on just a few more seconds,” the soldier said. The crank above them pulled them up right below the door to the helicopter, but then Luke felt a jerk.

“The harness!” the soldier yelled. Luke looked up. The harness strap hooked to the cable wire was singed black from the fire, and fraying. Sparks must have landed on it. “We're not going to make it. Drop the dog!” The soldier tried to use the hand not holding on to Luke to get Comet away from Callie, but the motion made Luke shift down, his grip loosening on the man's neck.

“No!” Callie said.

The soldier hoisted Luke up higher, wrapping both his arms around him. “Drop the dog or we're all going to fall!” Someone in the helicopter was making the crank move them up inch by inch. Luke could see another soldier above
them leaning out the door.

“Move Comet toward me, Callie,” Luke said. “I'll take him.” Callie shifted Comet out to her side.

“You're not going to drop him, are you, Luke?”

Luke looked up to see the fraying mesh above them.

“No, let go of him.” In one motion Luke took his hands away from the soldier's neck, hoping the soldier wouldn't lose his hold on him, and grabbed Comet, heaving him up in the air, pushing with all his strength as he launched his dog toward the man in the helicopter. The man reached out and grabbed Comet under one leg, pulling him in.

Then Luke felt hands taking hold of him and he was inside the helicopter.

“He's burned,” Luke heard the soldier say. Luke's eyes were watering so much he couldn't see very well.

“Don't touch the burn until we get him to a hospital,” another man said. “Luke, are you hurt anywhere else? Just nod or shake your head.” Luke shook his head. “Can you sit up? You'll breathe better upright.” Someone put his arm
around Luke, supporting him while Luke pushed himself up. “That's a good sign. I'm going to put an oxygen mask over your face,” he heard the man say. “It will just make you more comfortable, nothing to worry about. Breathe normally.”

The effort of sitting up exhausted Luke so much, he just held still while someone put a mask over his face. When he took a breath, the air inside the mask felt cool against his mouth and he relaxed, wanting to lie down.

“Let's get him in a seat.”

Another voice said, “Let me help you, Mr. Brockett.” Luke opened his eyes just as a soldier practically lifted him into the seat right behind the pilot. Luke turned and could make out people in the back bent over Adam and Theo. The same soldier put Callie in the seat next to him. Luke blinked his eyes until he could see better. Callie already had Tocho in her arms.

“Can you ask someone back there if Theo, my friend, will be okay?” Luke said to the soldier.

The soldier gave him a thumbs-up and went to the rear of the helicopter. Luke looked out the window at the mass of smoke to the east. He couldn't see Camp David at all.

When the soldier came back he said, “The doc
says it looks like a concussion, but his vital signs are good. He should be okay.”

“Mr. Brockett, I have the President, uh, your father on the radio.” The copilot handed Luke a headset.

“Dad! Dad!” Luke said.

“I'm here.” The connection was full of static, but Luke could hear well enough. “Luke, are you all right?”

“I'm fine, Dad. What happened to Colonel Donlin and the agents at the gatehouse? Where's Sal? What happened to him?”

“Slow down. One thing at a time. Now that you managed to get the fence turned off, the emergency crews are on their way into the gatehouse.”

“What about Sal? Is he okay?”

“He was…He had a run-in with a bear, of all things. One of his arms is slashed up pretty badly, but he'll be okay.”

Luke didn't know whether to laugh or cry. “Can I see him?”

“As soon as the doctors give the okay. I'll see you in a few minutes.”

“Bye, Dad.” He pulled off the headset, and someone took it from him.

Luke closed his eyes and then he felt something being pressed into his hand.

“I forgot to give you this,” Callie said. “I brought it from the ranch.”

He opened his eyes to see a silvery bright gleam against the grime of his hand.

“Wow, that's a great galena,” Luke said. “I don't know if I've ever seen one with such a nice color.”

“It's yours,” Callie said. “Next time you come back to the ranch, I'll show you where I found it. Maybe we'll find some more.”

“That would be great,” Luke said, closing his hand on the stone.

AUGUST 29

Luke watched the incoming
helicopters from an upstairs window of the White House. “It's incredible that they never goof up,” he said to Comet as he scratched behind the dog's ear. The Marine One helicopter always landed in exactly the right spot on the South Lawn, the pilot bringing the tires down precisely in the middle on the red metal disks laid out on the grass.

“The trainees practice over and over without any passengers on board,” his dad said as he came into the room. “And if they can't do it right, they don't get promoted to pilot.” He put a hand
on Luke's shoulder. “I'll be home tonight, but I probably won't see you. I hear you haven't been eating much. Anything wrong?”

“I'm not very hungry.” Luke wasn't very much of anything, and he hadn't been since the fire. The doctor who treated his burns told him it would be a while until he felt himself again, and to tell someone if he had nightmares or trouble sleeping. He hadn't had any problems, but he couldn't get away from the numb feeling that enveloped him like a cocoon.

It had been a week since the fire, and four days since the funeral for Isabelle. Before they left for the service, Luke's mom had told him what to say to Isabelle's parents, things like what a good person she was and how she had done her job so well. He was glad his mom had given him lines to speak, because he couldn't have found the words on his own, and he knew his dad was expecting him to play his part well. He pretended he was just saying something he memorized, like an assignment, so he wouldn't break down and cry. The crying was left until he was alone.

Colonel Donlin and Grant were both still hospitalized, but the doctors were optimistic. It was strange: They had survived because their injuries
kept them down on the floor, where there was enough oxygen to keep them alive, and enough of the stone building left standing to shield them. They were also fortunate the area around the gatehouse was mostly grass, thin from the drought, and cut short to meet Camp David's standards. It would take time to rebuild the damaged parts of Camp David. Luckily the fire had followed an erratic path, splitting apart and going completely around some sections, while burning up others.

Comet growled. He always did the instant the helicopter touched down, because he hated all helicopters. Luke guessed the dog thought they were some sort of giant bird invading his space. A Marine sergeant opened the helicopter door, lowered the steps, and marched off, pivoting at the bottom, and then marching around to face the White House. He halted and stood at attention. Luke knew the sergeant would stay there, motionless, no matter how long it took, until his dad walked out to board.

“How are you doing with your temporary agents?” his dad asked.

“Okay, I guess,” Luke said. He hadn't been paying much attention to them. Adam's concussion had been more serious than Theo's and was going
to keep him off work for another two weeks. After that, it would be at least another month before he would be able to come back to Luke's detail. In the meantime, he would have another job. “Paperwork and a desk” was the way he had described it to Luke. Sal still had his arm in a sling, and was on medical leave.

“Sir, it's time to go,” Christine said from the hall.

“Just a minute,” Luke's dad said. “Luke, I know we haven't had much of a chance to talk, but I just wanted to let you know I'm very proud of you. You kept your head and thought through what needed to be done in the middle of a crisis. That's not something everybody can do.”

“But it was all my fault! I didn't hold on to Comet and that made—”

“Stop, Luke; look at me. Accidents happen. No one blames you. I learned many years ago you can't go back and change the past, no matter how much you want to, so it's best to move on.”

Luke didn't know how he was supposed to do that.

George Michelson came into the room. “Sir, we're ready.”

“All right, I'm ready. Luke, I'll see you tomorrow.”
He ruffled Luke's hair and then strode out of the room.

Luke turned back to the window. The sergeant on the lawn looked like a statue. Luke wondered what would happen if a fly landed on the man, or he had to sneeze.

“Surprise!”

Comet barked and Luke whirled around. Callie and Theo stood in the doorway, Adam behind them.

“What are you doing here?”

“Aren't you glad to see us?” Callie asked.

“Your mom arranged for Callie and me to visit you,” Theo said. Luke was relieved Theo looked normal again.

“You should feel special,” Callie said. “I put on a dress and everything.”

“Uh, you…you…It's nice.” She looked kind of odd wearing cowboy boots with a dress, but Luke decided not to point that out.

“I was in to pick up some forms”—Adam held up a briefcase—“when I saw these two at the security desk. I told the guard I'd bring them up and say hello. Everything okay with you?”

“Everything's good.” Luke realized he actually meant it.

Comet bounded over to Callie and jumped up on her, making the pocket of her dress squeak.

“Callie!” Luke said.

“Please don't tell me you sneaked a kitten into the White House.” Adam shook his head as if willing her to say no.

“Of course not. I think Tocho's already grown too big for my pocket just from feeding him for a few days.” Callie pulled out a dog toy, a fuzzy rabbit that squeaked when she squeezed it. “I brought a present for Comet. He's not such a bad dog after all.” She tossed the rabbit up in the air and Comet caught it before it hit the ground.

“That's a relief,” Adam said. “The other agents would never let me forget it if they saw me escorting an unauthorized kitten off the property.” They watched as Comet carried his captive under a desk so he could chew on it undisturbed. Adam checked his watch. “I think I'll leave you three to talk. I have a feeling I need all the rest I can get before I come back to work.”

“Okay,” Luke said. “See you soon.”

After Adam left, Luke wasn't quite sure what to do, especially with Callie here. He hadn't had a girl visit him before, even though Callie wasn't
like a regular girl. One of his temporary agents came in.

“Luke, your mother arranged for some ice cream to be sent up from the kitchen for the three of you. It's all set up in the dining room.”

“Ice cream! Nice!” Theo said.

Luke was relieved. Even though he wasn't hungry, ice cream would keep Theo and Callie busy for a while. “I bet they sent up all sorts of toppings too,” he said. “They know I like to experiment. Come on, I'll show you the way.”

“You don't mean we're going to eat ice cream in one of the big rooms they show on TV?” Callie asked.

“No, we have our own dining room in the living quarters. Those rooms are only used for special occasions.”

“That's good,” Callie said. “So if I spill something, it won't matter, right?”

“Right,” Luke said. “Comet, here, boy. Bring your rabbit.”

 

The kitchen staff had outdone themselves. There were six kinds of ice cream all displayed in big bowls of crushed ice, and in front of those were dishes and dishes of toppings and syrups.
Theo filled a bowl up with cherry ice cream and then topped it off with crushed-up candy bars, bananas, and chocolate sauce, adding mounds of whipped cream.

“Callie, I just found out you are going to our school.” Theo took a huge bite.

“I didn't know that,” Luke said.

“You didn't know your mom arranged for me to get a scholarship?” Callie asked. “Hmm…I think I want strawberry with chocolate sprinkles and bits of mint cookie. Anyway, that's why I'm going there. My dad could never afford to pay tuition to a fancy private school. It seems weird I need a scholarship to go to seventh grade, and I'm probably not going to like it. My dad says I can still go back to the ranch if it doesn't work out.”

“You'll like it. Won't she, Luke?” Theo took another bite, and a bit of candy bar fell to the floor. Comet shot out from under the table, dropped his rabbit, and licked it up. “They have lots of clubs and activities. Since you like photography, you should join the photography club.”

“That might be fun,” Callie said doubtfully.

“Luke and I really like the robotics club. Guess
what? I'm getting a robot kit tomorrow. My mom promised. Are you going to get a new one?” Theo asked Luke. The tree house had burned in the fire, along with the extra robot pieces they had left there. The snake-catcher robot survived the fire, but the microprocessor was too damaged to be used again.

“I haven't asked.”

“You should. I'm sure you'll get one. You can help me with mine too. We can build a robot that walks, and then program it to talk.”

“What would we make it say?” Luke asked. “Wait, I have an idea, a great idea! We could program it to stop when it came to a door and start again when the door opened. That way if we sent it down the elevator, it would come out by itself when the doors opened. The Secret Service agents would be really surprised.” Luke was so excited he almost drummed on Theo. “Oh, and I know what else we could do. We could program it to say, really slowly, like the aliens in those old cartoons, ‘Take…me…to…your…leader.' That would be so funny!” He took a quick breath of air. “But we'd need to see the agents' expressions. We could—”

“Hold on,” Callie said. “I can already tell the
two of you are going to get into trouble with all your crazy ideas.”

“Since when have you ever worried about getting into trouble?” Luke laughed. “Besides, it won't just be the two of us. We'll need you to help us. You know, come up with the practical bits to make our plans work better.”

Callie frowned. “If I help you, will you promise not to boss me around?”

“I don't boss you around. You're the one who's bossy.”

“I am not!”

“Guys, guys, the ice cream is melting. Why don't we eat it while we're planning how to do this?” Theo asked.

“Good idea,” Luke said. He decided he was hungry, and nothing would taste better than a bowl of chocolate ice cream with chocolate sauce and bits of milk-chocolate candy bars, all topped off with fresh raspberries.