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RANGER STATION:
Larry stands from his desk and stares out through the window when he hears a vehicle drive into the parking lot. He recognizes Wesley’s Hummer and walks outside.
Wesley does his best to hide his pain as he climbs out. “I need to see the extent of the damage, Larry.”
“Let’s go inside and I’ll show you on the map. Frank is evacuating the park and the campgrounds. You look like you’ve been hurt, Wesley. You still have blood in your hair.”
“He is hurt, Larry,” says Jamie. “And not just the cut on his head. He’s being delusional. We were nearly killed in an ice cave, and he has a possible cracked rib.”
Wesley stares at Larry. “I’m fine. Let’s not worry about that right now.”
Jamie and Wesley follow him into the station and look at the large plastic covered map of the park mounted to the wall. Larry indicates four areas circled in red. “Those are the campgrounds we’ve cleared so far. We can’t reach Marmot Campground because the creek flooded and washed out the road.”
“That’s where a woman and two kids were staying,” Jamie tells him. “They were hiding from her ex-husband.”
Wesley points to an area on the map. “There’s an old logging road that drops behind the campground.” He looks at Jamie. “We can make it there in my Hummer. It’s near that canyon where we left the trailer. I want to find out what’s holding back the water and we can go down into the campground from there.”
“I’ll call my sister and let her know what happened,” she tells them, then steps to one side and enters the number on her phone.
“Are you sure you feel up to bouncing around, Wesley?” Larry asks.
“I’ll be fine.”
Jamie turns off her phone and grabs a portable radio from the charging rack. “We’ll be on channel two.”
“Be careful in the woods, you two. I don’t want to see you get hurt again, Wesley.”
Wesley gives him a nod. “We’ll let you know what we find.”
***
Wesley parks his Hummer at the bottom of a low ridge. “If I remember right, the canyon should be just over that rise.”
Jamie is surprised he even found it. The number of old logging roads Wesley took was like following a maze cut into the mountain. They climb out of the Hummer and she lets Wesley set the pace as they hike up the steep slope. When they reach the top of the ridge and look down, it catches them off guard.
“You were right, Wesley. That’s a new lake, isn’t it?”
“This is bad, Jamie. Now we know why that stream was so low.”
They stare down at a massive pile of logs, branches, and brush. The forty-foot-high logjam across the canyon holds back thousands of gallons of water for over a mile up the canyon. A fast-moving stream gushes from under the tree trunks of the logjam, dragging more debris down the canyon and creating smaller dams, all collecting water. At the bottom end of the canyon is the reservoir and the old dam.
“What if we tried to open one side to let the water out?” Jamie asks.
“It won’t work. The entire logjam will tear loose.”
“How far are we from the campground?”
“About half an hour if we take that logging road we passed a moment ago. It follows the canyon on the other side of this hill and drops behind the campground.”
Jamie can tell he’s trying to hide his discomfort, but knows not to say anything. At least the ride is not too bad, although sometimes she cannot see any road at all. “What do you want me to tell Larry?”
“To be honest, I don’t know what to say. It could tear loose at any moment or not break at all. If it does tear loose, it will overwhelm the reservoir. That concrete dam is so old it won’t handle the load, and when it breaks, the lahar will destroy anything in its path, starting with the track field behind the high school.”
“Won’t it just follow the river and miss the valley?”
“The reservoir water didn’t originally flow in its current direction. The loggers diverted it around the valley. The best thing to do is open the dam right now and drain the reservoir. The river will flood downstream, but the damage will be minimal compared to what will happen if we don’t open it.”
Jamie stares at him for a moment. “Okay. So what do I tell him?”
“Just let him know he did the right thing evacuating the park.”
Jamie calls Larry on the radio and tells him what they found and sees Wesley checking his pockets. “Did you lose something?”
“Yeah, my cellphone. If Larry opens the dam, the Cave ranch will flood. I told Derek I would let him know when it was time to leave the ranch.”
“It probably fell out in your Hummer.”
“Maybe. Let’s get going.”
They hike back down to the Hummer and search for the phone, but can’t find it.
“Do you know Derek’s number? You could use my cellphone.”
“No, it’s one of those satellite phones. I’ll call him after we check the campground and talk to Larry.”
They climb into his Hummer and Wesley backs up until they can follow the old logging road, then they drive down the mountain toward the campground.
“Did you know about the track meet tomorrow?”
Wesley jerks his head around to Jamie. “What? That’s tomorrow?”
“It starts at four tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh, crap!”
***
SPARROW VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL:
Derek walks out of the classroom and sees Jessica waiting near his locker. From her expression, something is bothering her. “What’s going on?”
“Jamie and Wesley were in an accident. Wesley has a fractured rib.”
“Is Jamie okay?”
“She’s fine.”
“What happened?”
“They used Wesley’s snow cat to go up to the glaciers. When we had that earthquake, the ice cave collapsed and nearly killed them.”
Derek opens his locker, grabs the sat phone, and presses speed dial number two, but it just keeps ringing. He slips it into his backpack, then slides the strap over his shoulder as he continues down the hall.
“Derek? Where are you going?”
“He’s not answering, so I’m going up to his cabin.” He hurries toward the exit.
“Just wait a minute. Let me call my sister back and find out if Wesley is with her in the park.”
Derek turns and walks back to her, then waits while she digs through her purse for the phone and calls her sister.
“Jamie? Hang on a second.” She turns on the speaker. “Where are you?”
“I’m with Wesley. We’re driving down to the campground. You need to find Derek Cave.”
“He’s listening.”
“Derek, it’s Wesley. Do you remember when we talked about that lahar? There’s a good chance that will happen to the valley if we can’t stop it.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Find the Sheriff and tell him to cancel the track meet tomorrow.”
“What makes you think he’ll listen to me?”
“Your grandfather and Arnie have a long history. If he won’t listen to you, tell Robert. As excited as Arnie is about the games, Robert could be the only person he’ll pay attention to and call it off.”
“Got it.”
“Jamie? Be careful and call me if you need anything. Bye, sis.” She watches Derek turn and walk down the hallway. She slips the phone into her purse and runs up beside him. “Let’s try the restaurant first. It’s on the way. What’s a lahar?”
“I can take care of it, Jessica.”
“I know you can. Let’s take my car. So what’s a lahar?”
“A lahar is a massive mud slide. If that dam breaks, it will wash everything away.”
When they reach Jessica’s mustang, she opens the driver’s door and stares across the roof at Derek still standing on the other side. “Get in and I’ll drive us to the restaurant.”
“I’ll take my motorcycle and meet you there.”
Jessica doesn’t climb inside and watches him walk across the parking lot to his motorcycle. Why is he treating me this way?
When she hears the motorcycle engine roar to life, she climbs into the mustang and follows him down the street. A few blocks farther, she sees the sheriff’s patrol car parked in front of the restaurant. She parks beside Derek’s motorcycle, climbs out, and grins at him. “I told you.”
They notice the advertisement for the track meet tomorrow as they walk through the doorway, and when the bell tinkles, the three people inside turn to look at them. The sheriff is sitting at a table with the town’s Mayor and Molly Moran, the owner.
Molly gets up from the table. “What can I get for you two?”
Derek starts to speak, but Jessica cuts him off.
“I’m here to talk to you, Uncle Arnie. You need to cancel the track meet tomorrow. In fact, you should evacuate the valley.”
Arnie and the Mayor laugh. “Are you insane, Jessica? What for?”
“The dam is going to break and flood the valley.”
Derek watches the Sheriff and the Mayor grin at each other. “When that dam breaks, it could kill everyone at the track meet, Sheriff.”
Arnie studies Derek’s demeanor and he seems sincere. “What do you know about it?”
“I’m a friend of Wesley Patterson. He said the glaciers are melting, and the dam may not hold it back.”
Arnie looks up at Jessica. “I can’t just cancel the games without some major repercussions. Not on the word of a crazy old hermit.”
Derek’s hands clench into fists. “He knows what he’s talking about, Sheriff. He’s working with my uncle.”
Arnie slouches in his chair. “Did he say when it would happen?”
Derek knows where this is leading. “Just an estimate.”
“Does that include today?”
“Okay, but at least you’re aware of it now, so if you don’t do anything, it’s your fault!”
Arnie sits up and turns his back to Derek. “See you at the games tomorrow, Derek. Jessica.”
Derek fights hard to keep his anger in check. “Don’t just dismiss what I’m telling you, Sheriff. Haven’t you felt the earthquakes? You could be putting people’s lives in danger.”
Jessica can tell Derek is not going to back down. “You should get your head out of your butt, Uncle Arnie, and cancel the track meet.”
Arnie and the Mayor laugh, then Arnie turns back to Derek. “I’m not canceling the games on the word of that crackpot hermit.”
Jessica sees the look in Derek’s eyes and it scares her a little. “Let’s go, Derek.” She grabs his arm to guide him out into the parking lot, but he jerks it away.
“He’s not a crackpot, he’s a volcanologist. He’s been studying this mountain for years and he knows what he’s talking about. Haven’t you been listening to the news? Mount Baker is becoming active because of the earthquakes.”
“Why isn’t your uncle telling us what will happen, Derek? He’s a teacher, so he knows more than Patterson.”
“Wesley knows what he’s talking about, you idiot! He cares about all those people that will be at the track meet. He’s trying to stop it from happening, not sitting around in a restaurant acting like a pompous ass.”
Arnie stops grinning and stands from the table, glaring at Derek. “Watch it, son!”
Derek sees the anger in the sheriff’s eyes, but isn’t about to be intimidated. He glares back as he pulls his shoulders back and forces his chest out defiantly toward the sheriff.
Arnie has seen that look before from the only person who defies his authority, and his face flushes in anger. “You had better leave before I lose my temper, Derek.”
Jessica sees Derek is not going to back down and puts her hand on his shoulder. “Let’s go, Derek. We’ll be late for our next class.”
Molly can tell this is not going to end well without some intervention, and steps between them, facing Arnie. “Your burger is ready, Sheriff. Have a seat and I’ll bring it right out.”
Arnie gives her a nod and sits down, but his jaw clenches in anger at the defiance of his authority by another member of the Cave family.
Jessica grabs Derek’s hand. “That’s all we can do for now, Derek. Let’s go.”
Derek slowly turns, glaring back at the sheriff until Jessica pulls on his hand, then he looks away and follows her out of the restaurant.
“We’re going to be late, Derek. I’ll follow you back to the school.”
“You go ahead. I need to go for a ride to clear my head. I’ll see you later.”
Jessica knows it would be useless to argue with him. “All right. I’ll talk to the principal about it. He married into our family, too, so maybe he’ll listen to me. I’ll see you back at the school.”
Derek climbs onto his motorcycle and starts the engine, then guns it and squeals the rear tire defiantly for the sheriff’s benefit as he drives away.
Jessica watches him race down the road and is worried about the ramifications of his confrontation with her uncle Arnie. The only other person who acts that way toward the sheriff is his grandfather, and they fight all the time, but he’s lived here most of his life. Derek is a newcomer to the valley, and now uncle Arnie has a reason to harass him whenever he wants. Sure, Uncle Arnie is a conceited son of a bitch, but he is still the sheriff.