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CHAPTER 47
Dismal Swamp, Virginia
2:39 P . M .
Temperature: 103 degrees
“WE NEED CHOPPERS, WE NEED THE MANPOWER, WE NEED HELP.”
Quincy pulled up at the cluster of cars and spotted the thin columns of smoke darkening the bright blue sky. One, two, three-there had to be nearly a dozen of them. He turned back to the forestry official who was still barking orders into a radio.
“What the hell has happened?”
“Fire,” the man said tersely.
“Where is my daughter?”
“Is she a hiker? Who is she with?”
“Dammit.” Quincy spotted Ray Lee Chee staggering out of a vehicle and made a beeline for him, Rainie hot on his heels. “What happened?”
“Don’t know. Drove into Lake Drummond to start the search. Next thing I know, I’m hearing whistle blasts and smelling smoke.”
“Whistle blasts?”
“Three sharp blows, the international call of distress. Sounded from the northeast quadrant. I was headed in that direction, but man, the smoke got so thick so fast. Brian and I figured we’d better bug out while we still had the chance. We’re not equipped with that kind of gear.”
“And the others?”
“Saw Kathy and Lloyd headed toward their vehicle. Don’t know about Kimberly, Mac, or that doctor dude.”
“How do I get to Lake Drummond?”
Ray just looked at him, then at the clouds of smoke. “Now, sir, you don’t.”
Mac and Kimberly had Tina slung between them, one of her arms over each of their shoulders. The girl was a fighter, trying vainly to help them by moving her feet. But her body had been pushed beyond its limits days ago. The more she tried to run with them, the more she stumbled and careened sluggishly, throwing them all off balance.
The awkward motions were getting them nowhere and the fire was gaining fast.
“I got her,” Mac said tersely.
“It’s too much weight-”
“Shut up and help.” He stopped and hunkered down. Tina wrapped her arms around his neck, Kimberly boosted the muddy girl up onto his back.
“Water,” the girl croaked.
“When we’re out of the woods,” Mac promised. Neither of them had the heart to tell Tina that they had no water left. For that matter, if they didn’t magically find their vehicle in about the next five minutes, all of the water in the world would make no difference.
They were off and ru
Mac seemed to know where he was going, however. He had a hard, lean look on his face, pushing himself forward and determined to take both of them with him.
A lumbering shape appeared to their left. Kimberly watched in awe as a full-grown black bear went ru
They ran, sweat streaming down their arms and legs. They ran faster, Tina begi
They squeezed through a narrow space between two towering trees, rounded a large patch of thickets and came face-to-face with E
“You shouldn’t run from the flames,” he murmured, and then Kimberly saw what was at his feet. A coiled nest of brown mottled skin. Two pinpricks of red showed on E
“I shot him,” he said, in reply to their unasked question. “But not before he got me. Just as well. Can’t run anymore. Time to wait. Must take your punishment like a man. What do you think my father thought about, each time he heard us scream?”
His gaze went to the muddy shape on Mac’s back. “Oh good, you found her. That’s nice. Out of four girls, I was hoping you’d get at least one right.”
Kimberly took a furious step forward and E
“You shouldn’t run from the flames,” he said sternly. “I tried it thirty years ago, and look what happened to me. Now sit. Stay a while. It only hurts for a short time.”
“You’re dying,” Kimberly told him flatly.
“Aren’t we all?”
“Not today. Look-sit here all you want. Die in your precious fire. But we’re out of here.”
She took another step, and E
“Stay,” he said firmly and now she could see the light flaming in his eyes, a feverish, rabid glow. “You must die. It’s the only way to find peace.”
Kimberly pressed her lips into a thin, frustrated line. She shot a glance at Mac. He had a gun somewhere, but with his hands full trying to keep Tina on his back, he was in no position to do anything quickly or stealthily. Kimberly shot her gaze back to E
“Who are you?” she asked. “Frank or David?”
“Frank. I’ve always been Frank.” E
The smoke was growing thicker. It made Kimberly blink owlishly and become even more aware of the intense heat growing at her back. “If we fashioned a tourniquet above the bite, you could still live,” Kimberly tried desperately. “You could walk out of this swamp, get yourself some antivenom, and then get yourself some serious psychological help.”
“But I don’t want to live.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because living is hope. Trying is hope. And because I come from a long line of people who have excelled at being earnest.” E
E
“Put down your weapon.”
“Shoot me.”
“Shoot your own goddamn self! I wasn’t put on this earth to end your misery. I’m here to save a girl. Now we have her and we’re getting out.” The smoke was so thick now, Kimberly could barely see.
“No,” E
“You’re a coward. Always taking your rage out on others, when all along you know who you truly hate the most is yourself.”
“I saved lives.”
“You killed your own family!”
“They wanted me to do it.”
“Bullshit! They wanted help. Ever think who your brother could’ve been? I’m sure he would’ve done better than turn into a serial murderer who preyed on young girls.”