Wildfire Smokejumper Trilogy

Chapter 9-3

Laura had heard the arrival of the choppers, practically holding her breath for the two minutes they were maneuvering above but still out of sight.

The horses were actively snorting, but the t-shirt blinds were sufficient so far. The tourists were starting to look really worried. It wasn’t quite time to dampen cloths for the humans to breathe through, but it was close. She’d been on the verge of having to knock down one of the guys to keep him from bolting up the trail. The need had been allayed when the canyon filled with the unmistakable pounding sound of a heavy chopper moving into position above them.

She looked up and saw a pair of smokies were sliding down the ropes. Despite their full gear, their contrast in height made it clear that it was Johnny and Tim. She actually cried out in relief.

In moments Johnny was on the ground and in her arms. Helmet, fire clothes, axe, harness…she didn’t care. He felt wonderful, for the single moment she allowed herself to hang onto him.

“Good to see you, Space Ace.”

“Good to see you, Fire Boy.” She did her best not to weep, though she could feel the tears running hot down her cheeks.

Johnny turned to the tourists after offering her one of his encouraging smiles. “Well folks, we’re going to send you on an adventure that none of you had expected today. Today you get to do something that few people ever do outside of wildland firefighters.”

Laura tried to figure out what he was talking about so cheerfully. He made it sound like a carnival ride. Then she glanced up at the still-hovering helicopter and the four lines dangling down to the ground and swallowed hard. It wouldn’t be dangerous if Johnny was having them do it. Correction, it wouldn’t be more dangerous than the alternative. Based on the increasing thickness of the approaching smoke, the alternative was coming quickly.

“I see you each have a small personal pack on your horses. I’d like you to take those and put them on. Please make sure anything important isn’t somewhere else, like I see a camera dangling from one of the saddle horns. Do put your camera in your bag; you’ll be needing both hands.”

Laura helped them get their gear. She also looped each horse’s reins through a saddle ring of one of the others. She put Mister Ed at the front of the line, all of the horses trusted him and would probably follow where he led, and Mickey Brown Eyes at the rear was her Mr. Stability anchor. Even now Mickey was the calmest of them all. Some said he was lazy; but Laura knew he was smart enough to not waste energy on getting upset over your average tourist—or major forest fire.

Tim was getting each of the tourists fitted with a harness as Johnny herded them along. He was having them step into the two leg holes, slide the harness up, and then cinch the belt. After that, the two ends of the belt were then snapped into the D-ring at the end of the line dangling from the chopper above.

“Keep both of your hands on the rope the whole time,” she could hear Tim whisper to each one, placing the rope in their hands.

“No one afraid of heights, are they?” Johnny made it a casual joke, but continued before anyone could do more than smile at his tone. No time to protest or speak. “What you’re going to be doing is called a short-haul. We don’t have the ability to lift you each into the helicopter above, but we want to get you out of all this smoke as quickly as possible. So, once you are all in your harnesses and we’ve checked you for safety, we’re going to lift you straight up.” He pointed upward.

Laura looked up at the still motionless helicopter, the black paint and red flames looking a little unnerving wreathed in smoke.

“Your airline hostess for the day is named Jeannie Clark and is one of the best helitack pilots ever born. She’s going to fly you to the Lodge and set you down pretty as can be in the meadow there. She’ll be going slowly, so it will be about a ten-minute flight. Once you’re on the ground—not before that please,” again that perfect joking tone, “unsnap your harness and step to the side so that she can see you’re clear.”

Tim had Laura halfway into a harness before she understood what was happening.

“No.” she balked back. “No!” She pushed against Tim when he tried to use a gentle force to get her into position.

All of the guests were looking at her wide eyed. The mother and daughter were holding each other’s hands rather than the ropes. One of the pairs of newlyweds was hugging as if they’d never see each other again. She was screwing up everything but she couldn’t stop herself.

“I can’t leave my horses.” The guests began relaxing and nodded as if they understood.

Johnny joined Tim’s efforts, but she balked hard, just as she imagined Mister Ed would if Johnny tried to harness him up. She knew she was being stupid to ignore the commands of a lead smokejumper, but she couldn’t help herself.

Finally he grabbed her arm and dragged her aside.

“Laura! Both ends of the trail are on fire. You’re trapped between two heads of fire and they’re connected downslope. Right there,” he pointed. “In thirty minutes anyone in this canyon is dead.”

She nodded her understanding, but she could see Mister Ed. He’d managed, with a toss of his head, to flip his blind off one eye. He was looking right at her.

“Laura!” he shook her.

“I can’t!”