“We were surprised by all the extra help you sent our way. We don’t normally have many people searching when it’s such a small incident.” I balled up my fist.
I felt a hand wrap around my forearm. I turned to find Stone, giving Derrick a look I would define as deadly.
I swallowed hard. “You are most welcome for the extra help. This ‘small incident’ isn’t small to those who love the people on that plane. So, if you could kindly refrain from acting like it’s no big deal and mobilize the groups I have sent you, I would appreciate it.”
I turned on my heel, knowing that if Stone had not predicted my response, I would spend the night in jail. Instead, I walked over to the police car and punched the window. The safety glass pushed in and then crumbled to the ground. I was sure I would get fined for that, but it gave me somewhere to vent my frustration that wasn’t Derrick's face.
Blaze communicated better with the rescue teams than the person in charge. We found out that the debris field was about two miles long. They hadn’t found any of the passengers, and the pieces they had seen were exterior parts. They had not yet found any pieces of the cabin or cockpit. The first unit with dogs was just reaching the crash site, and the teams on horseback were right behind them.
***
RIVER – Lost in the mountains of Canada.
I opened my eyes to see snow fluttering down onto my face. It was so pretty. Everything is so white. It reminded me of when my parents would take a week off from the restaurant and take us to a mountain cabin. We would rent these inner tubes and ride them down a hill. It was the most fun. I was always afraid to go alone, so my brothers would take turns going with me. I remember them teasing me about not going by myself. A kid heard them and started picking on me, too. That kid regretted it at once. My four big brothers scared him so bad he peed himself. I wonder where they are now. They should be here with me. We could throw snowballs. Maybe I will just sleep a little longer.
Chapter thirty-eight
Aaron
Basecamp Rocking Lake
I stood close enough to where the FAA and RCMP had a table to hear the radios, letting people more levelheaded than myself talk to them directly. The receivers crackled, and I couldn’t make out all the words, but I recognized the word blood. If I wasn’t mistaken, whoever was reporting said there was a lot of it.
My stomach squeezed tight. Blood of any kind would be unbelievably bad. Forest and Storm approached me, each putting a hand on my shoulder.
“It’s going to be fine, guys.” We all looked towards the ground. We’ve made eye contact a few times, and both parties had to look away and turn around. All our emotions were raw, and nobody wanted to admit how absolutely terrified they were.
Stone joined the group. Blaze showed up a moment later with radios, phones, and GPS devices. They were all strapped to him. I didn’t ask how he became the communications center of the search effort but was thankful.
“I feel so completely helpless. River was out there, possibly alone and injured. There must be more I can do.” Blaze shook his head.
“Everything that we can do is being done. The snow is letting up enough that the official rescuers can put helicopters into the air in the next few hours. That should help with the rescue efforts.” He lookedthe most confident of all of us. I guess that happened when you were the oldest of five brothers. You learned to be the one who took charge.
“What about the blood?” I could barely choke the words out. Thinking about it made me shudder. I wanted to shut down and curl up under that blanket again.
“The dogs are following the trail. Nothing yet, though. They are walking through about three feet of powder. It’s slow going, very hard to follow where they may have gone since there has been another ten inches since they think the plane went down.” I just needed to do something. Offer something. Fix something.
I looked around at what had become a bustling rescue mission. I could take care of those helping me bring him back home. I went into the motel and talked to the lady behind the desk.
“Are you here about that plane that went down last evening?” She asked me.
“I am.” I tried to smile. “I was wondering if you could help me with something.”
“I sure will try.” She said with all the sincerity in the world.
“Is there someplace with food in town?”
“There are a couple of them. There is...” I held up my hand.
“I don’t need a list. Can you contact whomever you need and have food brought here for two hundred people three times a day until the rescue is complete.” I handed her my black card.
“Who do you want me to contact?”
“All of them. Just get whatever you think is good. I am sure with a town this size that you know everything about the local food. Just give them that card number and tell them to keep it coming. You can give me the card whenever you no longer need it. Thank you so much.” She smiled.
“Ok.” She looked at the card. “Mr. Gentry, I'll take care of it.”
I walked backoutside to find out if there was anything more to learn. I headed over to the command center desk and told them that food was coming for their people. I went to where the volunteers were meeting and told them as well.
