The Trouble with Rescuing Zoe

  Their weight lightened and using his right hand to dig into the snow, they slowed. Finally inching along, he jammed his boots in and stopped. He wanted to dearly look at what happened to his gun, but couldn’t.

  She was moaning—her arm must hurt terribly. At least he hadn’t grabbed her injured arm.

  Zoe heaved out a breath, the panic still in her eyes. “Looking up is better. What the hell am I doing here?”

  “Calm down. We're okay.” He tugged on her coat. “Don't breathe so fast.”

  “I don't want to do this anymore.” She closed her eyes.

  “Let's try again. Hold on to me, and I'll hold on to you. Ready?”

  She held on, but shook her head. “No.”

  He pulled out his boots. Gliding over the uneven slope, Harry twisted his body as a break when they picked up speed. Lying more vertical than not, he had to look over his shoulder to see all the way down. It was unsettling, but occasionally checked their progress.

  “Are we there yet?”

  “Not yet, but closer.”

  It seemed like an endless descent, long and slow.

  “Are we there yet?” her eyes still closed.

  Harry glanced down. Sure enough, the worst had passed. The decent was by no means over, but they were not so frighteningly high. Relieved, he let out a chuckle. “Last time I heard that question was from my son, heading to Aunt Becky’s.” He let out another chuckle. “We had just left. So yes Zoe, we’re almost there. I can smell Aunt Becky’s roast.”

  Zoe smiled, her eyes opened and she looked at him before glancing down. She immediately lost her smile and shut her eyes again. “Shit.”

  They eventually came to rest on a rise in the snow, about thirty feet from the bottom.

  Harry lifted his head. Straight ahead were the tops of the pine trees. To reach the bottom they had yet to negotiate a field of huge lumps. The scene reminded him of churning waves at the bottom of a waterfall.

  Harry let go of her coat, and she released her grip on him.

  They remained prone, absorbing the stillness.

  Chapter 4

  Finally Zoe spoke. “I can’t believe we missed the freaking helicopter.”

  “Me too. Rotten timing. Let’s hope they come back. Right now, I think we should get up.” He bumped her thigh with his hand. “Ready?”

  He is right. He thinks he’s always right, she thought.

  “I lost my gun.” Harry’s voice was dry.

  She hadn’t yet realized it was gone.

  “I needed to let go of it, to stop our fall.”

  Her first thought was that it was too bad, losing such a prized possession. Her next thought interrupted like a parent shouting at a child, who had obliviously walked by an eminent danger. She swallowed—was it a better to have let her fall? She searched for a reason why Harry in his own self interest would choose her over the gun. She wondered briefly if the gun was that important. Then a third more ominous thought occurred to her; they may need the gun to survive. A knot formed in her stomach.

  Harry stood and looked around.

  He squinted. “Hey, there it is.”

  Harry took off after it. She turned her head in the other direction. Tentative relief streamed through her body, but not enough to bring her to get up. She lay and waited, her mind numb with two thoughts: he had chosen to hold on to her, and they’re in serious trouble if the gun broke.

  Ten minutes passed before he returned. He was panting.

  “It’s still in one piece. I’ll be damned.”

  The glee in his voice instantly eradicated her uneasiness. Her breathing returned to normal. But a thought snuck back and lingered—did Harry hold on because of her promise? Of course not, she thought, it was the right thing for him to do. Yet it was an odd premise for her, the notion of a man’s protective role. Any other time, the idea would have caused her hairs to bristle. She let the whole matter pass without further inquiry or comment; it was easier.

  Harry stood, catching his breath, his gun once again strapped to his back.

  “The sun is so warm. I could easily lie here some more.” She closed her eyes. “But okay, time to get going.”

  She sat up. The enormous river of snow now lay motionless. Its fury gone, Zoe was nonetheless in awe of its power left evident by the scattered debris.

  Harry took a step, slipped and fell. Given everything that had happened she couldn’t help but laugh.

  Looking around, she sized up the remaining climb down. Something moving caught her attention, and she pointed. “Look!”

  Below them, a buck was struggling. It was trying to cross over the thick finger of snow left by the avalanche. Steam rose from its nostrils as it heaved its head with heavy antlers.

  He tried to put his gun case next to him, but it kept sliding away. “It's huge. What an enormous buck, and the sucker is slogging away.”

  Zoe watched both the buck, who took notice of them and stepped up its effort, and Harry who struggled to keep the gun case steady. He was trying to undo the latches.

  Harry stopped, cursed and handed the case to Zoe. “Here, hold it while I open it.”

  “You’re going to kill it.” She pulled the case away and Harry lost his grip on the latch. He spun his head around and saw the buck was nearly across and out of the avalanche area.

  “Just hold the case. Let me do what I need to.” He pulled it back and finished unlatching the cover.

  “But it’s helpless. You can’t just kill it.”

  Harry had trouble keeping steady sitting in the snow. Nonetheless, he took aim.

  “It’s a buck.” His finger squeezed the trigger and Zoe instinctively covered her ears.

  Bang. The shot rang out.

  The buck's legs collapsed. Its head fell forward. Her shoulders slumped. “It was a beautiful buck and you killed it. What a shame.”

  He shook his head. “This is the reality, at least out here. Get used to it.”

  These words didn’t help, and she glared.

  Harry sighed. “It’s really a bit of good fortune. Let’s get down there. You can help me butcher it.”

  “Good fortune?”

  Harry slung the case on his back and as quickly as he could, made his way toward the buck. Zoe followed after, but was in no hurry. Harry began digging. “You are looking at lunch, and dinner, and lunch, and dinner. Certainly you must be hungry. This is a whole grocery store.”

  “I’ve just never eaten an animal. I mean one that was just breathing.”

  “I don't think we’re going to find any tofu out here. He waved her closer. “I'm going to make some poles to prop it up. Come, start digging out around its legs. I'll be back in a moment.”

  He walked off, collecting branches from the debris. She returned to her not-so-exciting task.

  A moment later, she shrieked.

  “Oh! Harry. It's moving.”

  The buck shook its head violently. Disoriented and with blood coming from its wound, the animal snorted, twisted and heaved. It struggled to free itself. Zoe stepped back, keeping her distance, but looked admiringly. Maybe it could get away. Suddenly another shot rang out. The buck went limp.

  She gasped. “You killed it again.”

  He lowered his gun. “I guess you’re more used to ordering out pizza.”

  She pursed her lips at him. “I sorta wish we could just eat nuts and berries.” She stared at the buck. “I've just never seen an animal die. We’re really going to eat it?”

  Harry had put the gun back in its case and taken out a large knife. “Are you playing with me? You seem too intelligent to be rattled by all this.”

  There was a long pause and Zoe reflected. Her heavy breathing slowed.

  “For us grocery store types, this—” she gestured to the snow clotted with blood,“—is upsetting. I refused to chloroform a frog…my professor had to do it.” She took a couple of deep breaths. “But yeah, this is my shtick.” Harry appeared puzzled at the word. “You know, routine. I like drama,” she crack
ed a smile, “with a twist of the absurd.”

  “Well, let’s try serious for a while. You do know that a hamburger comes from a slaughter house?”

  Zoe didn’t answer. She had never been to one.

  “Can you get those poles over there and help me prop it up? We need to drain the blood and prepare the meat.”

  Oh good grief. We’re really doing this.

  He lifted the rear of the buck, slicing through the skin to remove its intestines and stomach. Next, he propped it up headfirst and motioned her closer.

  “Hold this. Don’t be shy.”

  She helped hold the buck’s head with one arm and tried to look away. Harry stuck his knife into the animal and a drop of blood splattered onto Zoe’s cheek. She wiped it off onto her finger, stared at it and then finally shifted her gaze to Harry. He was working like a machine, systematically removing the hide. Intellectually she understood what was going on—after all, she was planning to be a doctor. Still, the skinned buck was a horrifying sight.

  “I think my legs are getting wobbly.” Harry didn’t respond, probably too busy concentrating. Off came large strips of meat, which he in turn cut down into small portions.

  “Now pay attention.” He showed her how to pack the meat into holes in the snow. “We need to cook the meat, but this’ll keep it fresh for now. Leave a couple good size portions out. I'm hungry.”

  Zoe adjusted to this new reality, getting over the grisly details.

  She pushed at the buck’s now lifeless head. “This seems like a lot of work and a lot of food. Aren’t we going to be able to walk out of here soon?”

  “We’re miles from anywhere. We need to make a camp. That hike could very well take days. Right now, let's just get a fire going and eat.”

  He piled branches with pine needles underneath for the fire.

  “How’ya going to light it?”

  “Magic.” Harry waved his hand in the air, but then took a lighter from his gun case.

  What else did he have in that thing?

  While the fire got going, he fetched a couple of other branches and sharpened their ends with his knife. In no time the steaks were sizzling on the skewers.

  “Are you sure you want to wait for the berries and nuts?”

  Again, her stomach rumbled. “It does smell good. Can I?”

  He handed her one of the skewers and she took a bite. She paused, suppressing her hunger, but then just devoured it.

  “Can I have more?”

  “Sure.” He handed her his and dug a couple of more portions out for himself.

  “Guess I’m good with the NRA now.” She bit into another section. “Is that a plane I hear?”

  He cocked his head. “I don't think so. Sounds like the wind.”

  She savored the juicy meat as she chewed. “You know, there are probably a bunch of people up there frustrated that their flight is late. No idea that just below are a couple of stranded people.”

  Harry had skewered another piece using her discarded stick and set it over the flame. “Why don't you give them a big smile? I'll bet they notice, even from up there.”

  She grinned and looked up.

  He mirrored her expression. “Oh, and don't forget the, ‘Are you going my way?’”

  “Of course.” She raised her voice skyward. “Hey up there. Are you going my way?”

  “To be honest, I think if they could see you, they'd be bemoaning about the airplane food while you sit here feasting on sizzling venison.”

  A squirrel took notice of them and slowly approached. She turned to it. “Waiter, could I have a glass of wine to go with this?”

  “My dear, you’re pregnant. Make that club soda.”

  The squirrel turned and scampered off.

  Harry bent over in a grand gesture. “Would you like dessert?”

  “Oh yes, that would be lovely. What are the choices?”

  “Well, there's more venison.”

  Harry’s eyes lit up and then he pulled out a crinkled wrapper from his pocket. “We do in fact have another choice. Squished candy bar. Only one portion remains.”

  “I'll take it.”

  He handed her the flattened wrapper. “I'm going to work on a shelter. It’d be helpful if you cook the meat. Make sure to cook it thoroughly, and when it’s done, let it cool. Then put it back in the snow and cover it up.” He turned and started to head off.

  “By the way, do you have any ideas for a name?” asked Harry.

  “A name for what?”

  “That child in you, of course.”

  She forced a smile. “Well, let's see if we can get out of here, then worry about a name.”

  #

  Harry marched off wondering if there was a limit to how much Zoe was enjoying herself and even her intention to have the baby.

  She must have sensed the change in his mood and offered one more playful quip. “By the way, can you call me a cab?”

  He stopped and took the olive branch. “Will do.” Pretending to have a phone to his ear, he offered an apologetic smile. “Sorry, they don't come out this far.” He hung up. “So, how am I doing with your shtick?”

  She returned the smile and unearth more venison to cook. Limited by her injured arm, the task went slowly.

  “So…how’s you arm doing?”

  She paused to rub it. “Better. Thanks.”

  He nodded and left. It wasn’t until early evening that he returned. She had long since finished cooking the meat and was waiting.

  “Did you build a shelter?”

  “Nah. It took me all afternoon just to make a nice axe.” He lifted the axe and slowly rotated it. Damn thing was a beaut. Using a branch as a handle, he had removed all the bark and fashioned a slot. He’d wedged a sharp rock into the slot and secured it with thin strips of hide.

  “Not quite what you get at the hardware store, but it’ll do. However, I found a good cave. It has a hole in the top, which means we can make a warm fire inside.” He glanced over at the buck’s carcass. “We can also make a blanket from the hide.”

  “Sounds better than last night. Guess we’re up scaling.” She looked down. “Can I ask a favor?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’d prefer two blankets, if you don’t mind.”

  Harry almost took offense at the request, but on second thought, realized Carol would undoubtedly ask about the blanket count. Thus felt a degree of gratitude.

  “Of course.” He nodded. “He was the biggest buck I’ve seen. We’ll go for two, but I may need another animal.” He leaned the axe against his thigh. “By the way, I'm hungry. What's for dinner?”

  “Um, venison. We have a special on venison.” She dug out a couple portions from the snow, poking them with a skewer to lift them.

  “Cold?”

  “The microwave is broken.”

  “Let's bring them down to the cave and eat there.” He lifted his axe. “I'll get a fire going.”

  Evening had arrived. Harry pointed to a nearby ridge visible just beyond a stand of pine trees. It was only a short walk—though trudging through the deep snow from the avalanche slowed them.

  “You know that squirrel never showed up with my soda.”

  “Actually, I think I caught the guy. We can cook him up with the venison.”

  She giggled. “Seems a little severe for slow service.”

  They reached an opening in the rock face and entered. Harry ducked to get in. The cave's floor was flat, and a few stars could be seen through a crack in the ceiling. Not enough light for Zoe to look around, though, so she took his gun case to get the flashlight.

  “I can’t seem to get the flashlight to turn on.”

  “Here, let me try.” He fiddled with the switch. “By the way, you seem to be pretty comfortable in my gun case. A good sign for us.” He got the flashlight to give up the goods and shined it on his case, pulling out a collapsible metal cup.

  “You've got lots of things in there.”

  “Just essentials. Once I get th
e fire going, you can put some snow in the cup and melt it. Not quite running water, but good.” He handed the cup to Zoe. “Don't move. Just hold still for a second.”

  He had the flashlight pointed at her, but looked past her, to the cave's wall.

  She turned her head to see. “What are you looking at?”

  “Can you pull your coat up a little?”

  She gave him a puzzled look, but tugged on the bottom of her coat. She looked to him for approval.

  He was right. “You’re pregnant. I can see it.”

  She swung her head around to see the shadow of her figure against the cave’s wall. “In your imagination.” She gazed at her outline longer. “I’ve been a little heavy on the sweets maybe, but that’s not a baby bump.” She lowered her coat quickly and turned away from him. “Are we going to try to get out soon?”

  He switched his attention to getting a fire started and reflected on her question. “It's just getting comfortable now. Now you want to leave? So soon?” He laughed at her expression. “Just kidding. I need to finish a few things tomorrow, but I'll start scouting around the next day. It's not like I have a map, but generally the mountains end toward the west. I'll head that way.”

  With the cave lit by the fire, he got up and used an evergreen branch to brush away dust from the corner near the door. She followed after him, and his brow rose at the thought she was unhappy and might want to try for another cave. She turned and circled the cave’s interior, counting out aloud her paces. All the while her eyes inspected the walls, floor and ceiling, and she ducked a couple times as the clearance grew tight. The fire flickered and she, followed by her shadow returned at the count of twenty-five paces. She took a deep breath through her nose.

  He anticipated an appraisal. “We don’t have a lot of other choices, you know.”

  “It’ll do.” She cracked a smile, “But it smells like a cave.”

  He disappeared momentarily outside and returned with his axe.

  “What are you up to?”

  “Just making a spot for my axe. Let’s keep it here.” He leaned it against the wall, adjusting it several times so that it was perfectly vertical.

  “You sure like that axe.”

  “Yeah, beautiful isn’t it?”

  She shook her head. “You and your toys…your gun and now an axe.” Her head quirked to the side. “By the way, what’s today? Monday?”

  “What does it matter?”

  “I was just wondering, but you've got a point. It’s just weird. It doesn't matter.“