I took the phone and called my mother. Then my dad. Both times rang through to a message saying the number was no longer in service. I tried a third number plucked from memorya guy I dated last summer, I think. Someone answered. I hung up.
The phone works, I said. But my parents numbers are disconnected, too.
Cutting off contact, Daniel said.
I glanced at him.
Who pays for their cell service? The St. Clouds, right?
I nodded. Theyre on the corporate plan, like everyone
Everyone else in town was on the same plan, even if they didnt work for the St. Clouds directly. That was one of the benefits of Salmon Creek life. Free cell service for all. Cell service that could be discontinued or monitored at any time.
So why did they leave ours he stopped. Then he snatched the phone away from me. We cant use that.
What?
They didnt disable our phones. They must think we could still have them. If we do, and they dry out after the crash
We could use them and they could track us. I dropped the phone onto the bed. We need to get out of here.
Sam picked up the phone and turned it off. We didnt talk to anyone. Itll be fine.
Daniel hesitated, then said, We have to get to Mayas place and check the shortwave radios.
Sams leg wasnt up to the walk. Id suggested retrieving the truck and trying to zip into the park without being noticed. Daniel said it was too risky. He asked Corey to stay behind with Sam, but clearly Sam wasnt comfortable with that. I suggested Daniel stay. She refused. I didnt like leaving her behind, but thats what she wanted, and she wasnt budging. The moment I stepped into the park, my eyes filled with tears. It looked exactly as Id left it. As we walked along the trail, other than the smell, there was no sign that there had been a fire. It had been veering south when wed last seen it, but Id barely dared hope that meant my park had been spared. I knew the animals in my rehabilitation shed were all safeMom had transported them to a facility in Victoria when the fire hitbut I was worried about every other creature out there, too.
When we reached the house, I stopped. The Jeep was gone. The windows were dark.
They arent here, I said, barely able to get the words past the lump in my throat.
Lets go in, Daniel said. Make sure.
The front door wasnt even locked. I stepped inside. The air was heavy and empty. Just empty.
Even Kenjii hung back, as if it was the home of strangers. She gingerly walked through and looked around, sniffing, then stood at the back door and whined.
Ill get her some food andwater, Daniel said.
Corey stayed with him. I went straight to my dads office. His computer was gone. So were his shortwave radios.
I headed upstairs. Nothing had been touched. My parents clothing was still there. My stuff was still there. A few drawers were open, in the bedroom and the bathroom, from when Dad must have packed our evacuation bags.
I stood in my parents room, looking at their hastily made bed, an empty duffel bag taken from the closet, then dumped on the floor, rejected. There was something else on the bed. Picture frames. Three empty ones.
In an evacuation, we werent supposed to take anything but an overnight bag. Most people would grab other stuff, though. A laptop. Jewelry. Whatever was important to them. My dad had taken their wedding photo and two baby pictures of me.
My eyes burned again. I hurried into the bathroom and turned on the tap. The pipes spit and hissed. Nothing came out.
Hydros off, Daniel said as he stepped into the open doorway. For you guys, no electricity means no water. I found jugs under the sink for Kenjii. Do you want me to bring one up?
I shook my head.
He moved closer. Well find them, Maya. Its just a matter of getting to your grandmother.
Only we cant do that, can we? I said. The St. Clouds and the Nasts will be prepared for that. I need to let her and my parents keep thinking Im dead until I can
I took a deep breath. I dont even know how to finish that sentence. Everything was about getting back here and telling my parents. But they arent here. I dont know where they are. I have no damned idea what to do next. I looked up at him. Do you?
I I have some thoughts. He cleared his throat. Well come up with a plan.
I brushed past him and headed for the stairs.
Maya.
I turned. He stood there, looking as lost and confused as I felt.
Im sorry, I mumbled. Youre right. Well come up with something. I just I looked through my bedroom door and out the huge windows at the forest. I need to go outside for a minute. Just for a minute.
Corey was still in the kitchen when I got downstairs. I brushed past him. Kenjii tried to follow as I slid out the back door. I closed it with a whispered apology.
I ran into the forest. I planned to keep going, get in deep enough to relax and refocus and, yes, maybe feel sorry for myself for a few minutes before I faced the others again. As I was running, though, tears filled my eyes and I nearly flipped over a downed tree.
I swiped at my eyes and I looked at the tree, and I remembered the last time Id seen it. Remembered whod sat on it.
The phone works, I said. But my parents numbers are disconnected, too.
Cutting off contact, Daniel said.
I glanced at him.
Who pays for their cell service? The St. Clouds, right?
I nodded. Theyre on the corporate plan, like everyone
Everyone else in town was on the same plan, even if they didnt work for the St. Clouds directly. That was one of the benefits of Salmon Creek life. Free cell service for all. Cell service that could be discontinued or monitored at any time.
So why did they leave ours he stopped. Then he snatched the phone away from me. We cant use that.
What?
They didnt disable our phones. They must think we could still have them. If we do, and they dry out after the crash
We could use them and they could track us. I dropped the phone onto the bed. We need to get out of here.
Sam picked up the phone and turned it off. We didnt talk to anyone. Itll be fine.
Daniel hesitated, then said, We have to get to Mayas place and check the shortwave radios.
Sams leg wasnt up to the walk. Id suggested retrieving the truck and trying to zip into the park without being noticed. Daniel said it was too risky. He asked Corey to stay behind with Sam, but clearly Sam wasnt comfortable with that. I suggested Daniel stay. She refused. I didnt like leaving her behind, but thats what she wanted, and she wasnt budging. The moment I stepped into the park, my eyes filled with tears. It looked exactly as Id left it. As we walked along the trail, other than the smell, there was no sign that there had been a fire. It had been veering south when wed last seen it, but Id barely dared hope that meant my park had been spared. I knew the animals in my rehabilitation shed were all safeMom had transported them to a facility in Victoria when the fire hitbut I was worried about every other creature out there, too.
When we reached the house, I stopped. The Jeep was gone. The windows were dark.
They arent here, I said, barely able to get the words past the lump in my throat.
Lets go in, Daniel said. Make sure.
The front door wasnt even locked. I stepped inside. The air was heavy and empty. Just empty.
Even Kenjii hung back, as if it was the home of strangers. She gingerly walked through and looked around, sniffing, then stood at the back door and whined.
Ill get her some food andwater, Daniel said.
Corey stayed with him. I went straight to my dads office. His computer was gone. So were his shortwave radios.
I headed upstairs. Nothing had been touched. My parents clothing was still there. My stuff was still there. A few drawers were open, in the bedroom and the bathroom, from when Dad must have packed our evacuation bags.
I stood in my parents room, looking at their hastily made bed, an empty duffel bag taken from the closet, then dumped on the floor, rejected. There was something else on the bed. Picture frames. Three empty ones.
In an evacuation, we werent supposed to take anything but an overnight bag. Most people would grab other stuff, though. A laptop. Jewelry. Whatever was important to them. My dad had taken their wedding photo and two baby pictures of me.
My eyes burned again. I hurried into the bathroom and turned on the tap. The pipes spit and hissed. Nothing came out.
Hydros off, Daniel said as he stepped into the open doorway. For you guys, no electricity means no water. I found jugs under the sink for Kenjii. Do you want me to bring one up?
I shook my head.
He moved closer. Well find them, Maya. Its just a matter of getting to your grandmother.
Only we cant do that, can we? I said. The St. Clouds and the Nasts will be prepared for that. I need to let her and my parents keep thinking Im dead until I can
I took a deep breath. I dont even know how to finish that sentence. Everything was about getting back here and telling my parents. But they arent here. I dont know where they are. I have no damned idea what to do next. I looked up at him. Do you?
I I have some thoughts. He cleared his throat. Well come up with a plan.
I brushed past him and headed for the stairs.
Maya.
I turned. He stood there, looking as lost and confused as I felt.
Im sorry, I mumbled. Youre right. Well come up with something. I just I looked through my bedroom door and out the huge windows at the forest. I need to go outside for a minute. Just for a minute.
Corey was still in the kitchen when I got downstairs. I brushed past him. Kenjii tried to follow as I slid out the back door. I closed it with a whispered apology.
I ran into the forest. I planned to keep going, get in deep enough to relax and refocus and, yes, maybe feel sorry for myself for a few minutes before I faced the others again. As I was running, though, tears filled my eyes and I nearly flipped over a downed tree.
I swiped at my eyes and I looked at the tree, and I remembered the last time Id seen it. Remembered whod sat on it.
