Wildfire Run Read Online Free Page A
Author: Dee Garretson
to a kid who got to do normal stuff.
âAdam, do you think you can convince Sal and George to let us stay?â Luke said, going over to Adam. Adam stood next to Theo by the back wall, both of them absorbed by the TV.
âWhat?â It took Adam a moment to take his eyes off the screen.
âMy dad says Theo and I can stay if Sal andGeorge okay it. Can you talk to them? I really want to stay.â
âIâll give it a shot. Why donât we go to the dining room, and while you two have some breakfast Iâll talk to Sal.â
Now that Adam had mentioned breakfast again, Luke realized he was hungry. He felt like he shouldnât be thinking about food in the middle of a disaster, but he couldnât help it.
âTheo, are you hungry?â Luke asked.
âIâm starving,â Theo said.
âSir, reports coming in indicate the earthquake was so large, multiple states are affected,â another aide said.
Luke looked back at the television, the screen now showing a huge building on fire. He turned to go, hoping everyone had gotten out safely.
8
Cabin Four
CAMP MISTY MOUNT, CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK
The fire took its time at first, flaring in spots with heavy underbrush, burning twigs and leaves and dead plants. In other spots it almost died out, in areas swept bare by human traffic. The first cabin to catch, strangely, was not cabin number three. The fire couldnât find anything to consume in the bare earth in front of the building, so it headed in another direction. The wind carried it forward.
Cabin four caught first. A pile of sticks left behind provided the fuel, and the fire burned them greedily. Sparks flew up, catching on some of the rough siding of the cabin. As the sparksstarted tiny individual fires on the siding, each looked like a glowing star in a miniature universe. Soon, though, the whole side of the building was aflame, and as it burned, new sparks flew off in the gusting wind, seeking fresh sources of fuel.
Minutes later, the doe, still running, burst upon three more of her kind who were milling about, unsure what to do. The three could already smell the smoke. Seeing the flight of one of their own, they knew the fire was close. When the doe ran by, they followed.
9
Hagerstown Motel
MARYLAND, FIFTEEN MILES WEST OF CAMP DAVID
âDad, you donât even have to start work until tomorrow. Why do we have to get there so early today?â Only minutes after the earthquake, Callieâs dad had rushed her down to the motel parking lot to wait for their ride to Camp David.
âI want us to have the whole day to get settled, and ease my way in with the Navy chef. I donât know how he will feel about my taking over his kitchen for the next week.â
Callie knew her dad was excited. Back at the Presidentâs ranch in Colorado, his chef talents went mostly unused. The President and hisfamily didnât get there much anymore, just once or twice a year. The new job as the Presidentâs assistant chef was such a big promotion, her dad said he would be crazy not to take it.
When he told her about it, Callie was mad enough to scream. She didnât want to leave her horse, Hania, or her dog, Kele, and the ranch where she had lived all her life, for a city and a school full of kids she didnât know. After days of arguing, they settled on a compromise: Callie would go to Camp David for the week, and then start school in Washington, D.C. If she hated it, and she knew she would, her dad had promised she could go back to the ranch and stay with her aunt Kate, the Presidentâs housekeeper.
âWhen you see the First Lady, remember to thank her for arranging for you to come with me.â
âI will,â Callie said, adjusting the backpack on her shoulder and grabbing her jacket. She knew the First Lady felt sorry for her because her mom had died, even though Callie couldnât even remember her mom. Mrs. Brockett always smiled and looked so
âAdam, do you think you can convince Sal and George to let us stay?â Luke said, going over to Adam. Adam stood next to Theo by the back wall, both of them absorbed by the TV.
âWhat?â It took Adam a moment to take his eyes off the screen.
âMy dad says Theo and I can stay if Sal andGeorge okay it. Can you talk to them? I really want to stay.â
âIâll give it a shot. Why donât we go to the dining room, and while you two have some breakfast Iâll talk to Sal.â
Now that Adam had mentioned breakfast again, Luke realized he was hungry. He felt like he shouldnât be thinking about food in the middle of a disaster, but he couldnât help it.
âTheo, are you hungry?â Luke asked.
âIâm starving,â Theo said.
âSir, reports coming in indicate the earthquake was so large, multiple states are affected,â another aide said.
Luke looked back at the television, the screen now showing a huge building on fire. He turned to go, hoping everyone had gotten out safely.
8
Cabin Four
CAMP MISTY MOUNT, CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK
The fire took its time at first, flaring in spots with heavy underbrush, burning twigs and leaves and dead plants. In other spots it almost died out, in areas swept bare by human traffic. The first cabin to catch, strangely, was not cabin number three. The fire couldnât find anything to consume in the bare earth in front of the building, so it headed in another direction. The wind carried it forward.
Cabin four caught first. A pile of sticks left behind provided the fuel, and the fire burned them greedily. Sparks flew up, catching on some of the rough siding of the cabin. As the sparksstarted tiny individual fires on the siding, each looked like a glowing star in a miniature universe. Soon, though, the whole side of the building was aflame, and as it burned, new sparks flew off in the gusting wind, seeking fresh sources of fuel.
Minutes later, the doe, still running, burst upon three more of her kind who were milling about, unsure what to do. The three could already smell the smoke. Seeing the flight of one of their own, they knew the fire was close. When the doe ran by, they followed.
9
Hagerstown Motel
MARYLAND, FIFTEEN MILES WEST OF CAMP DAVID
âDad, you donât even have to start work until tomorrow. Why do we have to get there so early today?â Only minutes after the earthquake, Callieâs dad had rushed her down to the motel parking lot to wait for their ride to Camp David.
âI want us to have the whole day to get settled, and ease my way in with the Navy chef. I donât know how he will feel about my taking over his kitchen for the next week.â
Callie knew her dad was excited. Back at the Presidentâs ranch in Colorado, his chef talents went mostly unused. The President and hisfamily didnât get there much anymore, just once or twice a year. The new job as the Presidentâs assistant chef was such a big promotion, her dad said he would be crazy not to take it.
When he told her about it, Callie was mad enough to scream. She didnât want to leave her horse, Hania, or her dog, Kele, and the ranch where she had lived all her life, for a city and a school full of kids she didnât know. After days of arguing, they settled on a compromise: Callie would go to Camp David for the week, and then start school in Washington, D.C. If she hated it, and she knew she would, her dad had promised she could go back to the ranch and stay with her aunt Kate, the Presidentâs housekeeper.
âWhen you see the First Lady, remember to thank her for arranging for you to come with me.â
âI will,â Callie said, adjusting the backpack on her shoulder and grabbing her jacket. She knew the First Lady felt sorry for her because her mom had died, even though Callie couldnât even remember her mom. Mrs. Brockett always smiled and looked so
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