You Only Die Twice

Chapter THIRTY





She had to get out. The fire was unfolding faster than she thought it would, but then it had the wind whipping through the gaps in the shelter, didn’t it? It was being fed by it, wasn’t it? She needed to leave―quickly―before she succumbed to the smoke and then to the flames themselves.

He’s right outside. He’s seen the fire. He’s going to shoot me.

She had no choice but to leave.

Bracing herself, her heart striking against her chest so hard, it seemed as if it was trying to break out and leave faster than she was, she bolted from the shelter, shot low across the woods with the fire at her back and waited for the hail of bullets that she was sure would bring her down.

They didn’t come.

In the fire’s wavering maelstrom of light, which cast a wild hive of shadows that thrashed against the walls of trees surrounding her, she saw a tall, wide pine just to her right and ran for it.

She pressed her back against it. She watched the shelter smoke and burn, watched the trees that surrounded it catch fire and, thanks to the wind, she watched other trees ignite, especially the dead ones, which caught quickly.

The forest was going up.

She could feel the fire’s heat and fleetingly, in spite of the danger she was in, she thought how good that heat felt. She felt it sink into her body and warm her bones. She was in desperate need of water, but right now, after being so cold for so long, she welcomed the fire and its heat. She peered around the pine and searched for any signs of him.

That’s when she heard the growl off to her right.

Then the snort.

She turned slightly and her eyes connected with the eyes of a black bear, no more than thirty feet from her. She remained completely still and then lowered her eyes so as not to challenge the animal.

But she was too late. It snapped its jaws at her and slapped the ground with one of its paws, two sure signs that it felt threatened, not only because of the fire, but also because of her.

Slowly, she slipped around the tree so she was out of its sight. She’d mistaken the bear for the madman and what she assumed was someone else.

Four paws sound like two footsteps.

And now, somehow, she had to get away from it while the forest, being destroyed by the wind-fueled flames tearing into the sky, was actively letting him know where she was.

What have I done? she thought. Which direction do I take?

Before she could decide, she heard the unmistakable sound of the bear lunging in her direction.