Page 13 of Steel

Axe pulled binoculars, a piece of equipment he always carried and lifted them toward the sky. After a few seconds, he whistled. “Jesus Christ. They’re using a DC-10 Airtanker.”

It seemed California was lucky enough to have one. The drop would be over ten thousand gallons, a significant drop. I glanced at the area while the plane flew closer.

“Well, hell. I have a bad feeling we’re going to be in the way. Hardhat on, boys, and get into the safety position.”

We all dropped face down, waiting as the plane rolled overhead. There was nothing like being covered in fire retardant material. As the chemical filtered through the trees, making its way to the ground, I heard at least two of the men groaning.

What a way to make a living.

* * *

Nine hours later we were finally on our way down the mountain, carefully watching for any flare-ups. The drop had all but stopped the fire, allowing us to mop up while ensuring additional flare-ups hadn’t occurred.

While the fire still burned on the backside of the mountain, from what I’d been told on the coms, headway was finally being made, the fire eighty-nine percent contained and something the California team could handle.

We were finally able to remove our masks and breathe fresh air. With the sun slowly setting, the area was bathed in a sweeping golden light. A promise of better things to come. There’d been so many fires in the last few years, so much property damaged, wildlife and animals disturbed.

Time would heal the ravaged soil, but working one of these fires seemed to take larger tolls on the Beckett brothers.

We stopped long enough to catch our breath, pulling our rations for water. I remained standing as the others piled on the ground. There was one clear path down the mountain on this side, the area the only secure location for hikers. Everything else for miles on end was treacherous terrain, cliffs, and rocky exposures that led to steep drop-offs.

That’s why the missions had to be carefully planned.

I continued staring at the sky, uncertain why my nerves were on edge.

“What is it?” Axe asked as he flanked my side.

Before answering, I glanced at the ground and the rocks that were located near one of the edges of a drop-off about thirty feetaway. “I don’t know, but my gut tells me we need to get out of here.”

He snorted as if I was making a joke then narrowed his eyes. “Your instincts are usually right. I’ll rally the team. It’s time to go home.”

“Yeah, it is. Kenzie will kick your ass.” His wife was a strong woman and exactly what he’d needed. I allowed a smile as I tipped my head toward him. My brother was grinning from ear to ear. “Go on. I don’t want to hear a single story.”

Before walking away, he popped me on the arm.

I stood where I was, listening for any sounds. What I noticed was the that area was devoid of the cawing of birds. That wasn’t unusual around a fire for wildlife to become silent, but this felt different.

After a couple of minutes of seeing and hearing nothing, I decided my mind was playing tricks on me. Yet as soon as I turned away to send the men down the mountainside, a vibration under my feet caught my full attention. Very slowly I turned toward the area where the rocks were positioned, watching them closely.

When one of them moved, I blinked several times to ensure I wasn’t manifesting the action. Another vibration, this time more significant. After I blinked again, the rock moved further.

“Ah, fuck,” I hissed.

“What’s up?” Raptor called out.

“Stay away from the edge,” I told them just as the entire group of rocks rolled toward the edge.

“What is going on?” Axe was right behind me.

The next time the earth moved, there was no mistaking what we were facing. “Earthquake.”

In the next few seconds, the earth beneath our feet rumbled, trees overhead swaying and arching. Rumbles blanketed the air, becoming louder with every second. A low, deep, guttural roar sounded like distant thunder, but there wasn’t a dark cloud in the sky.

Trees began to sway violently, roots tearing away. The men who’d stood lost their footing, pitched to the turf. As the ground undulated, every sound became louder, more intense as rocks became jumping beans.

The sound was even more thunderous and we watched in horror as rocks from a higher elevation broke free, tumbling down the mountainside. We rushed toward the forest of trees, which was safer than being out in the open with the number of rocks and boulders surrounding us.

Rocks flew by on both sides, tossing like pebbles off the edge of the cliff. The sound was like a freight train, pounding in my ears.