Chapter 14

FOURTEEN

A roar like a tornado broke the silence as Wolfe removed his examination gloves. The floorboards under his feet shook and rocks pinged off the bare roof as snow ran down the sloped sides and plopped to the ground. Glass smashed as a tree speared through a window like a deadly green dart, pushing the sofa across the room in a grinding screech. Wolfe stared in disbelief for two seconds before survival instinct took over. Dragging on his gloves, he grabbed the evidence bags and, clambering over the pine sapling, headed for the door. In a rush of wind, a cloud of white billowed through the opening in a surge so intense it knocked him back a few steps. Ice needles bounced off his cheeks, like an attack of angry bees. Avalanche.

Outside, chaos reigned as the fury of nature's aggression took hold and shook the earth. Of two minds to risk going outside, he glanced around for a safe place, but when the roof creaked and the building leaned sideways under the pressure of the snow, he dashed out of the door. Inside would mean certain death but outside he'd be safer if he could make it to the forest and his snowmobile. A deafening noise greeted him in a wall of swirling white, buffeting him with every stride. The wind elevated him and it was like floating in the ocean in a storm. Behind him snow tumbled down the mountain in ferocious waves of white. As Wolfe ran toward the forest, the first force of rolling snow picked him up and he became one with a swirling wall of death.

Ice-filled air clogged his nose, and helpless, he gasped for each breath. As he tumbled, in the distance he caught sight of the edge of the pine forest. The trees stood like ghostly sentries around the perimeter. He must get there but the speed of the sliding snow was too fast to gain his footing. His feet left the ground and the snow lifted him and then rolled him over again. Slices of ice cut across his cheeks and blood filled his left eye. His mind went to Julie, she was out there alone and needed him. He must survive at all costs.

Chunks of debris, boulders, and broken tree branches surrounded him. Snow swirled around his head in a blanket of white. The evidence bags vanished from his grasp and he lifted his arms to cover his head as the rush of deathly white engulfed him. His back hit something solid expelling the air from his lungs. Struggling to breathe as the white fury rushed past him, he made out dark shapes around him. The wave of snow had carried him to the forest. Blinding snow rushed against his face, chilling him to the bone. He forced opened his eyes as trees, still trailing their roots, flew past. Pinned against a tree, he rolled his shoulders and slowly turned. Muscles screamed as they tore from the exertion but he managed to loop his arms and legs around the trunk. The avalanche tore at his clothes, as if trying to rip him from the tree but he clung tight, using every last ounce of strength to survive.

Trapped in an ice tomb, he forced his head back to make a pocket of air. Snow was all around him, above and below, but the incredible force stopped as fast as it had started. Silence followed as if he'd suddenly gone completely deaf. An icy wall pressed hard against his back but steadied him. He moved one hand from the trunk and punched up alongside the tree. Time was ticking away and he must get air. He dragged himself up inch by inch and punched again. His hand burst into open space. Air rushed in and he drank in each painful lung-burning breath. Cold seeped into him, as if his clothes had been ripped from his back, but that sliver of light above him was like a beacon. Slowly, he climbed the tree. His arms screamed in protest, but refusing to give in, he pushed on. The bark tore at his clothes and cheeks, but the small broken branches offered a foothold.

Without warning, the small tunnel above him collapsed over his face, smothering him. Panic gripped him and he dug deep to keep calm. Dammit, he'd been trained to cope in situations like this. Remaining calm was the key to survival. He punched one fist up high in the air and the light and rush of air fell over him like a ray of hope. Dragging in deep painful breaths, he pulled himself higher up the tree. As his head poked through the surface, the sound of a snowmobile engine broke the silence. He climbed up the last few inches to expose his shoulders and then hugged the tree gasping for each breath. A wave of gratitude rolled over him at the sight of Kane riding toward him, standing up on the snowmobile searching all around. He took a deep breath. "Dave. Over here." His voice came out in a tiny squeak.

He tried again but Kane turned around and headed along the edge of the snowfall, obviously searching for the cabin. More noise filled the forest as the other snowmobiles came into sight. He dragged himself higher up the tree, now his shoulders were visible. When they all dismounted, Emily ran toward Kane. He turned to her. "I can't see him."

"Dad, where are you?" Emily ran up and down the edge of the avalanche, stumbling over chunks of ice. "Daddy, call out." Tears streamed down her face as she pushed into the snow and started digging.

"Look." Jenna pointed toward something and they all ran forward.

With effort they uncovered his snowmobile and Rio started it and dragged the trailer out of the snow. He searched around where the snowmobile had been and shook his head. "He's not here and from the debris the cabin was flattened."

Wolfe stared at them in disbelief. "I'm here. Over here." He waved one hand when Jenna turned and looked in his direction. "I'm here."

His heart sank when she turned away, but he kept on yelling, his voice not more than a croak. Why couldn't they hear him? He swallowed hard. Maybe, I'm dead.