Page 47 of Fourth Point Of Contact

“Piper, get up!”

The urgency in his voice was the only reason I didn’t fall back asleep. My eyes flew open when I heard a low growl that sent shivers down my spine. My gaze swung around the early morning light, landing on a very large, very angry-looking bear. Gasping, I scrambled back on my hands and feet until I smashed into Patrick.

“Oh my God!”

“Just stay calm,” Patrick said, gripping me by the bicep and hauling me to my feet. “It’s okay. We’ll get out of this. Just don’t show any fear.”

“Right. I’ll be totally calm as a bear comes to eat me!”

The bear stood up on his hind legs and let out a huge roar that had me slamming my hands over my ears. I pried my eyes open as his roars dulled down, but the fact that he was quiet didn’t mean we were in the clear. He started pawing at the ground, huffing as he prowled toward us.

“Piper, get up that tree!” he said, pointing to one off to our right.

“What about you?”

“I’ll be right behind you. When I tell you, haul ass and get up that tree!”

I didn’t like the sound of that. “If you die, that leaves me with the bear!”

“Then I won’t die!”

“Somehow, I don’t believe you,” I hissed.

“Okay, I’m going to move forward and you’re going to slowly move to the tree. Got it?”

Before I could answer, he advanced on the bear, taking him on like David versus Goliath. I walked with easy movements, trying my best not to startle the bear. But fear had a firm grip on me, and when the bear looked my way, it was like he was looking right through me, determining that I was the easier target.

He let out a large roar and ran at me, scaring the crap out of me. Patrick dove in front of him, holding his hands up and yelling at the bear. The beast swatted at him, his large palm slamming into Patrick’s side, sending him flying into a tree with a deafening crack.

“Patrick!” I shouted, taking only a single step in his direction before the bear growled at me again.

“Get up the fucking tree!” he shouted, his face contorted in pain.

I retreated a single step, but then the bear advanced on Patrick. I couldn’t leave him there with no way to defend himself. The bear would eat him alive, and then I would be all alone.

“I’m not leaving you,” I said, determined to go down with the ship if necessary. “He…he’s just scared. He needs a soothing voice. Bears are just like cats. You have to talk slowly and don’t scare them.”

Patrick snorted. “Yeah, just like cats, plus three hundred pounds.”

“So pessimistic,” I muttered.

I wasn’t sure what possessed me to talk to a bear. I had to be crazy, but there was no way I’d leave Patrick to die after he just jumped in front of a bear for me.

“Piper!” Patrick hissed as I slowly made my way closer to the bear.

“Hey there, little guy,” I said calmly, earning a loud growl from the black bear. “Oh, okay. Sorry about that. You’re a big guy, aren’t you? Yes, you are,” I chuckled nervously. “You’re such a big bear. But you’re still cute. As cute as a button.”

The bear cocked his head to the side, making a confused sound.

“I know. Those mean men always want to paint you as the villain, but you’re not, are you? No, you’re just a sweet guy looking for some food. I get it. They’re all being mean. You’re just hungry. It’s summer and you need something to eat.”

The bear slowly raised to his hind legs and I paused, sucking in a breath.

“Piper, this is not working,” Patrick growled.

The bear growled again, but his eyes were on Patrick. “Be quiet. You’re scaring him.”

“Sure, I’m scaring him. The bear is three times my size, but I’m the scary one. He already laid me out flat. I’m pretty sure?—”

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