Page 48 of Special Agent Anastacia

Ana felt like she was going crazy. How could they have been so unaware of the coming danger? She’d heard tales of the speed of forest fires but had never seen one up close. Her hands gripped the throttle, and her instinct to go faster had to be controlled. She was well aware that their only hope to get away was using this four-wheeled vehicle. They needed to protect it at all costs.

Sticking to the wide path, she put her head down and kept going. Soon, with a wall of orange glow on both sides, heat like they’d never felt before, and a snowfall of burning embers floating around in the thick air, they kept traveling forward. Hanna brushed off sparks landing on them, yet many stungAna’s bare chest and arms. Ignoring the discomfort, she heard the younger girl choking on cries of the pain she also endured.

God help her, she’d never been afraid in a fight, but this attacker… she’d never fought against before. She had no understanding of its power, its plays, therefore she felt a kind of fear like she’d hadn’t known in her life.

Having Hanna clinging from behind made her aware that her young cousin felt the same kind of horror. Through all the crashing, spitting, crackling sounds of the forest in peril around her, she still heard the whimpers of fear that Hanna made. With her face nestled into Ana’s neck, her arms clinging tight around her waist, the younger girl’s instinctive moans came through loud and clear.

Whipping around the last bend, a wall of red danger awaited them, forcing her to brake. Choking, smoke everywhere, her eyes watering both from the heat and the fumes of stinking pollution, Ana didn’t know which way to turn. The blasted furnace closing in was killing them.

Just as she decided they’d need to try breaking through the mess in front of them and pray for a clearing on the other side, they heard a thundering noise that made them break out in a wild cheer. Voices raw, eyes streaming, they nevertheless both yelped with glee when the bush firetruck broke through the wall of flames and drove toward them.

In seconds, Nash had run to them, hauling each female from their perch on the ATV and basically throwing them towards his men who were there to help guide them inside the truck. While they tried to recover, Nash hugged each of them hard, his arms tight around Ana, clearly thankful that they were in time. He kissed her once, whispering, “I couldn’t bear to lose you.” Then leaving them to recover, he discussed their best chance to survive with his crew.

Nash directed his question to the navigator in the passenger seat next to the driver. “Any openings nearby to get the truck back to safety?”

“Doesn’t look good, Nashville. Not unless we can get to the lake road and pray it’s not as engulfed as here. From the map, I’d say there’s a wider opening where the trees are further inland along the beachfront.”

Ana heard them and leaned forward. In between coughing and choking, she shared what she knew. “To the right.” She pointed at his navigation screen. “Just there. Another path. It’s cleared. It’ll take you to that road along the lake.”

While the truck made the awkward three-point turns, Nash removed her helmet and swiped her face gently with trembling hands. “Is that where your father’s boat is tied up? Oh Christ, please tell me it’s not in a boathouse?”

“No. Thank God.” She coughed, clearing her throat before being able to continue. He handed her his own canteen, sharing his precious water supply, and it helped cool her throat. “Thanks. That’s much better.” She gave it back. Their hands touched long enough for their eyes to connect… a sweet message of gratitude passing between them.

“When we first arrived, I moved it out on the lake and tied it to the buoy we have there. I like to swim to it for exercise. The boat’s surrounded by water. It should be safe. Unless some floating embers… you know… like landed on it.”

She didn’t recognize her voice. It sounded harsh from the pain in her throat. Turning away from Nash, she glanced toward the windshield and almost lost it. They were driving through a wall of flames on both sides. How they managed to keep going, she’d never understand. Trees were burning, branches falling, many landing all around them. They heard the hissing and strange explosive sounds one wouldn’t normally equate with fire. But they just kept moving ahead.

It was like a scene from an apocalyptic movie… one she’d never thought to star in and prayed she’d never have to again. Fear rode her body, inserting itself in her brain, knocking everywhere for her to let it in… but she refused. Fighting her senses, she gritted her teeth and barely kept control.

Instead, she watched as Nash – in his rightful – position guided his men with calm and strength. They totally bowed to his orders, each one of them absolutely secure in his knowledge and power to keep them safe.

Thankfully, the lake road now lay just ahead to the left, and with a final burst of speed, they broke out of the flames and turned onto it. There they found the air less toxic and most of the flames behind them. They parked the truck ahead, and each man left to gear up.

Giving instructions to his crew, Nash had them scurrying around, everyone but the driver leaving the safety of the truck to work on the ground, putting out the hundreds of spot fires in the vicinity.

“I can help with that.” Ana pointed to where the men were working with rakes and swatters.

“Me, too.” Hanna spoke through her coughing spell. “I want to help.” She went to the door and jumped to the ground, grabbing a tool from the rack on the side of the truck where she’d seen the others get theirs. Then she moved close to where a fellow was busy at work, putting out the small fires smoldering along the shore. Imitating his movements, she worked alongside him.

Watching through the window, Anna felt a huge sense of pride for Hanna’s actions. The girl had grit and seeing it made her tear up. Not wanting Nash to see her emotional display, she stood to follow, but he held her back. “You’ve been burned, darling. Your leg.”

She looked down to see her jeans blackened and missing a small section where her skin shone through… red with blisters. “That’s strange. It doesn’t hurt.”

“It will. We have ointment for that. Tiger can fix you up. I need to get busy.” He kissed her cheek and left her seated.

An older man, who came out from behind the wheel, stepped closer holding a first-aid kit. He crouched in front of her. “Thank goodness it’s not too deep. This stuff will fix it up.”

Ana nodded. “Thank you for coming for us… ahh, Tiger. I was shocked to see the truck, but I’ll admit I’ve never set eyes on anything more beautiful in my life.”

Tiger chuckled before speaking. “Seriously… the boss almost ran in front of us; he was in such a hurry to get to you. Especially after we met Officer Chalmers who said he’d left you here and then couldn’t get in touch with you. Once he realized how bad the fire had become, he wanted to warn you to leave immediately.”

Ana nodded with understanding. “Makes sense. We were hosing down the house and grounds, and like a dummy, I got hot and took off my shirt. I’d left my phone in the pocket. Guess it’s gone now.” She coughed and drank more of the water.

“Hmm. You’re taking it well. I can’t tell you how many meltdowns we’ve seen over folks losing their cellphones.” Tiger shook his head sadly. “It’s a crazy-ass world today.”

Glad the tightness in her throat had eased, Ana bobbed her head in agreement. “You’re not kidding. Talk about crazy, can I ask you why anyone would choose such a dangerous profession? I mean, I’m an agent with the FBI, and in my career, I’ve been in a few tight places. But this burning bastard is way beyond the criminals and weirdos we face every day. This horror show has no mercy, no fear, doesn’t give a hoot in hell about life… be it human or nature. It’s humbling. Know what I mean?”

“Uh huh.” Tiger sat back on his heels and stared into her eyes, his filled with sincerity. “The truth?”

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