RUNAWAY TWINS and RUNAWAY TWINS IN ALASKA: BOXED SET (28 page)

Rachel and Justin nodded. "Good thinking, Janie," said Justin. "Let's do it."

Still moving as silently as possible, they entered the center of the camp and began gathering provisions. They took them to one of the canoes, and then Rachel said, "One more load—might as well get all we can." And they hurried to fill their arms once again.

But what they didn't know was they weren't alone after all. Short, squat Idaho Joe had been watching them through a crack in the flap of the armory tent; and when he concluded they were at their most vulnerable, he threw back the flap and stepped into the light. "Hello, kids, nice of you to drop in."

He was holding the Smith and Wesson 500 bear-killing revolver his dead associate Jack had discovered. "No fast moves. This cannon can stop a grizzly in its tracks."

The teenagers dropped their supplies and starred helplessly at their captor.

27
Search and Rescue

Rex and Martha Carlson refueled
the Bell 407 and were again crisscrossing what used to be the southern end of Glacier Lake. They couldn't discard the idea that the interns must've been somewhere in the vicinity of the missing cabin when the earthquake and eruption struck. There appeared to be no sign of human life below and no possibility of human survival in the area, but the rangers were reluctant to abandon their search and move on to fresh territory.

They radioed the pilot of the float plane who was still waiting on the lake's northern end and found he had deposited five team members on the shore at mid lake with a plan to hike over to the Yuktapah River.

"We've been there," said Martha to Rex.

"It's a long river," Rex said.

They'd surveyed the fishermen's camp and the outfitters' camp on their previous run, so when they finally headed east again, they made a decision to concentrate on an area somewhat north of their previous try. Their intention was to carefully examine the reaches between Glacier Lake and the river and then from a new starting point head upriver.

"Maybe the search team from the plane will find them," said Martha.

"We'll hear soon enough if they do."

"But where are the hunters and the fishermen?" asked Martha.

"Another mystery," Rex said, shaking his head.

The three Alaska State Troopers
and the two volunteers from the Yukon were nearing the bend in the Yuktapah, and the two volunteers had pulled back somewhat so they could talk without being overheard by the others.

"How're we supposed to handle this?" the younger of the two men asked. His name was Timothy. He was in his twenties, and he was lanky, pale, and awkward.

His partner's name was Paul. He was in his forties and was small, tightly built, and graceful. "We'll have to wait and see what happens, where we stand," he said. "The Prophet wants those girls in the Hawker Siddeley in the bottom of those mining equipment crates. It's our job to see his wishes are carried out."

"The Missoula connection?"

"Don't know what's up with those guys. Like I say, we wait and see."

"The boy?"

"A rebel, a recalcitrant. Fights God's will at every turn. Better for all when he's dead. Bad influence."

Timothy nodded and stumbled over a rock. He was not nearly as experienced an outdoorsman as he had presented himself to the organizers in Fairbanks. In Whitehorse he was a pharmacist's assistant, and until the God's Way Temple came to town, he was without a future, without a place in the world or in the world to come. But now he was part of something big—something that came directly from heaven, through the Prophet. Timothy already had two wives, and if he was elevated to the rank of church elder, he could have more…and the money to support them.

Paul was considerably better trained in rescue operations. He had served on various ski patrol units in the Yukon, and he did most of the talking to the state troopers. He was the pharmacist for whom Timothy worked. He was the younger man's friend, mentor, and leader—the most important person in Timothy's life (other than the Prophet himself).

Timothy said, "I hear the river. We must be close."

"Over the next rise," said Paul. "Not more than twenty minutes."

Rachel looked around the campsite
. "I thought there were two of you chasing us. We hoped you'd roasted in the forest fire."

"Almost did," said Idaho Joe. "We retreated just in time. And then there were three of us again for a bit, but Mike and Jack fought their own little war….I had to finish it."

"You're the only one left?" Justin asked.

Joe nodded.

"What now?" Justin said.

"You kids carry some more supplies to the canoe for me. You were doing so well, no sense stopping." He waved the monster gun toward the provisions and then toward the canoes on the high bank. "Put all the stuff in the same canoe."

Rachel went to stand in front of Justin. "We're not loading anything for you, and if you try to shoot Justin, you'll have to shoot us, too."

Janie moved beside her sister.

"Won't happen," said Joe. "Not the plan."

"Whose plan?" said Justin, stepping out from behind the twins.

"J.J. Flack's, of course. Now get busy, and, girls, if you don't cooperate I'll shoot the boy now, and maybe I'll do it one piece at a time. Gun like this won't wound him. It'll blow his body parts all around the camp….Load the canoe—all of you!"

Before the teens could respond, a party of five hikers appeared on the crest of the hill above the camp. Joe saw them first and quickly lowered the revolver. He stuck the gun in his waistband and hurried to stand alongside his captives. "You brats keep your mouths shut. Don't forget, I've still got this canon, and I can take your heads off."

The rescue party descended rapidly, shouting victoriously as they trotted down the slope.

"Don't be ridiculous," Justin said to Joe. "You can't pull this off—too many loose ends. And do you really think we're going to stay quiet because of your threats?"

Joe looked perplexed.

The state troopers arrived first. They bounded into camp with exclamations of pleasure at finding survivors; and they embraced the young people and Joe as well. But it didn't take long for the interns to set the record straight and for the troopers to disarm Joe and place him in handcuffs.

"You've got it all wrong," Joe protested. "I can explain everything."

"Save it for Fairbanks," the sergeant said.

Paul and Timothy, the two Yukon men, stood together at the edge of the clearing, watching events unfold. Their faces were filled with indecision, as if they had no idea how to proceed and were fearful that whatever choice they made would be wrong.

"That must be Idaho Joe," said Timothy under his voice, "fits the description the Prophet gave us—fat, short, mean looking."

"It's him."

"Can we do anything?"

"It'll be bloody."

"Prophet's orders were to do what's necessary."

Paul nodded. "Shooting state troopers will bring all of Alaska down on us."

"We could bury the bodies or weight them down and sink them in the river. We might make it work."

Paul said, "We'd be advancing God's will. The Prophet has given us the outline. Up to us to fill in the details." He motioned toward Timothy's rifle and then at his own. "Are you willing, brother?"

"I am."

But before they could lift their weapons they were distracted by the sound of a helicopter belching smoke and laboring in from the north. It coughed, sputtered, and weaved—finally putting down roughly on the still visible sandbar in the Yuktapah.

Bear-management rangers Rex and Martha Carlson waded across the shallows and screamed with delight when they saw their interns. They rushed forward and hugged Justin and the twins and then greeted the troopers. "Chopper's spitting ash from Mt. Yuktapah," said Rex. "We got too close. The cruds still up there…thick. We'll have to hike out with you folks. We talked to your pilot. He's sitting on Glacier Lake….What's the deal with the handcuffs?"

Justin explained and Joe shook his head violently. "Boy's mixed up. No evidence to link me to anything!"

"We'll haul him back to the Fairbanks Detachment—let them sort it out," the sergeant said to Rex. He looked scornfully at Joe. "Frankly, I think the kids are telling it straight."

Rachel said, "We are."

"How much room in that floatplane?" asked Martha.

"Room for all of us," said the sergeant, "and more…if we find any more."

"They're all dead," said Rachel, "eight of them. Ask Joe here, he knows where he put them."

Joe glowered. "She doesn't know what she's talking about."

28
Safe in Fairbanks

"The rain last night finished the wildfire,"
said Martha, "but there wasn't any place for it to go. That dense patch of forest was fairly isolated. It would've burned itself out."

They were gathered around a blazing campfire, discussing the events of the last few days, and all marveled when Rachel recounted the story of how they survived in the scum-filled pond.

"The fire was a big deal in that little clearing, I'll tell you that," said Janie.

"Of course," said Martha. "I didn't mean to minimize what you three went through."

The teenagers then took turns telling about what had occurred since Rex and Martha's departure for Denali: the home invasion by the fishermen; the eruption and earthquake; the aftershocks and the rescue of Umbriago from the sinking cabin; the missing hunters; Big Bertha's destruction of Ernie; the nights on the trail; the confrontation with Bruno and the arrival of the bull moose; finding Bruno's carcass; and the raft trip down the Yuktapah rapids.

"Good grief!" said Martha. "And to think we were worried about you kids."

Idaho Joe grunted from his position handcuffed to a large iron cauldron. He could attempt an escape, but dragging the heavy burden into the wilderness wouldn't make a lot of sense. "One-sided tales," he said. "These things can all be explained."

"Shut up!" said the trooper sergeant.

Since there was an abundance of provisions and facilities and since no one wished to finish the trek back to Glacier Lake in the dark, the rescue team had decided to spend the night in the Bilboa and Barnes campground. The float plane would wait and would carry everyone safely to Fairbanks sometime tomorrow.

The sergeant glared at Idaho Joe. "You know, don't you, we can bring dogs in here—find those bodies, see how your explanations go then. Why don't you tell us about your connection to J.J. Flack?"

Joe said, "Kids heard wrong. Don't know what they're talking about."

The Yukon men were seated as far away from the others as they could manage without seeming anti-social. They hadn't tried to make verbal or even eye contact with Joe. They decided the contact might be noticed or he might slip up and give them away. They had abandoned all thoughts of using their guns. There were too many arrayed against them now and too much radio contact. Better to wait, get back to Fairbanks International Airport and see what could be done there. They were part of the rescue operation and still trusted by everyone. Who could tell what openings might arise to fulfill the Prophet's will.

Rex examined the hanging bearskins and said, "Looks like the hunters got two of our sows."

Justin nodded. "Didn't pay any attention to the Yuktapah bear-management regulations."

"Didn't think they would," said Rex.

Justin felt a need to defend his special sow. "Big Bertha did what she had to do. Ernie was mistreating her cub. Headquarters should take that into consideration."

Rex didn't answer.

Joe said, "Story about Ernie's a bunch of crap. Didn't happen."

"Shut up," the sergeant said again.

Rex and Martha said goodnight and went to prepare sleeping arrangements in their disabled helicopter. The three back seats could be removed and air mattresses slipped in easily. And if they removed the rear bear screen they had room to add a third air mattress.

Justin decided to join them in the chopper, and the rest of the party began to choose tents and sleeping bags.

The two Yukon men looked at each other with uncertainty. "Still a bad idea to try anything here," said Paul. "Let's wait for Fairbanks."

Timothy nodded.

Seth Lemon, the twins' father
, felt pulled apart by the pressures placed on him in recent days, and as he walked alone across the prison yard at Deer Lodge, he tried to sort things out. The Prophet still controlled his life, even behind bars, but Seth was confident the control was appropriate. J.J. Flack spoke for God and was God's human instrument on the planet. Whatever doubts filled Seth's mind were not directed toward the Prophet himself, but toward the men in Alaska who were searching for Rachel and Janie. In all probability they were unnecessarily rough men who might harm the girls and forget that the basic mission was to convince the twins to change their minds and recant their testimony from the previous year. Seth knew the Prophet loved the girls tenderly and hoped to welcome them as his wives as soon as God made it possible. There was no way he would willingly do anything to hurt them. As for the boy, Justin Patrick, he was a different case, and if he called down God's judgment on his own head, so be it. The boy was responsible for much that had befallen the imprisoned elders. No punishment was too strong for him.

Elders Mobly and Biggars and the Prophet himself were waiting under the guard tower toward the front of the yard.

"Welcome, Elder Lemon," said J.J. Flack. "There's news of your daughters. They've been located and they should be in Fairbanks in a day or two.

"Oh, good, good. But I'm still not sure we can get them to recant. They have minds of their own."

"Well one thing for certain," said the Prophet. "We couldn't change their minds until we found out where they were."

"What now?" asked Seth. "Are they okay—have they been hurt?"

"The report says they're doing fine. We'll try to convince them to move to the Whitehorse Temple. The change in environment might help them see the light."