Chapter 1
The Camping Trip
It was a Thursday morning around the end of May. Johnny and Roy were in the locker room chatting about going on a hike during the upcoming week end, when Chet came in.
"I haven't been out since last fall," Johnny was telling Roy.
"What haven't you done since last fall," Chet butted in. "Haven't be on a real date?" He teased Johnny.
"For your information," Johnny said, turning to look at Chet, "I haven't gone hiking and camping yet this year." Then he turned back to Roy and said. "Before I was so rudely interrupted," as he gave Chet a quick glare. "I'm planning on taking off right after out shift. And I was wondering if you'd like to join me?"
"Sorry, Johnny," Roy answered him. "I already have plans with Joanne and the kids for this week end."
Johnny sat down on the bench and let out a long sigh, as he bent over to put on his shoes. "Hey, that's alright Roy. I understand."
Roy could tell that Johnny was disappointed. "Look Johnny, maybe we can go next week."
Johnny looked up at Roy and said, "Okay well see." He had his heart set on this hiking trip and didn't want to wait.
"Hey, Johnny, I'm free this weekend," Chet offered.
Johnny was considering Chet's offer when the tones sounded.
Station 51, trapped child, 5473 Sycamore 5-4-7-3 Sycamore, cross street Elm. Time out 8:03.
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As the squad backed up into the bay Chet hurried over to the passenger side of the squad and asked, "Hey buddy, am I your hiking partner or not?"
"Sure," Johnny agreed. "But I want to leave as soon as possible after our shift. So you get your stuff and Ill pick you up by 9:00am, okay?"
"Okay great," Chet agreed.
The rest of the day went on with only two runs for the squad and they were routine. When dinner time arrived, everyone was able to eat an entire and pleasant meal together. After the dishes were washed and put away, they relaxed and watched a movie on TV together. The fact that it had been a calm day left a foreboding feeling in the men and when everyone turned in there was a feeling of dread that something big would happen before the night was over.
The men were awakened as the lights came on and the tones sounded.
Station 51, Station 110, Engine 10, Structure Fire at 568 Taurus, 5-6-8- Taurus. Cross Street Aries. Time out 3:18.
They quickly rolled out of their beds and pulled on turn outs and ran to their designated positions on the squad and engine.
It was 7:30 before everyone had returned back to the station. By the time everyone had cleaned up, it was time to start the new day.
While the men from A-shift were awaiting the arrival of the B-Shift. Chet poured a cup of coffee for himself and sat down next to Johnny and asked, "Are we still gonna go hiking?"
"You bet," Johnny replied. Then he saw the less than enthusiastic look on Chet's face and asked. "You're not backing out on me?"
Chet was very tired and was hoping that Johnny had reconsidered and called the outing off. But with Johnny's question, he realized there was no backing out. If he did Johnny would harass him for a long time about being a pansy.
"Just making sure you were up to it." Chet replied trying to show some excitement. "I'll see you at 9:00. You're picking me up right?"
"Right," Johnny answered. "Make sure you're ready. I don't want to waste any time sitting around waiting for you to finish packing."
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"Come on, Chet," Johnny encouraged his hiking partner.
"I'm coming, Johnny. Why don't you slow down some?" Chet whined. We were both up half the night fighting that fire. I'm dead on my feet, and you should be too."
"Naw, I'm in my element out here." Johnny said with his lopsided smile and a twinkle in his eyes. "Take in a deep breath, Chet," Johnny urged, and did the same himself.
"Nature has a healing power all its own," he said as he turned and continued his steady, energetic pace.
Before long, Chet could no longer see Johnny ahead of him. His legs ached, and he was tired and felt winded to boot.
"Hey Gage," he hollered as he stopped and leaned up against a tree to rest a minute. When he didn't hear a reply, he raised his head to see if Johnny had returned. There was no sign of Johnny, but his eyes fixed on a wolf that was standing only a couple of yards away from him. And it was keeping his eyes on Chet as well.
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After hearing Chet whine, Johnny had stopped and was waiting for Chet to catch up. Then he heard Chet call out again, "Johnny, I could use some help please."
"Man, what a baby," he said to himself, as he walked back down the trail to see what Chet's problem was.
After about 20 steps, Johnny could see Chet hiding behind a tree. "What are you doing Chet?" He called out to him.
"Putting something between me and that wolf." Chet said as he pointed to an area of the forest Johnny couldn't see.
"Don't be silly Chet; there are no wolves in this area." Johnny chastised him as he stepped closer to see what had gotten Chet all worked up.
Then he saw it too. Standing just inside the line of trees was a wolf with a black mask and shaggy black and white markings in his coat. Johnny froze as he considered the animal a moment. Then he raised his hands and hollered, "Shoo." The wolf cocked his head and continued to watch both Chet and Johnny. Johnny bent down to pickup a couple of rocks to throw at the animal.
Just as he had his arm cocked back ready to throw one of the rocks, he heard a woman's voice. "Keeta, come here." The wolf or dog turned and greeted the woman as she appeared from out of the forest. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a red flannel shirt over a light grey turtle neck. She had long brown hair that was held back with a hair band.
Both Johnny and Chet turned into chick hunting mode. "Hi, my names John Gage," Johnny said, as he stepped toward the young women.
Almost as the same time Chet stepped forward saying, "and my name is Chet Kelly." After both men had taken a couple of steps towards the woman, her dog/wolf began growling at the two men while keeping between them and his master.
"Hi," the woman said, "it's nice to meet you." Then she turned and entered the forest, calling to the dog, "Come on, Keeta." The two turned and disappeared back into the forest the same way they had come.
Johnny turned and scolded Chet, "A wolf, geesh Chet. How lame can you get?" Then he turned and continued on the pathway calling back to Chet, "Hurry up, before a lion jumps out at you next."
Chet ran and caught up with Johnny saying, "I knew it was just a dog. I was just trying to fool you."
A half an hour later they broke into a meadow that was near a lake and Johnny turned to Chet and said, "what did I tell ya, a view straight from heaven."
"Yeah, it looks nice," Chet said as he walked up to the nearest unused fire pit and dropped his pack and sank to the ground. "Give me a minute to rest and I will pitch my tent and help you set up camp."
Johnny removed his pack and looked around the camp ground. He wanted to see who else was camping in the area as well. All he saw was one other tent that was setup on the other side of the meadow near the tree line. "Perfect," he said to himself, "no crowds." Then he set to work pitching his tent and setting up the camp site. He was about finished, when Chet picked himself up and began pitching his tent as well. Johnny had insisted on them having their own tents. After five years of sleeping in the same room with Chet, he was well aware of the fact that Chet snored like a chain saw.
While Chet was working at putting his tent up, Johnny headed out to gather a supply of firewood for that evening. Upon returning from his second trip, carrying an arm load of wood, he noticed Chet was about finished setting up his tent. "It's about time," Johnny harassed him.
By this time, the long night fighting the structure fire was taking its toll.
"I'm going to take a nap," Johnny announced. Then he suggested, "When you get done there, you can gather some more fire wood." Then Johnny slipped into his tent and laid down on his sleeping bag and quickly drifted off to sleep.
