"I already signed all those papers…so check your files…then call me. Is that understood?" Chief Rob not so politely said into the phone. Disconnecting, he managed a grin when Robbie Simon stuck his head in the door.

"Hey, Rob…are Pop and Uncle A.J. still around?"

"They're up at Switchback Trail, should be ready to come back about now….we thought we saw a couple of trespassers up at the top of the trail. Let me check with them to see if…" the tribal chief began, then a loud "Boom" stopped him in mid-sentence.

"What the…" Rob got up from his seat, then went to the back window of his office, only to let out a swear word as a plume of smoke appeared at the top of Horseshoe Falls.

"Rob…don't tell me…is that where Pop and Uncle A.J. are?" Robbie asked, peering over the older man's shoulder.

"Yes….call in the fire and get the engine companies from Silver Rock and Window Rock…hurry." The chief replied, already heading out the door.

Stopping next to his jeep, he hit his transmitter button. "Rick, A.J….can you hear me?"

The crackle of static covered a faint voice, and furiously Rob twisted his receiver control.

"Rick? A.J….can you hear me? Are you two all right?"

Choking on a cloud of dust, A.J. sat up slowly, dizziness making his head go around. Once his equilibrium settled, he looked around, realizing he hadn't heard his brother once. As his senses returned, he realized they were in what had been the lip of one of the World War II bunkers.

"Rick!" he called out, softly at first, then fear took over and he frantically yelled,

"Rick?…..Come on, tell me where you are…."

There was silence, then the younger Simon heard a faint voice. For a moment he didn't recognize it, then he realized it was his nephew.

"Pop? Uncle A.J? Are you okay?"

Suddenly a moan sounded from nearby, and A.J. used the light from his watch to illuminate the area around him. After several minutes, he managed to shine the small beam on his brother, half-buried in rocks and dirt.

"Rick…..Rick….wake up….we have to get out of here!" he urged. Heedless of the pain in his head, A.J. pawed at the debris covering Rick's body. At first he was able to free first his arms, then the top half of his legs. Unfortunately several large rocks were wedged so as to pin him against the ground.

"Rick…please, I need your help." A.J. pleaded, then Rick suddenly opened his eyes.

"Hell, A.J….not so loud….."

"Rick!" A.J. started to hug his brother, but held back as he saw Rick wincing.

"A.J., I can't move my legs….what happened….oh.." Full awareness came to him, and he slowly sat up, gazing at A.J..

"You're bleeding."

"I got a headache, but I'm okay….. do your legs hurt?"

"No, it's weird, they don't hurt, I just..shine your light over here, A.J." Rick told him, then swore as he got a better look at what was holding him down.

"Damn….no way we can get one off without the others crushing my right leg….You're going to have to go for help, little brother."

Just then a faint noise caught both Simons, and Rick saw that although the crystal of his watch was cracked, a red light was on. Immediately he hit send.

"Rob? Robbie? Can you hear me?"

"Rick, A.J….where are you?" Through the crackling static, Chief Rob's voice was faint.

"We're in one of the old bunkers, two yahoos were up here and one of them found two grenades. When the guy dropped the box with the grenades, they rolled down the slope then hit a bump and everything blew. Did you guys see them?" Rick asked.

"Yeah…Andy caught them trying to steal your truck….they were babbling about the "sheriff's father" and that they had to get away. Now they've shut up….I guess they realize what trouble they're in. Are you guys okay?" Rob added, his voice betraying his concern.

A.J. glanced at his brother, then spoke up. "I've got a bump or two, but Rick's the one in trouble. His legs are pinned down by a couple of rocks….can you get a jeep up here?"

"Only as far as the trail….we have a fire racing up the hill, about 2 acres so far. I've got engine crews on the way…Can you prop something under the rocks and pull him out?"

"I think so." A.J. replied uncertainly, then quickly picked up a piece of fallen lumber and stuck it under the two rocks immediately over his right leg.

"Wait a minute, let me get ready." Rick broke in, trying to angle himself into a better position. As soon as he felt one of the rocks start to shift, he told A.J., "Now!"

Instantly the younger Simon leaned all his weight on the board, then pressed down. A grinding noise sounded, then Rick managed to yank his left leg out, then started to pull his right leg out, only for one of the rocks to slip and pin his foot down. Rick gasped in pain, as A.J. grabbed his arm.

"Don't move, let me try…."

Rick interrupted him. "No, it's too heavy…..I need you to go for help."

"No, I won't leave you…"A.J. protested, only for his brother to shake his head.

"A.J., listen to me….you're my only chance to get out of here….Rob, can you see a clear path away from the fire?"

"Yes….but it's going to be close….A.J….switch your transmitter to 115.15….I'll direct you down, then we'll get directions from you as to which bunker Rick's in." the Chief explained.

Looking around him, Rick found both of their backpacks, and pulled an undamaged bottle of water from each of them.

"Here, A.J….take this with you….In case you get trapped by the fire, you can at least douse yourself…"

"Thanks.." A.J. didn't want to state the obvious, that if the fire came that close to him, no spritz of water would help. Getting to his feet, he looked at his brother, then hugged him tight.

"It's going to be okay, A.J……just hurry.." Rick started to choke up. A.J. released him, then managed a smile.

"I'll be back with the cavalry….and if I'm not careful….Laurie…"

"Oh no you don't…..she stays put.." Rick retorted, then waved him off. As A.J. made his way toward the cave entrance, he saw a small opening that was just big enough to squeeze through. Taking another piece of lumber from the pile of debris, he carefully jammed it into the bunker floor, then pushed it upright so it would act as a roof support in case of a cave-in.

Turning, he saw Rick hold up a "thumbs up", and he quickly nodded at him and hurried out of the cave and slowly went down the trail. Almost immediately the younger Simon saw the billowing smoke several hundred yards ahead, and he hit send on his transmitter.

"Rob…I'm at the beginning of Switchback Trail….Heavy smoke is coming towards me…which way should I head?"

"Bear to the right of Rocky Point…then follow Horseshoe Falls Trail to the end of Switchback….if the fire leaps the trail, head for the falls." The Chief explained.

Listening to the conversation on his watch, Rick suddenly realized his wife needed to know he was okay.

"Robbie….call your mother and tell her we're …well…tell her there's a fire but that we're okay. No need to upset her until your uncle gets down the trail." He radioed.

There was silence, then Robbie's voice faintly came over the transmitter.

"Pop….you're breaking up…did you say something about calling Mom? I already called Aunt Linda and she's coming to stay with Mom and the kids…. Uncle Oscar's on his way too."

Relieved that Laurie wouldn't be alone, Rick tried to reach his son.

"Good work, Robbie…Your uncle won't let your Mom try to help….but I'll reach out to her just in case…."

This time there was only static, and Rick groaned. Just then he "heard" Laurie's call….

"Rick…" A strong sense of worry followed the sound of his name, and he sought to picture back to her that he was all right. "Sweetheart, it's okay…"

Suddenly there was a loud cry over his transmitter, and Rick froze, hearing his brother's voice.

"Rob…..the fire's just come over the ridge…I'm getting under the falls…..no!"

"A.J., A.J!", he yelled…then heard only the crackle of the fire.