Epilogue- Memorial
Cabbie had left Piston Peak National Park for the final time in pieces…and he returned to the spot in the park that would become his final resting place in much the same way. Even though plans for the new park overlook had been created and approved years before, it still took over a year and a half to put in the roads and implement that plan.
The official dedication of the National Park's newest overlook happened on an August morning. Normally, this would have limited the Air Attack's Team ability to participate, but Mother Nature took pity on the team, and provided a low drizzle that chased away the risk of fires and allowed the members of the entire crew to take a break from their duties and attend the dedication ceremony.
The rain also had the added benefit of chasing away many of the dignitaries that were invited, which was fine by Maru. While this space was created for the public, it felt right that today it was pretty much just for firefighters…and man, did the firefighters come. There were representatives from CAL Fire, the Forest Service, the county, and even a couple of firefighters from other nearby National Parks. The various apparatus wandered through the interpretative trail and remarked about how well the exhibits had been put together.
The experience was a little bit different for the various members of the Piston Peak Air Attack Team. Maru, Patch, and the smokejumpers had come up to the tower using the hidden trail that Avalanche had cut into the face of the mountain earlier in the season, while Blade and Windlifter had of course flown up. Dipper, Rose, and Earl circled above the tower, participating in the ceremony in their own way. Out of the whole crew, only Blade really interacted with the other dignitaries. The other firefighters in attendance recognized that the members of the Air Attack Team needed space, and were perfectly willing to give it.
There were speeches and a dedicatory prayer…and then those that came to participate in the ceremony went down to the lodge for some refreshments. Blade, Windlifter, and Compass Rose headed to join the dignitaries, leaving the rest of the crew time to soak in the monument before it was completely open to the public.
They stayed longer than any of them had expected. Some cried, others were quiet, Pinecone hummed a quiet lullaby which they had heard Cabbie sing many times in the past. But as the sky began to darken, one by one, the crew members headed back to base until there was only two vehicles left.
"ARE YOU READY TO GO?" Avalanche asked, in a tone that let Maru know that the dozer was willing to wait for him...but Maru didn't want to be waited for.
"Not yet...I just need a moment." The tug answered allowing his gaze to drift across the drenched landscape.
"UNDERSTOOD." Avalanche said with a slight bob on his treds. "WE WILL SAVE SOME DINNER FOR YOU."
When the sound of the smokejumper's engine was gone, Maru allowed himself to reach out and allow his tine to brush the metal beams. To feel the scars and welds that told him exactly which piece of Cabbie each piece of the fire tower had once been. The mechanic had to admit, the structure before him truly was a piece of art.
He breathed in the smell of the wet forest and allowed himself to roll up the spiraling ramp to the lookout deck of the fire tower. Reaching the top, he couldn't help but look out across the great expanse of the park. It was breathtaking…but Maru knew which piece of the park that Cabbie would have cared about most. And sure enough, when Maru leaned against the railing and looked down he could get a clear view of the Piston Peak Air Attack Base.
"Welcome home…" Maru whispered as he sheltered under Cabbie's great wings, listening to the sound of rain against the metal. "We have missed you and we are so glad that you are here to always keep an eye on us."
Maru gave the cool metal of the tower one last pat, then made his way back down the steep mountain trail to the air attack base. Blackout had pulled out all of the stops for dinner, and Maru wanted to be able to eat it while the food was still hot.
End Note - And with that, we end another story. This has been an incredible roller coaster of a story to write, but I hope that it was worth the read. This is actually the last of four stories that follow the course of Cabbie's life. I hope that I get the other three (Warplane, Shadows, and Pheonix) up that you be able to return this story and pick out more little tidbits. But for now, this story is complete and my fingers are crossed that you will join me on many adventures to come.
