Chapter Five- Overlooked
Daniel looked around him; the snowfall had ended some time ago. At least that's what it felt to him. He was no longer shivering. He just didn't want to get up. That might be due to the fact that his body completely refused to move when he tried or . . . . He couldn't think at the moment.
The white landscape around him was bright underneath the skies; the moonlight was casting everything in a white glow. It looks pretty. The thought entered Daniel's brain.
The group hadn't stopped as they ran through the snow-covered foliage. Coffey was sent back to help Madrid place the flags as they ran. Bailey, Sparky, and Kasan were still following the trail that the bloodhound picked up.
"How many flags do we have left?" Sanchez said.
"Ooh. Probably another mile or two with the amount Madrid brought." Coffey answered.
"Good thing I brought them too." Madrid huffed as he quickly placed a flag at the base of a boulder. "Dang, I hope we find Dr. Jackson soon."
Guzman looked up at the sky. "Let's hope that the blizzard doesn't come up again."
Suddenly the dogs stopped where a small tributary separated from the main river. Barking, the dogs shot off again down the slippery banks along the small river. "I'd say we're getting close." Mendez said as she jumped over a root.
"If those dogs find Dr. Jackson, I think I'll be buying them a pound of steak for each." Ferretti yelled.
"Which they'll probably gulf down in a minute." The others laughed as they continued to run. The dogs stopped once more and began to dig at the snow near the water's edge. Sanchez quickly ran over, pulling the dogs back, hoping beyond all hopes that this was Dr. Jackson alive and well. It immediately fell apart when he pulled the dripping and half frozen pack from the river.
"Guess he drowned." Guzman said as he dropped next to Sanchez.
"Colonel, the snow's falling again." Mendez announced as the snowfall started up again.
"He can't be dead." Sanchez whispered.
"We just found his pack at the river's edge. I say he died when it pulled him under." Guzman wrapped his arms around the other colonel. "I'm sorry but we have to face facts. Mendez, Hayes, Rivera, shut those dogs!" The dogs were still barking.
Numbly, the group started to head back, following the luminescent flags back to the gate. Sanchez refused to leave Dr. Jackson's pack behind, carrying it with him as they trekked back home.
Everything was glowing. The winter wonderland of little girls and boys' dreams. Who knew it could be so dangerous? Turning his head, he noticed that the glow was getting brighter. Salvation? Angels? Or death? He was surprised when he heard the baying of a bloodhound. And. . . . Was that a German shepherd?
Coming back from his thoughts, he watched in dismay as the glow seemed to be getting weaker. Where were they going? Daniel tried to scream, to yell. But nothing came out except for a hoarse whisper that was blown away by the wind. In a last ditch effort, he reached for his pant leg.