Starlight Starbright

These good fellows don't belong to me but I promise when I'm done to pick um up, dust um off and with a kiss on the cheek return them safely home.

"Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them." Dion Boucicault.

Chapter 17

"There's no way to get the location of the cabin from one of the men?" Hank asked in disbelief. They were this close, surely it wouldn't just end here.

"No and the state police picked them both up an hour ago," the Lt said.

Roy fingered the small piece of paper, "This number is the key to finding him. I feel it." Looking up at the Lt. "Do you mind if I try the number again?"

"Sure, go ahead." He looked outside. "Sun will be down soon and they are predicting a foot of snow to come down in the higher elevations. If we don't get a lead soon we won't be able to do anything else tonight."

Roy shook his head and looked to Hank, "It has to be tonight. Their running out of time fast."

Hank didn't question his friend. The bond between the two paramedics spoke worlds to him and right now it was telling him that Roy didn't think Johnny would survive another night in the forest.

Roy leaned forward and dialed the number which he noted was local.

(Hello?)

Someone answering the phone almost startled him, "Yes, can I speak to Buck?"

(Bucks not here, can I help you with something?)

Roy had to work to steady his voice, "Yes, I'm a friend of John Gage's and I'm trying to find out if he is staying at a cabin that belongs to Buck."

(Buck does have a friend staying at his cabin this week but we haven't heard from him. Do you think he's ok?)

"We haven't heard from him either. Can you tell me how to get to it?"

As she started rattling off the detailed directions Roy wrote them down as everyone sat on the edge of their seats.

"Thank you very much Miss?"

(It's no problem. I hope you find your friend.) Then she hung up.

Roy stood up, pushing the chair back, "I don't know where this is." He passed the directions to the officer.

"This is by Alta Sierra. But I think I can find it pretty easily."

They were ready, "We'll follow you."

Roy knew they needed something else, "Sounds like they are both hurt. Do you have any medical supplies we can take with us?"

Knowing that this county did not have a paramedic program put Roy on edge. Medical care wouldn't be instant for the two stranded victims. If he could help them on scene it might buy them some time until they could ship them out to the hospital in Bakersfield.

"We have some emergency supplies but when we find them I can call for air rescue to take them into town."

Amy woke to find the little warmth of the sun now gone. The home was dark, the fire long gone. She pulled Johnny closer to him. At least he was still breathing but he no longer felt warm, not even with fever.

"Come on Johnny, you have to hang in there with me. I don't want to be here alone."

"Manda?" He whispered.

"No it's me Amy."

He gave her a soft smile, "There …coming."

She brushed her fingers across his cheek, "I sure hope so."

"Roy…coming." Then he slipped back into the dark world that was now stronger than him.

She didn't know who Roy was and she knew that the young man was delirious at this point. She could only hope that he was right, although she didn't know how he could know.

Hank followed Marcos truck up the long dark trail. It didn't seem like it would ever end when it suddenly stopped in front of them. When they saw him getting out they filed out also. Roy's heart felt like it was racing wild as they came around the Bronco and could see Johnny's Rover. This was the right place. After all this, they actually found the cabin.

Mike knelt down to the tires, "They've all been slashed."

With a sense of urgency they all moved onto the front porch. Marcos held them back, wanting to enter it first. Pushing the door open, with gun drawn, Marcos moved into the little cabin. The anxious crew followed.

"Man, they trashed this place," Chet said in disbelief.

"Looks like they weren't too happy to find it empty when they came back," Marco said.

They moved through the cabin looking for clues as to where the two might have gone next.

"Cap," Marco said, he was standing with Chet by the bed. Hank moved over to them.

"Blood," Chet said. The large size of the dark staining on the bed was disconcerting to them. Someone had lost a lot of blood before being moved.

Roy moved around the living room, looking for anything then moved to the kitchen. He looked at the scattered papers lying on the table. Coming across something he froze, "12."

Hank looked up, "What?" He walked up to Roy who was now pointing to a map on the table. The men gathered around the table to see what had Roy looking in amazement.

"God, you're right," Marcos said. Roy was pointing to a handmade map of the cabin and the trails that led away from it. There were many landmarks, a lake, a waterfall, miles and miles of trails and a Ranger station, marked #12.

"That's where they are," Roy simply said.

"It will take too long to reach them by foot, let's go," Marcos said as he darted for the door.

The other men didn't have to be told twice.

The winding trail heading back to the main road seemed to have grown twice as long when Hank once again saw the Lt's truck stop. He jumped out into the dark. Hank and Roy followed, apprehensive about anything slowing their progress at this point.

As they came around they could see the headlights of a truck that was coming towards them. It pulled over into the tree line, out of the way and stopped. Out hopped a heavy set man who looked to be in his 50's with a thick beard and mustache.

Marcos shined his flashlight at the man, "Identify yourself please."

"Buck Chastain, who the hell are you?"

"Buck? The Buck that owns the cabin up the road here?" Marcos continued his questioning.

"Sure am. Is there something wrong?" The man asked less gruff, now realizing it was a police officer standing in front of him.

"Afraid there has been. We're looking for John Gage."

"Yea, Johnny was up here this week, suppose to head back to LA a couple of days ago."

Roy stepped forward, "He never made it back. You're wife gave us the directions up here to find him."

Buck shook his head and laughed, "Aint' got no wife."

Roy didn't care, he was in a hurry, "Well whoever answered the phone told us."

Again, he shook his head, "Don't know who you called mister cause my phone was disconnected over a week ago."