With huge thanks to Sky. You have prompted me to continue with this out-of-control story.
Love all your comments Sky - thank you.
...
Captain Scott watched with satisfaction as his men completed their search of the cabin. He glanced into the porridge pot and couldn't help but think of Goldilocks trespassing in the home of the three bears. Apart from the mattress thrown into the snow, nothing seemed out of place in the cabin and he wondered at the report from Almeida with it's alarmist warnings. Moving to the window, he turned his back on the room and gazed out at the snow encrusted landscape, wondering how much longer they would have to play out this damn fool waste of time.
A shout from the kitchen area and he turned to find a trapdoor open, his men already investigating the space below. He wrinkled his nose at the smell, a noxious odor of decay, waste and despair. Entering the dark space, Scott ran his light across the iron shackles, the overflowing bucket, the pile of rat carcasses and he shuddered in the dank, fetid hole. This was obviously where Edmunds had been held, perhaps Almeida's report wasn't so exaggerated after all.
But there was nothing further to see here, time to follow the tracks of the snow mobile which were clear under the light of the almost full moon. Despite his earlier elation at getting this mission he would be pleased to finished up and get back to San Fran. This place gave him the creeps.
...
Chloe closed the book and lay back in her bed. It was late, after 1am, but she wasn't in any rush to turn out the light. She looked at the cover of the book then turned it over so she couldn't see the title, it was too unsettling. The author's Great Grandfather, Thaddeus Pope, had survived the ordeal of the Donner Party but had always refused to speak of it, saying only it was best not to disturb the devil.
But when the author's mother died three years ago the journal of Thaddeus was discovered in the attic of the family home. Just 15 when he left Boston with his parents and two younger brothers, Thaddeus hoped to become a newspaper reporter when they reached California. He saw the writing of the journal as a chance to hone his powers of observation as well as his descriptive prose.
The most detailed passages were of his time spent with one of the young married ladies on the wagon train. She was his first sexual encounter, his first heart-break, and the reason behind the title of the book, 'Murder and Madness at Donner Pass.' Her name was Elizabeth Ashley, but Thaddeus always called her Liz.
...
Jack lay chilled, unable to warm up despite the soft blanket and the heat radiating off Liz who lay curled against him, an arm thrown over his hip. Pleased with their coupling, she had moved his arms so he could now lie on his side, his wrists cuffed to the side of the bed.
Her words kept up a constant clamour in his head. How could he have been so damn wrong? But there was no answer, only her mocking laughter as he spiraled downward into despair.
...
The Captain stood looking down into the spruce trap, the escape rope still tied around the tree. The tracks were joined by another set, and then they divided up again. One person seemed to have gone over the edge of the bluff, the other two had left on another snow mobile. The clouds were swirling angrily across the star filled sky and visibility was about to be lost. Best to camp here for some hot food and sleep, then follow the tracks in the morning, he decided.
...
The thrashing and grunting awoke Red who was up and out of his sleeping beg in a second. The stranger was struggling in his mummy wrap and Red moved quickly to uncover his eyes, but they stared past him, glazed and unfocused.
"It's okay, you're safe," he assured the man as he worked on getting his arms free. "My name's Red and I used to be a medic in the Marines. What's your name son?"
One arm free of the blankets and sleeping bag, the man was feeling his face, his eyes, and Red realised he couldn't see. Freeing his other arm, he held the man's hand to his own face, saying, "You're safe, it's okay. I think you might be snow blind but it will pass with rest. Do you remember your name?"
"I'm Chase Edmunds, the man said, calming a little. "Where are we?"
"Camped on the shores of Azalea Lake. There are three of us, Blake, Charlie and myself. We're here looking for wolves."
"You're hunters?" Chase asked, pulling his hand away.
"No, they're making a TV documentary," Red assured him. "But who shot you? I see it was a handgun, not a hunting rifle."
"Do you have a phone... or a radio?" Chase asked, ignoring the questions.
"No, but the helicopter will stop by in the morning and you can get a lift out then," weather permitting, Red didn't bother mentioning.
Red took Chase's hand and held it as he asked, "I need to know... who shot you... are they still out there?... are we in any danger?"
"Depends who you're married to I guess," Chase responded seriously. "It was my father-in-law who shot me."