Essential Beginnings (6 page)
“Well, this isn’t exactly how I thought my day would go when I got up this morning.” Berke must have seen a headline on his computer for him to make that comment. He had always been the one in the group to lighten the mood with some humor. It failed miserably this time, mostly because Mav didn’t think this was something the media was blowing out of proportion. Quite to the contrary. They were downplaying every aspect of the developing situation as if they were taking their orders directly from FEMA. Ernie had definitely gotten to him. “Yellowstone? Don’t tell me that Tank thinks a run of the mill earthquake and some pressure releasing is going to morph somehow into a gigantic apocalyptic event.”
“You might say that.” Mav had always been one to listen to his gut and walking outside to the deathly silence when only an hour before had been filled with wildlife told him something was approaching. Nothing good would come of this. He could feel it in his bones and he had to laugh at the fact that he now sounded just like Ernie. “Listen, we all know that Tank’s been harping on this for years and we’ve been placating him, but what if he’s right this time? What if the earthquake that occurred this morning is a catalyst for something much more?”
“Then I’d say on the upside we’re looking at an early winter with above average snowfall on the slopes.”
“Berke, I don’t think we should risk our lives even on a five percent chance of this thing hitting the fan. Tank wanted me to call each of you this evening but I was able to hold him off. I’m calling now because there’s something in the air that I can’t explain. It’s like when we were over there—that feeling that things were about to go sideways. It’s in my gut. I just know all of a sudden that something’s going to happen very soon.”
“We risked our lives every damn day in the service, Mav. Besides, it’s not like we can do anything to stop something of this magnitude if it went.”
“Don’t count on having enough notice to travel here safely, buddy,” Mav said, taking his eyes off of the line of trees to the right of Henley’s cabin to where a series of pipes, exhaust vents, and cabling emerged from an underground bunker complex which now existed courtesy of a lot of blood, sweat, and tears. It was tucked deep into the hard mountain rock, where many of the entrances and exits started out as part of an old commercial silver mine that finally played out back prior to World War II. “You need to get your ass back up here with the rest of the boys.”
“Shit, you’re talking about that damn bunker that Tank’s been working on for years, aren’t you?” Berke pulled the phone away from his mouth as he called out for someone, most likely to show whomever it was what was taking place. “How many times has the media exaggerated events only to have them fizz out to nothing? It’s all hype. Smoke and mirrors, brother. There hasn’t been another earthquake today, at least anything large from what the media’s been reporting—just a couple of minor aftershocks.”
“Just wait and see. Be prepared to bug out,” Mav warned, figuring Berke had yet to see the segment of news regarding the lone vent that had opened up at the park.
Silence was Mav’s answer and he paused for Berke to make another crack, but it didn’t come. Berke and the rest of the guys had lined up behind him when Ernie had requested help building certain rooms and capabilities into the bunker. It was originally Tank’s hare-brained idea against a nuclear attack from some rogue nation, but over the years it had changed purposes to be used for defense against natural disasters or any type of national emergency. Ernie had taken the good-natured jabs in stride and eventually they’d gotten the facility up and running.
They’d installed generators into a branch tunnel off the main line and then added piping to the natural gas well output into tanks for storage and processing in the lower levels of the mine. As it was, the entire camp ran off of less than sixty-five percent of the primary generator’s operational output. The natural gas well had been drilled to five thousand, one hundred and eighty-six feet as a commercial endeavor in the 1970s. The pocket of gas that was tapped had turned out to be sweet non-associated gas almost completely free of hydrogen sulfide. The downside was that the well never produced enough gas to pay for the initial investment. The equipment associated with the project was sold with the property for pennies on the dollar to a land developer.
The then newly retired MGySgt. Ernie Yates bought the entire resort after many years as a marginally successful fishing and hunting camp, the surrounding land all the way up to the top of the valley, and also secured the mineral rights under the land he now owned. It had taken his entire inheritance from his family’s lumber mill and sale of the business’ interest in old-growth timberland throughout several northeastern states. Whatever the shortcomings of the property as a commercial entity, the well did produce more than enough raw fuel to power the generators and cover the camp’s needs.
A concrete shelter with a heavy steel security door now protected the equipment servicing the wellhead and pump system that transferred the raw natural gas to the mine’s lower levels. Over the years Ernie had toiled to convert the mine into a self-sustaining facility with access to water from a natural mountain spring, plentiful fuel to power the generators, and cool dry storage areas where food and supplies could be kept.
“Tank said it would happen just like this, didn’t he?” Berke asked without a trace of humor in his tone. He eventually barked out a laugh. “I’m turning into a loon right along with you two. I call the billeting chamber next to the armory if we do end up in that bunker. No one but me could maintain the weapons the way I would and it has more head room.”
“Do you still have contacts at USGS?” Mav inquired, ignoring Berke’s usual comical attitude. Mav recalled that his friend had briefly dated a woman who’d been in south Texas doing work for the United States Geological Survey organization. She’d only lasted with him as long as her stay, but she was still a point of contact they could use. “Is there a way we can find out what the facts are without the built-in FEMA filter? We might be able to get something accomplished besides sitting on our hands trying to guess if Tank might actually be right about this. I’m starting to feel like it’s me who’s losing his freaking mind.”
“I haven’t spoken to Paige in close to a year, Mav. It’s not like I can just call and ask her if we’re about to go extinct.”
“It’s not just about this place, Berke.” Mav turned when he heard Henley’s door open and he realized he must have raised his voice sometime during the conversation. She stepped outside and immediately wrapped her arms around her waist to ward off the chill. He would have done that for her, but he assumed she wouldn’t have welcomed his gesture and he aimed to change that soon. “Tank spent the evening showing Henley and I the prevailing wind direction and speed that comes in off of the coast. Lost Summit should be somewhat protected taking in the estimates for at least five to seven days. Ernie thinks we’ll be fine here, but at least we’ll have the option to take the route up to Canada once everyone gets here. The farther north we’re able to go the better…at least while the eruption continues.”
“Canada? You can’t be serious.” Berke’s disbelief came in waves over the line and Mav didn’t blame him one bit. The reality of everything they’d ever worked for being gone within days wasn’t something easily acceptable, especially when they didn’t have definitive scientific proof of Tank’s theory. Berke was the type of man who needed concrete evidence that a situation had gotten out of their control. Mav took things at face value and reasoned out the objectives on the fly. He made the best decision possible with the available information at his disposal at the time. It had taken him a while to get to that point and he would certainly look like an idiot if nothing happened beyond one vent releasing minimal pressure. Berke continued to try and reason why this was an impossibility. “The odds of that caldera erupting are practically nonexistent. Geologists and seismologists wouldn’t have been able to keep that kind of information from the public. Secrets get out and big secrets rise to the top even faster. There are people who monitor this kind of crap twenty-four seven. Public organizations. Let’s face the facts—you can’t hide shit from social media these days. This is just the news channels stirring the pot and—”
“Let me talk to him,” Henley said, holding out her hand. Mav was intrigued that she would insert herself into his conversation, but today had definitely been one of those days full of surprises. He cut Berke off and then handed her the phone. “Berke, it’s Henley. Listen, Mav is right. Ernie sat us down tonight and showed us exactly what makes him think today’s earthquake is a catalyst for a massive Yellowstone eruption. I’m not prone to hysteria, but even I can see the writing on the wall. We have been overdue for this eruption for nearly forty thousand years. Time has caught up with us all. If what Mav said earlier is true and you have a contact at USGS, then you need to call her now. If this is nothing we can tell that to Tank and ease his worries…then everyone can get on with their lives.”
Mav couldn’t hear what Berke was saying on the other end of the line, but Henley’s lips pursed and her knuckles whitened as her grip tightened on the phone. It was more than apparent that Berke didn’t want to make the call. While she continued to listen to his refusal she looked past Mav to the view of the mountain over them in the moonlight. It would most likely be the barrier to diminish the ash that would eventually coat the two-and-a-half mile long sheltered valley.
“We’re practically begging you to call her, Berke. That is, if you can get over your personal baggage.” Henley wrapped her free arm around her waist and Mav could understand the defensive gesture. “Now…and please call us once you get some answers. It would be nice to get on with our lives if we’re all panicking over nothing.”
Henley continued speaking and Mav was amazed by how comfortably she spoke with Berke. Why couldn’t she be that way with him? What was it about him that put her on edge and had her wanting to take his head off at the slightest innocent comment? It was evident that Berke would be calling them back shortly by the end of their phone conversation. She disconnected the line before Mav had a chance to speak with Berke and then handed over the phone.
“Berke said he’d call Paige and then relay what she has to say to us.”
Henley didn’t seem too inclined to invite Mav inside and he had to grit his teeth at the apparent brush-off. He’d thought they’d been making progress, but now he felt like they were right back at where they’d started. She stood there with no sign of moving, but he certainly did.
“Henley, how did you know Paige’s name?”
Henley’s green eyes studied Mav warily and he appreciated that she was second guessing herself. Ernie had told him for the past few years that he’d been taking too long to do something about the underlying attraction between him and Henley and there was no time like the present to correct that mistake.
“Berke told me,” Henley said, like it was an everyday occurrence that Mav’s friends divulged personal information to her. “Why?”
“What was the name of the girl that I last dated?” Mav inquired, wondering if she’d catch on to where he was leading this conversation. “The blonde lawyer that gave me her number.”
“How would I know?” Henley asked with a snappish tone, waving her hand to add emphasis. “Mav, where are you going with this?”
“What is it about me that puts you off?” Mav put it out there and waited, his heart beating faster when her green eyes deepened into a dark mossy color. Henley parted her lips to say something, but then thought better of it. She slowly shook her head in an attempt to not answer, but he was done letting her run from this. He slid his phone into his front pocket and then stepped forward before gently laying his hands on her shoulders. “You’re not comfortable with me like you are with all of them. You stay clear from any situation where we would have to talk to one another privately.”
“Mav, don’t do this now,” Henley whispered, not unraveling her arms from around her waist. As a matter of fact, it appeared that she held herself tighter. “Berke should be calling back and we can find out if there’s anything to worry about or if Ernie has us worked up for nothing.”
“And what if Berke tells us there is a real threat? I don’t want any regrets should that happen.”
Mav lowered his head and paused right before his lips met hers. Henley’s sharp inhalation gave way to her surprise and he gave her ample time to pull away. When she didn’t he brought his hands up to cradle her face and then gently kissed her. Time stood still for the second time that evening. She tasted as sweet as the iced tea she made in the summers. The cool air no longer felt chilled and everything about her seeped into his pores, from the scent of her lavender fragrance to the feel of their heat mingling as she gradually laid her palms on the fabric of his shirt…only to gently push him away.
“Don’t.” Henley placed the back of her hand against her rosy lips, not yet swollen from their kiss the way they should be. “You shouldn’t have—”
“I damn well should have,” Mav said, no longer willing to pretend that there was nothing between them. “It’s apparent that I’ve done something or said something that’s offended you. This has been going on too long. Tell me what that is so I can fix it.”
“Fix it?” Henley asked in the same angry tone she usually spoke to him in. “Mav, you think of me as nothing but a sex object in a picture come to life. There are still magazines in your Jeep from three years ago and I’ll be damned if I let you fuck me like one of your other bimbos and then say I don’t live up to your idea of who I should be.”
Mav was rarely shocked into silence, but then Henley had the tendency to do that to him on more than one occasion. She thought the magazines in his truck were for him? Hell, he hadn’t even realized they were still in there. He’d love to know if she thought he jacked off to them every night, but the fact that she had such a low opinion of him stopped the words from rolling off of his tongue. He let the anger circle inside of him until it was nothing more than a ball he could contain in his chest and he did the only thing he could to stop himself from saying something he’d regret…Mav left her standing there alone in the moonlight.