Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
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Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
- Thread starter Sharkyshark
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Where There's Smoke, There's Fire
Treasure
Void
Gus Merz stood on the platform around the tower, binoculars to his eyes. He grinned as he watched the pied-billed grebe fly toward the distant lake, a silvery blue ribbon on the horizon. It was very distinct with its small, stocky, short-necked body and almost chicken-like bicolored bill. It looked like a male. Did it have a mate this season?
Kuk-kuk-cow-cow-cow-cowp-cowp!
The distinctive cry brought a flutter to his heart. He lowered his binoculars and let them hang around his neck as he pulled a notebook and pencil out of one of his vest pockets. That made three grebes in two days! Not bad, especially considering he'd only been here for two days. He leaned on the railing and looked out over the trees. Yes, coming here had been the right choice. Paradise!
Kuk-kuk-cow-cow-cow-cowp-cowp!
The distinctive cry brought a flutter to his heart. He lowered his binoculars and let them hang around his neck as he pulled a notebook and pencil out of one of his vest pockets. That made three grebes in two days! Not bad, especially considering he'd only been here for two days. He leaned on the railing and looked out over the trees. Yes, coming here had been the right choice. Paradise!
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
The remote mountaintop really was a birder’s promised land, the trees full of cardinals and owls and passerines galore. They chattered and chirped, filling the air with bird-calls that nobody would ever hear. Nobody, that was, except for the forest’s sole human inhabitant. It had been a month and a half since the helicopter had dropped Gus off with a cache of food and other supplies and flown off, taking with it the last human face he’d seen in these woods. What did that matter, though? Who cared if there weren’t any people to talk to, with all these lovely birds around? As Gus watched the grebe through his binoculars, he’d spot some dark clouds on the horizon, blowing in quickly from the west. A storm was coming, and it looked like a rough one. Storms were always an adventure in the little lookout tower, which had a tendency to shake like a birdhouse on a sapling in rough winds. Still, it seemed to have been built sturdily enough, and nothing had taken it down yet.
Treasure
Void
Gus spotted the storm and smiled grimly. Ah, one of these, hmm? Oh well. These storms were kind of an adventure in of themselves. He went around the station and made certain everything was battened down like a ship on the high seas. He finished putting the paperwork he'd been doing earlier and locked them in a fireproof box. There. That should be everything. He checked the windows once more then settled down to watch. This should be good!
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
The storm hit within the hour, gale-force winds slamming into the little metal structure. The tower rattled and shook as the fierce wind tried to tear it free of its supports and fling it off the mountain, but the sturdy little building had weathered worse. Lightning flashed across the sky, blasting the tops off of trees and striking the tower itself as thunder roared overhead. As the storm raged above and around Gus’s little tower, the radio squawked and crackled into life. A voice came on, garbled by static but clearly different from the bored, businesslike dispatcher that Gus checked in with each day at noon.
SHHHHHK-hello-SHHHHHK-out there? I’m-SHHHHHHHHHHK-crashed.
The voice was almost unintelligible from the interference, but it definitely didn’t sound like a grown man. A woman’s voice, perhaps. Or a child’s. Whoever it was, there was no way that their transmission would reach the wildland fire station over fifty miles away. Not in this gale, anyways.
SHHHHHK-hello-SHHHHHK-out there? I’m-SHHHHHHHHHHK-crashed.
The voice was almost unintelligible from the interference, but it definitely didn’t sound like a grown man. A woman’s voice, perhaps. Or a child’s. Whoever it was, there was no way that their transmission would reach the wildland fire station over fifty miles away. Not in this gale, anyways.
Treasure
Void
Gus was watching the heavens, hypnotized by the raw power displayed above him. Then the radio crackled to life. Gus nearly jumped out of his skin. He turned to stare at the radio for a moment then went forward and picked it up.
"Hello? This is watchtower Seven. Who is this on the radio? Come in. Over," he called.
"Hello? This is watchtower Seven. Who is this on the radio? Come in. Over," he called.
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
It was nearly impossible to hear the voice on the other end through all the static, but a few words managed to come through. Between the storm and the interference, though, communication seemed nearly impossible.
SHHK-pond-SHHHHHHK-crash-SHHK-following-SHHHHHK-injured-SHHHHHHK-
The signal cut out entirely as a loud bang came from the metal roof of the lookout station. Looking outside, Gus would see the antenna of his radio fly off the side of the mountain, knocked down by the storm. The radio went silent other than a soft hiss of static, unable to pick up any sort of signal without its antenna. Of course, there was a spare antenna in the station, but to climb up to the roof in this weather would be suicide! The woman (?) at the other end had mentioned a pond, though, and there was only one pond within a twenty-mile radius. Coffin Hole, named for the discovery of a strange stone sarcophagus at its center complete with the remnants of an ancient skeleton, was only two miles away. Of course, it was a long two miles through the woods in this weather. As if to prove the point, a flash of lightning illuminated the forest for a brief split second, casting the sea of trees in a stark black-and-white.
SHHK-pond-SHHHHHHK-crash-SHHK-following-SHHHHHK-injured-SHHHHHHK-
The signal cut out entirely as a loud bang came from the metal roof of the lookout station. Looking outside, Gus would see the antenna of his radio fly off the side of the mountain, knocked down by the storm. The radio went silent other than a soft hiss of static, unable to pick up any sort of signal without its antenna. Of course, there was a spare antenna in the station, but to climb up to the roof in this weather would be suicide! The woman (?) at the other end had mentioned a pond, though, and there was only one pond within a twenty-mile radius. Coffin Hole, named for the discovery of a strange stone sarcophagus at its center complete with the remnants of an ancient skeleton, was only two miles away. Of course, it was a long two miles through the woods in this weather. As if to prove the point, a flash of lightning illuminated the forest for a brief split second, casting the sea of trees in a stark black-and-white.
Treasure
Void
Gus looked up at the ceiling and scowled. He wouldn't have tried to fix the antenna in this kind of weather unless it was a life or death emergency, but now he was tempted. No, it would do no one any good if he got himself killed trying to get the radio back up. That would have to wait. He went to the window and picked up his binoculars. Wary of any flying branches or other debris that might break the reinforced glass, he peered through the magnifiers toward the pond. Did he dare go out in this weather on a chance that he might possibly find something?
He scowled in frustration and moved back. No, it would be better to wait it out. While he did, he put together a pack of items he'd need. First thing he'd do was fix the antenna, then he'd go out and try to reach whomever was in trouble. If they were smart, they'd hunker down, too. He made certain to pack extra water, food, and bandages. Now he just had to wait...
He scowled in frustration and moved back. No, it would be better to wait it out. While he did, he put together a pack of items he'd need. First thing he'd do was fix the antenna, then he'd go out and try to reach whomever was in trouble. If they were smart, they'd hunker down, too. He made certain to pack extra water, food, and bandages. Now he just had to wait...
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
Gus sat and waited, and the storm raged on. Several minutes later, a faint red light would streak up into the sky from the east. The red glow, visible even through the heavy rain, flew up from the trees before arching down and vanishing once more. It looked to have launched from a couple of miles away, although who could tell in this storm? The wind howled as it picked up speed, rattling the tower like a tin dollhouse. Being inside was like being hit by an earthquake, and anything not bolted down began falling off of tables and shelves. A moment later, one of the windows blew out, the spray of shattered glass followed immediately by a blast of wind and rain. This was not an unheard-of occurrence, but it certainly hadn’t happened in the time that Gus had been here. The storm was a rough one for sure.
All of a sudden, out in the woods, something howled. The sound was like something between a wolf and a bear, loud enough to ring out over the even the roar of the storm. It was a strange, terrifying, unmistakably predatory noise that would tug at some ancient, primal instinct encoded into Gus’s DNA. It was an instinct that told any living creature that there was carnivore in the area, a sound that would send rabbits scurrying into burrows and birds flying from trees. There’s something here that wants to eat you, it said. Run, monkey, run.
All of a sudden, out in the woods, something howled. The sound was like something between a wolf and a bear, loud enough to ring out over the even the roar of the storm. It was a strange, terrifying, unmistakably predatory noise that would tug at some ancient, primal instinct encoded into Gus’s DNA. It was an instinct that told any living creature that there was carnivore in the area, a sound that would send rabbits scurrying into burrows and birds flying from trees. There’s something here that wants to eat you, it said. Run, monkey, run.
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Treasure
Void
Gus ducked, shielding his face as the glass showered around him in a cacophony. He'd been warned this would happen, but he thought for sure it would never happen once he'd seen the thickness of the glass. Rain lashed inside. He grabbed a heavy board from the wall and pressed it up against the hole, effectively sealing it off. Now he was stuck trying to find a way to secure it.
Then the howl resonated in his bones. He crouched automatically, his eyes widening as he instinctively looked around the station. No, no, it couldn't be in here. It was out there. He swallowed hard and leaned over, hooking the chair with his foot and dragging it over. There. Now the board wouldn't move. He backed away and hunkered down. There was a gun in the box under the desk. Did he dare grab it out?
Then the howl resonated in his bones. He crouched automatically, his eyes widening as he instinctively looked around the station. No, no, it couldn't be in here. It was out there. He swallowed hard and leaned over, hooking the chair with his foot and dragging it over. There. Now the board wouldn't move. He backed away and hunkered down. There was a gun in the box under the desk. Did he dare grab it out?
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
The windows definitely weren’t supposed to shatter, not even in the harshest of storms. They were reinforced glass, after all! All the tales of windows blowing out in storms had been “back-in-the-day” talk from salty old veterans, told in the same breath as stories of killer bears and giant hawks big enough to carry off a buffalo. Those stories were usually better off taken with a generous grain of salt, but perhaps there was a nugget of truth to them…
As Gus shoved the board over the window, he’d see exactly why the window had broken. A cracked deer skull laid on the floor of the tower, the bleached-white bones grinning up at him. Either the wind had somehow picked it up and carried it through the window...or something had thrown it. Of course, throwing a heavy skull hard enough to break a reinforced glass window so high up on the tower would be nearly impossible, even for a major league pitcher. A freak accident, then?
The unearthly howl sent Gus’ thoughts flying to the shotgun lying in its case under the desk. Of course, hunting wasn’t permitted in the national forest, but there were certainly grizzlies around. The park service had seen fit to provide the station with an old Remington pump-action and a few boxes of slugs, to be used only as a last resort in case of bears. The old-timers all had stories of how they’d faced down charging grizzlies, stopping them dead in their tracks with a single slug to the head, but who could believe them? Most of them had taken the job as an opportunity to spend three months drunk in the woods and away from their wives.
Another howl rang out, this one even closer than the last. However, the heavy rain made it impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction, much less spot whatever was making that ungodly noise.
As Gus shoved the board over the window, he’d see exactly why the window had broken. A cracked deer skull laid on the floor of the tower, the bleached-white bones grinning up at him. Either the wind had somehow picked it up and carried it through the window...or something had thrown it. Of course, throwing a heavy skull hard enough to break a reinforced glass window so high up on the tower would be nearly impossible, even for a major league pitcher. A freak accident, then?
The unearthly howl sent Gus’ thoughts flying to the shotgun lying in its case under the desk. Of course, hunting wasn’t permitted in the national forest, but there were certainly grizzlies around. The park service had seen fit to provide the station with an old Remington pump-action and a few boxes of slugs, to be used only as a last resort in case of bears. The old-timers all had stories of how they’d faced down charging grizzlies, stopping them dead in their tracks with a single slug to the head, but who could believe them? Most of them had taken the job as an opportunity to spend three months drunk in the woods and away from their wives.
Another howl rang out, this one even closer than the last. However, the heavy rain made it impossible to see more than a few yards in any direction, much less spot whatever was making that ungodly noise.
Treasure
Void
Gus shook himself firmly. It was just a storm. A really bad storm, but a storm. Wind, water, and lightning. He looked at the skull and picked it up, carefully turning it over in his hands. It was broken. Probably the force of it hitting the window, but he wasn't going to think too hard on that. It had been picked up by the wind, carried here, and flung through the window. Winds picked up weird stuff than this all the time! He nodded firmly to himself and ignored his shaking hands as he set the skull aside. Then he kicked it under the table just to get it out of sight.
Glass. Broken glass was everywhere. He grabbed the broom from where it stood in the closet held in place by a clamp and swept rapidly, picking everything up. He heard the howls but continued sweeping. Either the wind or an animal in distress. That was all. Being alone up here could do strange things to a mind, and the trick was to remain firmly rooted in reality.
He put the broom away then got out the shotgun. Bears were not easy to stop and they had the possible ability to climb, though it was unlikely. A skull crashing through a reinforced window was also unlikely. Best to prepare for the unlikely. He sat in the corner and held the loaded rifle calmly across his lap. Just the wind and maybe a wounded animal or two. When things died down, he'd go out and look things over.
Glass. Broken glass was everywhere. He grabbed the broom from where it stood in the closet held in place by a clamp and swept rapidly, picking everything up. He heard the howls but continued sweeping. Either the wind or an animal in distress. That was all. Being alone up here could do strange things to a mind, and the trick was to remain firmly rooted in reality.
He put the broom away then got out the shotgun. Bears were not easy to stop and they had the possible ability to climb, though it was unlikely. A skull crashing through a reinforced window was also unlikely. Best to prepare for the unlikely. He sat in the corner and held the loaded rifle calmly across his lap. Just the wind and maybe a wounded animal or two. When things died down, he'd go out and look things over.
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
Caution and common sense prevailed as Gus sat in his sheltered lookout station, waiting for the storm to blow over. It raged for hours, shaking and rattling the tower, but didn’t cause any more serious damage besides the freak accident with the window. During the course of the storm, he only heard that bizzare howl once more, further away from the station. Of course, no bears came climbing up his tower to eat him.
The winds eventually died down around sunset, and the rain slowed to a cold drizzle. Peering out into the dying sunlight, Gus would be able to see that several trees had been knocked down by the wind. A few more looked to have been struck by lightning, but nothing seemed to be on fire. Of course, even if there had been a fire, Gus would’ve been hard-pressed to call it in, as his radio antenna was likely tangled up in a bush somewhere halfway down the mountain.
The winds eventually died down around sunset, and the rain slowed to a cold drizzle. Peering out into the dying sunlight, Gus would be able to see that several trees had been knocked down by the wind. A few more looked to have been struck by lightning, but nothing seemed to be on fire. Of course, even if there had been a fire, Gus would’ve been hard-pressed to call it in, as his radio antenna was likely tangled up in a bush somewhere halfway down the mountain.
Treasure
Void
Gus even managed to catch a few sparse seconds of sleep, the rocking surprisingly soothing, all things considered. When the storm petered out, he stood and put away the gun, though he kept the box where he could easily reach it. Window first. At least it was only one pane. He did what he could to affix the board to the hole more firmly and left it there as a temporary fix. He'd have to radio in the break as soon as he got the antenna fixed.
The antenna was next. He glanced down the mountain to see if he could easily see the old one, and when he couldn't, he fetched the replacement bit of wire and pole out of its usual storage. Later he'd see if he could retrieve the original. For now, he attached a safety harness and went out into the drizzle. No lightening... that was good. The rain would make this difficult, but he felt it had to be done. He used the ladder, fixing the harness to the safety lines first thing, then climbed up to the roof the fix the antenna. He stayed low and moved as fast as he could so he could get off before he fell off.
The antenna was next. He glanced down the mountain to see if he could easily see the old one, and when he couldn't, he fetched the replacement bit of wire and pole out of its usual storage. Later he'd see if he could retrieve the original. For now, he attached a safety harness and went out into the drizzle. No lightening... that was good. The rain would make this difficult, but he felt it had to be done. He used the ladder, fixing the harness to the safety lines first thing, then climbed up to the roof the fix the antenna. He stayed low and moved as fast as he could so he could get off before he fell off.
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
The training for the lookouts had been relatively brief, but had gone over all the usual repairs and maintenance that a lookout might have to perform. Replacing the antenna wasn’t a common thing, but it certainly wasn’t unheard of either. Being that the radio was such a vital piece of equipment, fixing the antenna had been a key component of his training, and so Gus would have little trouble replacing the broken stump with the spare. The primary antenna had snapped off near the base, but removing the broken part and connecting the replacement would be simple enough. The cold rain made the roof slippery and fingers stiff, but Gus would manage to get it done in just over twenty minutes without breaking his neck.
Just as he was tightening down the last couple of screws, the howl rang out again. The sound echoed out over the mountaintop, frightening birds from trees even in the rain, but seemed to be a little further away than before.
Just as he was tightening down the last couple of screws, the howl rang out again. The sound echoed out over the mountaintop, frightening birds from trees even in the rain, but seemed to be a little further away than before.
Treasure
Void
Gus jerked in surprise and almost lost his balance. He grabbed his safety line and steadied himself before looking around. What in the hell was that?? He shaded his eyes from the rain but could see nothing. Something was out there, something big. He still hadn't ruled out a bear, but it didn't sound right for that. He checked his work once more then climbed down fast, sliding part of the way. Once his feet were on the solid walkway, he unclipped his harness and hurried inside, barely taking the time to shed his jacket and lock the door before running to the radio.
"Tower seven to base, tower seven to base, do you read me?" he called. He expected static, but he had to try. This storm was bad enough it was probably interfering with the signal, but maybe, just maybe it would get through.
"Tower seven to base, tower seven to base, do you read me?" he called. He expected static, but he had to try. This storm was bad enough it was probably interfering with the signal, but maybe, just maybe it would get through.
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
The radio hissed and popped with static, the poor weather still interfering with the signal. However, at least part of Gus’ broadcast must have made it through. The dispatcher’s voice came through over the static-filled air, almost unintelligible through the interference.
SHHHHK-eport-SHHHHK-status-SHHHHHHHK-go ahead.
The radio transmitter, while normally clear and powerful, was often nearly unusable in poor weather. Of course, since its primary use was calling in forest fires, this weakness was generally overlooked. After all, when was the last time a wildfire had started in the rain?
SHHHHK-eport-SHHHHK-status-SHHHHHHHK-go ahead.
The radio transmitter, while normally clear and powerful, was often nearly unusable in poor weather. Of course, since its primary use was calling in forest fires, this weakness was generally overlooked. After all, when was the last time a wildfire had started in the rain?
Treasure
Void
Gus spoke slowly and clearly. "I recieved a transmission from someone in trouble. They are by the lake. Send back up, please. My antenna was destroyed as well as a window. Assistance is needed. Please went back up. Over."
He hoped at least some of that came through. Maybe if he said "help" a few more times?
He hoped at least some of that came through. Maybe if he said "help" a few more times?
Sharkyshark
Just chillin'
Whether Gus’ transmission had actually gone through or not was anyone’s guess, as the response was far too garbled to be understood. The storm, it seemed, was still causing too much interference...or perhaps he hadn’t installed the antenna correctly. Who knew? The weather certainly seemed to have calmed down quite a bit. It was still raining, but the lightning had stopped and skulls weren’t flying through the air anymore.
All of a sudden, the radio crackled back into life. The voice that came through was rough and staticy, but clear enough for Gus to tell that it wasn’t the dispatcher. It sounded like the woman from before, and she sounded absolutely terrified.
SHHHHK-nybody read me? Is anyone picking up? There’s something-SHHHHHHK-get away get away GET AWAY-
The transmission went dead. In the eeries silence that followed, Gus would notice that not only had the wind died, but the rain had stopped as well. In its place, a heavy blanket of mist had appeared, shrouding the mountaintop like a layer of cotton.
All of a sudden, the radio crackled back into life. The voice that came through was rough and staticy, but clear enough for Gus to tell that it wasn’t the dispatcher. It sounded like the woman from before, and she sounded absolutely terrified.
SHHHHK-nybody read me? Is anyone picking up? There’s something-SHHHHHHK-get away get away GET AWAY-
The transmission went dead. In the eeries silence that followed, Gus would notice that not only had the wind died, but the rain had stopped as well. In its place, a heavy blanket of mist had appeared, shrouding the mountaintop like a layer of cotton.
Treasure
Void
Gus stared at the radio in confusion and worry. He didn't move for a full minute. Then he shook himself and went to the window. Someone was in trouble. Real trouble. He looked up at the storm clouds worriedly. He really wanted to go for her, to help this woman, whoever she was, but if the storm picked back up again while he was out there...
He took a deep breath and steeled his spine. Time to take a chance. At the first raindrop, he'd run straight back here, no question. He grabbed the bag he'd packed earlier and double-checked everything. Yes, he had everything he could think of for an impromptu rescue. He grabbed his heavy-duty metal flashlight, tucking two cheap, lighter ones in the bag, picked up the gun, and walked out. He hoped he didn't regret this.
His senses felt like they were on overload as he climbed down from the tower and crouched. Nothing seemed to be stirring. Still, he moved slow, taking care of each step and constantly scanning the terrain as he kept the gun and the flashlight at the ready. The flashlight was as good as a club in need, and the gun was ready to fire. He made certain to keep his finger away from the trigger just in case.
He took a deep breath and steeled his spine. Time to take a chance. At the first raindrop, he'd run straight back here, no question. He grabbed the bag he'd packed earlier and double-checked everything. Yes, he had everything he could think of for an impromptu rescue. He grabbed his heavy-duty metal flashlight, tucking two cheap, lighter ones in the bag, picked up the gun, and walked out. He hoped he didn't regret this.
His senses felt like they were on overload as he climbed down from the tower and crouched. Nothing seemed to be stirring. Still, he moved slow, taking care of each step and constantly scanning the terrain as he kept the gun and the flashlight at the ready. The flashlight was as good as a club in need, and the gun was ready to fire. He made certain to keep his finger away from the trigger just in case.