All at once, he remembered the box inside the cabin next to the woodstove, and glanced up to see the chimney protruding from the corner closest to the outer storage box. He’d bet the outer box lined up with the inner one, and there was a gap in the thick log wall.
Movement caught his eye, and he adjusted the zoom on the night vision. Holy shit. The lid of the woodbox had lifted, and a finger poked through the narrow gap.
Audrey was in the woodbox?
He plunged though the last of the vines, exposing himself, but there was no other option. He had the Russian rifle at the ready.
He reached the box and was relieved to see carabiner clips hooked through two padlock hasps, securing the lid to the box, but not locking it.
He very quietly tapped once, twice, then once again. If Audrey was in there, she wouldn’t freak out when he opened the lid, but no one in the cabin would hear the soft knocks over the wind and rain.
The lid rose as far as the carabiners would allow, and again, a finger poked through. Once, again, then two times in quick succession. Her reply.
The lid closed, and he suppressed an audible whoosh of relief as he unclipped the carabiners and raised it again, opening it completely.
Audrey popped up like a jack-in-the-box and scrambled out of the thigh-high box as quietly as possible. That she uttered not a word told him how close the tangos were.
She pulled on her backpack as he relatched the box. If they were lucky, no one would guess they were ever in the cabin. Footprints around the box and broken vines would give them away, but he didn’t have time to erase their prints. He would just hope no one would look in this area before the rain washed them away.
He took her hand and led her silently back into the woods. She followed without a word. But then, none were necessary at this point. They needed distance before they could debrief.
He was out of plans at this point. All he knew was no matter what, he wouldn’t leave her side again.
Xavier was sure-footed and fast as he pulled Audrey into the woods. She’d caught a glimpse of the NVGs and rifle before they left the faint light of the open yard and entered the forest. He must’ve had a run-in with a tango and won. He could see, at least. That was all she needed to know for now. She would hold on to his vest and follow him into the dark.
Lake Olympus was shaped like an irregular and blobby knee-high thick-heeled boot, with the lodge situated on the shin and the cliff and waterfall on a swollen knee. The Jamison cabin was on a finger of the lake—or rather, the toe of the boot—that jutted to the east. A stream ran along the north side of the cabin, meeting the lake at the vamp of the boot. They crossed under the road on hands and knees, the stream soaking the sweatpants Audrey had borrowed from Harriet’s granddaughter.
She didn’t think of the frigid water as her hands found purchase on slippery rocks. Cold was nothing but a minor discomfort when compared to the terror she’d felt in the woodbox. She was alive. She would do anything she had to do to stay that way.
They reached the far side of the road and got to their feet. Xavier took her hand and led her deeper into the dark, saturated forest. He was taking her east, upslope, into the untamed wilderness. They were beyond trails here. No facilities. Just trees and moss and ferns. Fine with her. She only cared that they got as far from the Jamison cabin as possible.
She followed him, seeing only dark shades of gray to define contours under her feet, holding his hand and trusting he would keep her from stepping into a void as they wove between trees large and small, scrambling over downed trunks and crawling across rocks covered by a thick mossy carpet.
It felt like an hour must have passed by the time he drew her into the hollowed trunk of a giant cedar. “Let’s rest out of the rain for a bit. We need a plan.”
“Wait. Before you sit, I have a waterproof sheet in my pack. The only part of me that’s still dry is my butt because my raincoat has kept it covered. No point in sitting down and soaking my ass now.”
He let out a grim laugh. “Don’t suppose you’ve got a sleeping bag in there.”
“I wish.” She plucked out the meter-square panel that was camouflage on one side and neon orange on the other and spread it out in the arched hollow beneath the large trunk.
“I feel I should say again I regret ever hassling you over grabbing your pack.”
She smiled as she settled on the plastic. “I know. But it doesn’t mean I don’t like hearing the grovel.” The sheet couldn’t stop the cold from seeping through, but her butt remained dry.
Still, she shivered. They couldn’t stop here for long. The cold ground would suck all the warmth from their bodies. He removed his tactical vest and slipped off the coat he wore beneath it. She did the same. He pulled her tight to his side and draped his thick jacket behind them, while she placed hers across their front.
His right arm circled her shoulders, holding her snug to his side. “I owe you so much groveling. And I promise, you’ll get it all as soon as this is over.”
Warmth bloomed from her center, and she realized it was because she was starting to believe him and his apologies. “I’ll enjoy that when the time comes.”
“You’ll get it. I promise,” he repeated. “But right now, we need a plan.”
“Hiking out of here is impossible in these conditions—”
“I know. It’s too far, and we don’t have proper equipment. In these conditions, hypothermia would turn deadly fast, and it’s not a hike anyone can do alone, and I refuse to leave my team.”
“Good, I was afraid you were going to suggest I set out by myself.”