Read Online Wildfire Run by Dee Garretson - Free Book Online Page A

Luke!”
    She could hear Luke behind her, and then Adam roared, “Luke, stop now ! Don’t go in the woods! It’s too dangerous! Callie!” She looked back. Luke had stopped and Adam and the woman were running toward them. What was in there? Callie slowed and then came to a halt. Neither animal was in sight now. The agents and Luke jogged up to her, Theo coming behind.
    â€œDon’t go in the woods,” Adam repeated, his voice totally unlike the friendly one she had heard just a few minutes ago. He didn’t even look the same. She could see the tension in his body, like he was ready to leap at something.
    â€œAdam, what’s going to happen to Comet?” Luke sounded panicked. “Is the defense system on? It could kill Comet, couldn’t it?”
    â€œCalm down, Luke,” Adam said. “I’ll notify the camp commander and have them stop the testing until we can get Comet. They may not even be testing that section of the woods right now.” Adam moved away.
    â€œWhat kind of defense system do you have here that will kill animals?” Callie asked. “There’snothing like that at the ranch.”
    â€œIt’s new. These boxes are mounted on the trees and they send out this radiation, kind of like microwave rays, and they cause so much pain you think you’re on fire before you pass out.” Luke was talking so fast his words were tumbling over one another. “I overheard my dad say that it killed some goats when they tested the prototype. Why did you bring a cat here anyway?” Luke’s voice rose to a yell. “Comet could get hurt!”

18
Trapped
    Luke could feel his insides twisting up, and in his fury he wanted to hit someone. He tried to get around Isabelle, but the agent grabbed him.
    â€œ Luke! Get control of yourself!” she ordered.
    â€œHow far away is it?” Through his rage Luke heard the worry in Adam’s voice and saw he was on his cell phone. Behind him, Luke could see that people were pouring out of the buildings. A group of Marines started jogging up the main road.
    â€œWhat’s going on, Adam?” Isabelle asked.
    Adam snapped his phone shut. “The forest fire east of here Sal called in is spreading. Just as a precaution, we are all going to go back toWashington. The camp will be shut down until the fire is under control. There’s an evacuation plan we have practiced, so let’s just follow the procedure. Sal is meeting us in front of Aspen.”
    â€œAdam, what about Comet!” Luke tried to keep his voice down. “Were they testing that section?”
    â€œComet will be fine,” Adam said. “The testing has halted so we can evacuate. I’m sure the fire won’t spread this far, and we’ll send someone back for Comet as soon as we can.”
    â€œI think I smell the fire,” Callie said suddenly. “How close is it?” She wrapped her arms around herself.
    â€œIf you can smell it, it’s probably not too far away,” Theo said. “I think I can smell it too.”
    Callie gave a strangled whisper: “I don’t like fire.”
    â€œIsabelle, call for another agent to join us ASAP,” Adam said. “Luke, you can stand at the edge of the woods and call for Comet. He’ll come back. We have a few minutes before the cars are ready. As soon as another agent gets here, I’m going to go talk to Sal and work out some details. Let’s do this one step at a time, but you have to promise not to go into the woods.” Adam moved closer as if afraid Luke would bolt.
    â€œI’m not leaving without Comet.” Luke walked toward the forest and stopped just on the edge. Both agents followed a step behind.
    â€œHe’ll come back. Why don’t you two help Luke call for him?” Adam said to Theo and Callie.
    â€œComet!” Luke screamed. “Comet!” He wished he had trained Comet better. He meant to, but he had