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

never gotten around to it. He thought about making a run for the woods, except he knew there was no way he could get in without one of the agents tackling him.
    â€œComet!” Theo and Callie both yelled together. “Tocho!” Callie called.
    Everyone waited, and Luke strained to see any bit of white amid the trees. There was nothing.
    â€œLuke.” Sal came up, startling Luke so much he jumped and bumped into Sal’s arm. “Luke, we have to go.”
    â€œWhat’s going to happen to Comet?” Luke said, watching Sal’s eyes. Sal wouldn’t lie to him.
    Sal hesitated a moment. “I don’t know, but dogs are smart, and they’re good at taking care of themselves. Now, we’ve talked many times about emergencies. You know what your father would expect you to do.”
    Luke’s throat closed up and he felt tears in hiseyes. “Yes,” he said. “Let’s go.”
    â€œWhat about me?” Callie asked. “Where’s my dad?” Luke was surprised to hear how small her voice sounded.
    â€œYou are coming with us, miss,” Sal said. “The agent with your father has already been notified and they’re all on their way to Washington. Theo, I have someone calling your family. They’ll know you’re on your way back too.” Sal spoke into his microphone: “Speeder is on his way.”
    Luke followed Sal, turning around every few steps in case Comet came out of the woods. He couldn’t see anything moving in the underbrush, but birds kept flying up out of the trees and then over their heads and away. When they reached the parking lot by Aspen Lodge, another of Luke’s agents, Grant, stood near the three SUVs.
    â€œWe left the robot by the tree house,” Theo said.
    â€œMy laptop is up in it,” Luke said.
    â€œTocho is still—” Callie said.
    â€œWe need to go now ,” Sal interrupted, pointing to the cars. “The first rule of an evacuation is not to take time to get things. I’m sure they’ll have the fire under control before it even gets close, so your things will be fine. We’ll have someonecollect them when the camp opens back up.”
    â€œI see smoke.” They all looked as Callie pointed. Gray puffy smoke rose up in the east. It was so thick no one could mistake it for fog now.
    â€œLuke, you will be in the middle car with your friends,” Sal said. “Adam, you drive Luke. Grant will go with you. Isabelle, you take the trail car.”
    Sal’s phone rang. They all waited while he listened. Luke saw the kitchen staff drive by in two white vans. A military truck full of Marines followed them.
    â€œLet’s go,” Sal said, motioning them to the middle car. He waited until they were inside and then he got in the lead car.
    When they were all seated, Grant said, “Buckle up, everyone.” He leaned over the back and watched them fasten their seat belts. As the SUVs pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, another truck full of Marines slowed to let them in front.
    â€œIs everybody leaving?” Luke asked. He couldn’t imagine Camp David empty. “Even the command center staff?”
    â€œEverybody,” Adam said. “It’s just a precaution because of the dry conditions and the wind. Don’t worry.”
    â€œWhat about the fire trucks here? Why can’t they just go put out the fire?” Luke asked.
    â€œThey’re already headed to it, but there’s no ready supply of water, besides what’s in the pumper truck. I’m sure they will get it under control, though.”
    â€œAre you sure?” Callie asked. “Wildfires in California get out of control all the time.”
    â€œIt’s not the same here,” Theo said. “The vegetation is totally different, and that affects the speed of a fire. Of course, the winds and all the dead plants aren’t going to help.”
    â€œGreat,”