Chapter 13

           Myfirstimpulseistoscramblefromthetree,butI’mbeltedin.SomehowmyfumblingfingersreleasethebuckleandIfalltothegroundinaheap,stillsnarledinmysleepingbag.There’snotimeforanykindofpacking.Fortunately,mybackpackandwaterbottlearealreadyinthebag.Ishoveinthebelt,hoistthebagovermyshoulder,andflee.

           Theworldhastransformedtoflameandsmoke.Burningbranchescrackfromtreesandfallinshowersofsparksatmyfeet.AllIcandoisfollowtheothers,therabbitsanddeerandIevenspotawilddogpackshootingthroughthewoods.Itrusttheirsenseofdirectionbecausetheirinstinctsaresharperthanmine.Buttheyaremuchfaster,flyingthroughtheunderbrushsogracefullyasmybootscatchonrootsandfallentreelimbs,thatthere’snowayIcankeepapacewiththem.

           Theheatishorrible,butworsethantheheatisthesmoke,whichthreatenstosuffocatemeatanymoment.Ipullthetopofmyshirtupovermynose,gratefultofinditsoakedinsweat,anditoffersathinveilofprotection.AndIrun,choking,mybagbangingagainstmyback,myfacecutwithbranchesthatmaterializefromthegrayhazewithoutwarning,becauseIknowIamsupposedtorun.

           Thiswasnotribute’scampfiregoneoutofcontrol,noaccidentaloccurrence.Theflamesthatbeardownonmehaveanunnaturalheight,auniformitythatmarksthemashuman-made,machine-made,Gamemaker-made.Thingshavebeentooquiettoday.Nodeaths,perhapsnofightsatall.