The Survivor - Page 74

The rangers and the deer immediately ran from the plateau, flying across the icy slope toward the protective claw-shaped peaks of yet another valley.

“We have to turn around,” Nadim said, panicked. “Now!”

“We’re so close!” Bevan pointed. “Less than a mile. We can make it!”

“It’s not close enough.” Nadim’s gaze was wide with sudden horror.

“What do you mean?”

The ground shook and a deafening rumble echoed across the mountainside.

Nadim spoke in a grim whisper. “Avalanche.”

Both men looked up as the mountain’s highest peaks appeared to crumble before their eyes. Bevan instantly gunned his snowmobile’s engine, speeding toward the safe path taken by the rangers and the herd.

On the slope below, Nadim’s squad scrambled, trying in vain to outrun the millions of tons of snow hurtling down the slopes. Nadim looked around. There had to be a way out, something he could do. But what?

His men were screaming now as the avalanche’s first wave barreled toward them. He watched in horror as a boulder bounced toward Bevan and crushed him flat, staining the snow with his blood for a few seconds until being covered over by the mountain of snow immediately behind!

CHAPTER 12

Faster!” Cade shouted. “We need to get to the other side of that ridge!”

He, Riley, and Maya gunned their snowmobile engines as snow, ice, and boulders tumbled down the mountainside above them. Bailey squeezed Maya tight as their snowmobile slid across the icy slope.

“This was Kagan’s plan?” Riley shouted.

“Pretty effective, you have to admit.”

“Only if we survive!”

“Give it everything you have,” Cade yelled. “We’ll be safe on the other side of that ridge.”

“Are you sure?”

“Kagan was sure. That’s good enough for me!”

The ground shook beneath their vehicles and chunks of ice dropped all around them. They leaped over the ridge and skidded to a stop on the snowy slope.

They sat on their snowmobiles and watched for several minutes as the avalanche with all its beautiful and destructive power reshaped the mountain.

Bailey rested her chin on Maya’s shoulder. “Wow.”

Cade’s phone rang in his pocket. He pulled it out and answered it. “Hi, Kagan. Yeah, we’re all fine. Maybe a little annoyed you couldn’t let us in on your plan.” He listened for a moment. “Okay, then I suppose it’s worth it. We’ll see you later.”

Cade cut the connection. “Kagan, the herd, and the Ice Rangers are all okay.”

“What about Nadim’s men?”

“Buried under thousands of tons of snow and ice. Maybe someone will dig their bodies out in the spring… fifteen or twenty years from now.”

“Can’t say I’m sorry to hear that,” Riley said.

“We need to go back to the cave,” Bailey said. “Now. We need to make sure Riva and her baby are okay.”

Maya turned and squeezed her tight. “We’ll go back soon. I promise. But things may be too unstable out there.”

“We have to go there now. They might need help.”