Mountains of Dawn

Paul's words came out in spurts. "Joe has the remote control. He's going to blow the place up as soon as he's far enough away to be safe. He doesn't know Tanya isn't inside."

"We'll get you into your car, Paul," Kevin said. "We'll all drive together." He lifted Paul while Tanya opened the back door of the car. Tanya bent to push Paul's legs into the vehicle while Kevin tried to start the engine. It refused to start. He tried, and failed, a second time.

"Take the Porsche and leave," Paul said in a whisper.

Kevin tried to start the car a third time with no success. "We'll take you in my car."

"There's no room for three people in that toy of a car, Kevin. Just get Tanya and get the hell out of here, will you?"

"Yes, there is." Kevin said calmly. "Tanya, turn my car around so I can move Paul directly into the passenger seat. Then lean the back of the driver's seat forward, and sneak behind it."

Tanya moved toward the car. She had gone no more than a few feet when a huge bang shook the air, followed by a rain of debris. The cottage lit with a fierce glow. The big spruce tree on the side of the house, with all of its bare and dry limbs, became an immense torch aimed at the sky.

With Paul and Tanya safely inside the vehicle, Kevin closed the door on the passenger's side and hurried around the front of the car, sheltering his face from the flying objects. He attempted to step over a clump of flaming branches. When that failed, he began to remove them one by one. He had opened a passage through the blaze when the tip of the spruce gave way, crashing to the ground with myriad sparks. Kevin arched his back abruptly, bringing both hands to the nape of his neck. He collapsed.

Tanya was out of the car almost before Kevin reached the ground. The flames continued to ignite anything dry around them as she dragged Kevin beside the Porsche. She was trying to lift his inert body into the vehicle when she felt a strong draft behind her. She turned.

Malcolm's helicopter had arrived, almost unnoticed-the rumble of its blades overcome by the furious crackle of the fire.