Sneed B. Collard III - Flash Point

Sneed B. Collard III

PEACHTREE PUBLISHERS
1700 Chattahoochee Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30318-2112

www.peachtree-online.com

Text 2006 by Sneed B. Collard III
Cover photograph 2006 by Kari Greer

First trade paperback edition published in 2011

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any meanselectronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any otherexcept for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.

Cover design by Loraine M. Joyner
Book design by Melanie McMahon Ives

Jacket front cover photograph: Extreme fire behavior on the Blackhall Fire
Encampment, Wyoming, 2000.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Collard, Sneed B.
Flash point / by Sneed B. Collard, III. -- 1st ed.
p. cm.
Summary: After school Luther works part-time with a vet who rescues and retrains birds of prey but when he questions many of the community's beliefs about land use, he risks alienation from his friends and family.
ISBN 13: 978-1-56145-607-9 / ISBN 10: 1-56145-607-1 (eBook)
[1. Ecology--Fiction. 2. Nature--Fiction. 3. Birds of prey--Fiction. 4. Montana--Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.C67749Fla 2006
[Fic]--dc22

2006013997

To the memory of Pam Tabish,
a dedicated librarian and friend,
who flew from us far too soon.

S. B. C. III

Contents

A s soon as he burst through the large double doors, the smoke hit him like a diesel locomotive. The acid pall stung his eyes and burned his throat. Ashes swirled around him and overhead; the September sun glowered red like one of those dissolving tablets used to color Easter eggs. Luther Wright pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and held it over his nose.

Whew, he said. Its even worse than yesterday.

His friend Chet coughed. Yeah. The winds must be blowing from the north.

All around them, students spilled like whitewater down the front steps of Heartwood High School, eager to put distance between themselves and the school day. Almost all of them, though, paused to look up at the eerie orange-black clouds overhead. Their faces showed that even in Heartwood, fires like this were a major event.

The flames had been burning since the beginning of August. Ignited by Montanas driest summer in more than a decade, dozens of fires had erupted throughout the western half of the state. The Rocky Gulch blaze, fifteen miles north of Heartwood, had by itself charred 120,000 acres an area larger than the sprawling city of Denver, Colorado. The inferno had been burning more than three weeks and Luther could barely remember the last time hed seen blue sky. Today seemed the worst yet.

Well, at least they cancelled afternoon football practice, Chet said as he and Luther walked toward the bike racks. Me and some of the other guys thought wed go down to Sky Burger and hang out. You want to come?

Luther was tempted. The year before, hed also been on the football teama solid freshman linebacker and, with his high-intensity play, a shoo-in to make varsity. But to everyones shock, hed decided not to go out this year. Already he could feel a distance growing between him, Chet, and the other players.

Ah, Id better not, Luther mumbled, reluctant to disappoint his friend. Ive got to get out to Kays to take care of the birds.

Suddenly, a brawny Neanderthal with a crimson crew cut bulldozed his way through to them. You and those friggin birds! the hulk said. What kind of idiot takes care of pests anyway?

Luthers jaw set. Warren Juddson was about the last person he wanted to have a conversation with. Warren was the third of seven kids in the Juddson clan, and, like the rest of his family, trouble followed him like smoke. His oldest brother Jack had landed in the state penitentiary at Deer Lodge for assault with a deadly. The second oldest, Raymond, had somehow kept a job at the mill with their father, Knot Juddsonwhen the mill wasnt shut down or Ray wasnt sleeping it off in County.

Warren did his best to follow the family tradition. Hed already been suspended for fighting once this year, and rumor had it he was failing every class but metal shop and phys ed. Everyone knew that if it werent for Warrens bulk and ferocity as a defensive tackle, the school would have booted him long ago.

Before this year, Luther hadnt had any particular problem with Warren. Since Luther had decided not to go out for football, however, Warren had been getting in his face on a regular basis. Luther was sick of it.

Hawks and eagles arent pests, he told Warren. Theyre predators. They eat pests like mice and ratsand Juddsons.

I dont care what you call em, Warren said, stepping closer. I call em target practice.

A couple of other football players laughed, and Luther knew he couldnt just let this one slide. He straightened up and looked Warren in the eyes. Warren had thirty pounds on him, but Luther moved faster. Besides being on the football team, he had also gone out for wrestling the year before. If it came to blows, Luther figured Warren could probably take him, but then again, he might not. He stared down the bigger boy until he saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes.

Warren stepped back and raised an imaginary gun to his shoulder. Just dont bring one of those birds in range of my 12-gaugeor boom!

Give it a rest, Warren, Chet said.

Warren and Luther glared at each other for another second. Then Warren grinned.

Aw, Im just jerkin you around, he said, his smile exposing two gaping holes where teeth should have been.

Well, go jerk somewhere else, Luther said, feeling the adrenaline pump through him.

Itll be a relief, birdbrain, Warren said, shoving off with four others from the football team.

Douche-bag, Chet muttered.

Yeah, said Luther. Does that moron ever think before he opens his mouth? If I had to choose between Warren and a raptor, Id pick a bird any day. Raptors at least serve some purpose in the world.

Maybe you know that and I know it, but dont forget youre in Heartwood, Montana, Chet said. Some people around here, if they see a hawk or eagle or falcon, are going to shoot first and ask questions later. Admit it, Luth. Before you met Kay, you didnt know a thing about raptors, let alone care about them.

Thats not true.

Chet looked at him, eyebrow cocked.

Wellmaybe a little true, Luther conceded.

Besides, Warrens just trying to rub your face in it because youre not on the team anymore. It makes him feel superior.

I know. But Luther also knew there was more to the bad blood between him and Warren than Chet or anyone else understood. He bent down and began dialing the combination on his bike lock.

Hey, Luth?

He straightened back up. Yeah?

Uh, any chance youll join the wrestling team again? I know you said you didnt want to, but I talked to Coach and its not too late. We could really use you in the 152-pound division. If you started training now, youd be ready for the first meet.

Especially after quitting football, Luther had often thought about going out for wrestling again. Most of his friends from the football team were also wrestlers. But the incident at the end of last years football season had pretty much killed his interest in sportsany sports.