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Flowers was busy with Ricky, so I made a sleepy-time
herbal tea. It was strong enough to crawl out of the cup and down the throat
all on its own. After a cup or two, Thomas began to regain his color. And with
it his stiffness, officiousness, and wounded dignity. I might have disliked him
but for those melancholy eyes. I was betting he didn’t have a lot of friends.
    Chuck was doing his best to put him at ease and I decided
that I would help—after all, we needed him peacefully asleep so we could talk.
Wounded dignity first, I decided, and told him that no one who flew with the
Wings when he was in a bad mood maintained his equanimity, and anyway the
turbulence over the mountain could fell any man.
    I also related the story of Chuck’s reception in the Gulch,
but this just seemed to horrify Thomas. Fortunately, he began to yawn and
didn’t resist when I suggested he retire for the night.
    After he had gone upstairs, I filled Chuck in on the
pipeline and what we planned to do about it.
    “But Whisky Jack?” he said weakly.
    “I know, but he was dead sober. And he used to be a
surveyor. He can do this.” I added, “He has to do this.”
    Chuck took a deep breath.
    “Okay. What can I do?” Then he yawned and scrubbed his face.
He looked very tired.
    “Mostly you can help by keeping young Thomas occupied. Maybe
Wendell can take him out and teach him to read bear signs and track elk and
such.” I chuckled. “Though there will be plenty of bear tracks here in town
come morning. Big John and Sasha are seeing to it now.”
    Chuck managed a tired smile.
    “That actually isn’t a bad idea about having Wendell take us
out…. Too bad Anatoli won’t be here. He could teach him about tracking humans.”
    “I’m glad you aren’t upset about your father going on the
survey too.”
    “I think it’s for the best. I love the old man, but he isn’t
discreet. And he’ll be happy if he gets to blow something up.”
    I nodded.
    “Speaking of blowing things up, should I risk using the
kitchen to make you some dinner?”
    “No, I ate before we left. Long before, what with having to
fly—” Chuck broke off. “Actually, I don’t know how long you can keep Wings
grounded. He’s got to take some kind of a flying test to renew his license and
I can tell that he’s worried.”
    “Damn. I had forgotten about that. Well, we just have to do
what we can do and trust God to be merciful with the extras this week.”
    Chuck yawned again.
    “I’m beat. I won’t be of any use to anyone if I don’t get
some sleep,” Chuck said. He had gotten used to the Gulch hours where we tended
to rise and set with the sun. “Are you ready to turn in?”
    “Not quite yet. I have to supervise a couple of things.”
    “Like? Or do I not want to know?”
    “We need survey equipment. I think we are going to have to
borrow some.”
    Chuck shook his head.
    “We’d have to hide it from the surveyors regardless. May as
well put it to use,” I argued.
    “Well, don’t be too long at your felonious pursuits.” Chuck
stood and then leaned down to kiss me. “I’ve missed you.”
    “I’ve missed you too,” I said, and found that that was true,
in spite of my being preoccupied with other things. Like calendars and
pipelines. “Give Max a pat and tell him I’ll be back soon.”
    After Chuck was gone, I checked that the fire was banked
down and then went out to the shed where Sasha has a kind of workshop. My body
was tired, but I was too keyed up to sleep.
    As I expected, Anatoli and Sasha were there. Horace had gone
off with Big John to surround the inn with bear tracks made with the plaster
casts he had kept after the genuine bear attack last winter.
    The boys were happy to see me and I was conscripted to the
work detail, and Sasha set me to cleaning and loading guns while he and Anatoli
packed explosives. Sasha and Anatoli had custom-made rifles that were pieces of
deadly art. I did the job carefully and then checked the ammunition they