CHAPTER SEVENTEEN FIRE ON THE HORIZON #2
“I need your help, Greyeagle,” said Wisdom. “Can you do that coordinator magic you did the other night? I’m not used to handling this many different departments. I mean, I don’t normally work with EMTs, Firefighters, and local cops.”
“I can do that,” Greyeagle said. “Can you fill me in?”
“At approximately three this morning,” Wisdom said, “our big rocky-hided friends hit this installation in force. The last few times, cameras verified about a dozen of the creatures. This time, there were at least twenty. They hit fast and hard, killing everyone inside the compound. At least, we hope they’re dead.
We can’t get into the area since the well is on fire.
It’s gotta be almost a thousand degrees.
If anyone’s alive in there, they’re being cooked alive, and that’s an absolute shit way to go. ”
“There’s a good way?” asked Kade.
“Is this…” began Wisdom.
“My brother and his pack,” finished Greyeagle.
“Well, fuck,” said Wisdom. “That’s interesting, but I don’t have time to ask about it right now. I was going to ask where the extra people came from. I thought it might be your brother, or you were one hell of a recruiter.”
“Alright, where do you need my people?” asked Greyeagle.
“I’ll leave that to you, Mister Scene Coordinator,” replied Wisdom. “I need to get on the phone and see about getting more firefighters to respond. We’re going to need one of those special units that know how to put out oil well fires. The local kids won’t be able to touch this inferno.”
“Alright,” Greyeagle said. “Kade, take whoever you need and check the perimeter. Look for anyone who might have made it out of the fire.”
Kade stared at Greyeagle for a moment and nodded.
“You’ve got it, little brother,” Kade said.
“Mika,” said Greyeagle, “take some people and see how close you can get to the blaze. Don’t risk yourselves. I just want to know the limit of where we can safely approach.”
“I’ll take the Mohawk Twins,” Mika said. “We’ll find your sweet spot, brother.”
“Jason,” said Greyeagle.
“Yes, cousin,” replied Jason.
“How much C-4 do you have?” Greyeagle asked.
“On me or on hand?” replied Jason.
“Here,” Greyeagle said.
“A couple pounds in my saddlebags,” Jason replied.
“That’s not enough,” Greyeagle said. “How much could you lay your hands on?”
“I’ve got another twenty pounds stashed back at the campground. Will that work?”
“That’s more like it,” Greyeagle said. “Either go get it or see if you can get Grandfather or my dad to bring it here.”
“What are you planning?” asked Jason.
Greyeagle grinned.
“Kade, do any of your people know explosives?” asked Greyeagle.
“Afraid not,” Kade said. “Sorry.”
“No worries,” Greyeagle said. “Jason can handle it. We’ll figure out the rest. Now, everyone get to it. I’ve got to coordinate the response teams. Wisdom, can you see if anyone out there has any explosives experience?”
“I’ll ask around,” Wisdom said, then ducked out of the tent.
“If there’s anyone out there,” Kade said, “we’ll find them.”
“Be careful,” Greyeagle said. “The Ma’êstse-hóhkeso might still be out there.”
“We’ll be careful,” Kade said.
“Everyone grab a radio,” Greyeagle added. “Stay in touch. If you find anything, call it in. If you find a survivor, call in the EMTs or get them to the triage center.”
Kade nodded, clipped the radio to his belt, and headed for the exit. He pointed at Kodiak, Mason, Tashunka, Sarah, Raven, and Evan. They all followed him out without hesitation.
“Anyone else have any skills I should know about?” asked Greyeagle.
“I was trained as a healer,” said Leah Red Willow. “My father was a medicine man, and I was a combat medic in the Army.”
“That’s fantastic,” Greyeagle said. “Can you go with Jason and see if you can help the triage teams?”
She stared at Greyeagle for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
“I can do that,” she replied.
“If anyone questions your authority,” Greyeagle said, “send them to me or Wisdom.”
She nodded again, then headed for where Jason was on the phone arranging for transportation for the explosives. Greyeagle went right back to work, repositioning the firefighters to prevent a grass fire, knowing full well they were useless against the well itself.
He also coordinated the EMTs and medical personnel into a triage area, then sent several cops to clear an area for helicopters to land should they find survivors.
Then it was back to the command center to get more resources moved to block traffic and control access so that this entire area wouldn't be live-broadcast around the world.
The press would only get in the way and slow response times.
An hour passed as Greyeagle continued to coordinate the scene like a maestro conducting an orchestra. He glanced up as Kade stepped inside. He had blood all over his shirt and arms.
“Are you alright?” asked Greyeagle.
“I’m fine,” Kade responded. “You were right to send us around the perimeter. We found six survivors just outside the blast radius. They were fucked up pretty bad, but alive.”
“Good,” Greyeagle said. “Thank you, brother.”
“I’m impressed,” Kade said. “And I don’t impress easily. I never knew what went into this side of the scene. I can honestly say I couldn’t do what you’re doing.”
Jason ducked into the tent with a large box marked “explosives.”
“Ahh, here’s our special delivery,” Greyeagle said.
“Why do you need explosives?” asked Kade. “I mean, hasn’t this place been blown up enough already?”
“I’m not going to blow it up,” Greyeagle replied. “I’m going to put out the fire. The only way to stop an oil well fire is to take away its air. You do that with a controlled explosion.”
“The trick is,” Jason said, “if you want the fire to stay out, we’ve got to cap the well.”
“That’s where Tashunka, Kodiak, and Mason come in,” Greyeagle said.
Kade and I, thanks for volunteering, by the way, will get in close enough to plant the charges.
Once we extinguish the fire, Tashunka is in charge.
He worked these rigs before. He needs to give Kodiak and Mason a crash course in how to cap that well. That’s gonna be their job.”
“You’re crazy,” Jason said. “Have you ever done this before?”
“No, but I’ve seen John Wayne’s The Hellfighters about a dozen times,” Greyeagle replied.
“Oh, I love that movie,” Kade said. “Chance Buckman was a badass. He must be part Lakota.”
“John Wayne’s character, Chance, was based on a real guy,” Greyeagle replied. “Red Adair. He pioneered oil rig firefighting.”
“Do you really think you can pull this off?” asked Jason.
“Well, it’ll take days to get a specialized crew in here,” Greyeagle said, “so if I can’t, it’ll still be burning when they get here.”
“But if we pull this off,” said Kade, “then every fucker here sees that a bunch of Lakota saved their asses.”
“That’s not important,” Greyeagle replied. “I don’t care about getting credit.”
“You’re not listening,” Kade said. “It’ll take the heat off the Rez. Maybe these folks will stop blaming us for this shit.”
“He makes a hell of a point,” Jason said.
“Fine,” Greyeagle said, “but putting out the fire and saving lives is more important than optics. We’re here to help, not take credit.”
“Fine by me,” Kade replied, grinning. “Fuck, you’re good at this shit, little brother.”
“Thanks,” Greyeagle answered, “but we’re a long way from pulling this off.”
“When do you want to get started?” asked Jason.
“Pull everyone back,” Greyeagle said. “Get them back by the triage units. That’s a lot of explosives going off, so I don’t want anyone to be too close when it goes off.”
“And what about us?” asked Kade. “How do we get close without being deep-fried wolf fritters?”
“That’s the tricky part,” Greyeagle said. “I’m going to need you to shift and carry a big shield. Something made of thick steel to force the heat back so we can get close enough to plant the charges.”
“How close do we need to get?” asked Kade.
“Fuck if I know,” Greyeagle replied. “As close as possible.”
“Alright, little brother,” Kade said, grinning. “Let’s dance. I’m going to go out and find something big enough to use as a shield.”
“The thicker the better,” Greyeagle said. “Because it’s gonna get hot as hell and you can’t let it fall or we’re both cooked.”
“Yeah, I get it,” Kade said. “If that fire hits that C4, we’re both gonna rain down over three states.”
“Yeah, if that goes off,” Greyeagle said, “we’re chunky red rain.”
Sarah walked in and glared at Greyeagle.
“You’re not serious, are you?” she asked.
“How did you find out?” asked Greyeagle.
“Jason,” replied Sarah. “You have kids, Will. You can’t keep doing this.”
“Someone has to,” Greyeagle replied.
“It’s okay,” Kade added, grinning. “He knows what he’s doing. He’s watched Hellfighters a dozen times.”
“Wow,” Sarah said. “You idiots really are brothers.”
“I don’t know if I should be insulted or flattered,” Kade replied.
“The jury’s still out on that,” said Greyeagle.
“Yes it is,” Sarah said, putting her hands on her hips. “Don’t get yourself killed, please.”
“That’s not the plan,” said Kade, with a chuckle. “Tell me that’s not the plan.”
“That’s not the plan,” added Greyeagle.
“Wow, that doesn’t reassure me whatsoever,” replied Kade. “Screw it. Hokahey.”
Kade smiled at Greyeagle and mouthed “good luck,” then ducked out of the tent.
“Where’s he going?” asked Sarah.
“To find us something to use as a shield,” Greyeagle replied. “This will work. I know the physics behind it is sound. This is how you put out a well fire.”
“But you’ve never done it, and you’re not a firefighter,” she replied. “Please tell me you know what you’re doing.”
“Well, if I’m wrong, I don’t have to worry about you being mad anymore,” Greyeagle answered, grinning.
“Not funny, Greyeagle,” she said, frowning.
“Come on, it was a little funny,” Greyeagle said, slipping his arms around her and kissing her on the neck.
“Oh, don’t think this is going to get you out of hot water with me, mister,” Sarah said, squirming as he found the spot on her neck that always made her squeal.
“Oh, I’ll make it up to you later,” Greyeagle said. “I promise.”