Caldera

by Larry LaVoie

  “Still, I feel so helpless,” Carlene said.

  Back in the monitoring station Jason went straight to Bainbridge’s computer.

  “You’ve been over Bainbridge’s records at least a dozen times. What do you expect to find?” Carlene asked.

  “I need to make sure my numbers are correct.”

  “I don’t know how many times you need to do that. You think the numbers will change?”

  “This is the last time, I promise.” How could his government expect him to keep this quiet? He’d have to bring her up to date even if it was a serious breach of national security.

  “He has some lab books in his desk. Have you looked through those?”

  “If they’re the ones he used for his original entries they may help,” Jason said opening a side drawer.

  Carlene stared at him.

  “What?” Jason asked.

  “You’re keeping something from me. I’m a big girl I can take it.”

  Jason turned away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  Carlene grabbed his arm. “You disappear for a day and the rangers start evacuating the park. You know something that you’re not telling me and I have a right to know!”

  “I didn’t think it would happen this fast,” Jason said.

  “Quit treating me like a kid. What’s going on?”

  Jason pondered his response for a moment. “We’re going to get help. There’s going to be a lot of government activity around the park.”

  “What kind of activity?”

  “You’ll know soon enough. I’m not supposed to talk about it.”

  “Jason Trask, you can be a real S O B sometimes.”

  “Forget it,” Jason said. “I’m not saying anything until I see what happens.”

  Carlene, dressed in a pastel green jogging suit, closed the door to her motor home and set out in a leisurely trot. The tourists were gone and the only traffic was a white pickup with Yellowstone markings on it. Though things had been quiet it gave her little comfort. She worried about her brother, her family and Jason. He was keeping a secret and it was really grating at her.

  Jason had been distant the past few days and she wondered if she’d been too much of a baby snuggling up to him like a scared little girl the other night. Neither had mentioned that night. She needed to know what was going on, but he wouldn’t talk. He had spent the past two days in the field around the Norris basin. Carlene had remained behind at the monitoring station. All the inside work had given her cabin fever so she’d decided to jog. It was one of the few ways she could relax. Her lips formed a smile. Jason had kissed her that night and she’d slept the best she had in weeks cuddled next to him. She had a surprise planned for him when he returned tonight.

  The sun was shining and the clear mountain air bit at her cheeks. She’d heard that the Lake restaurant was open for the government workers and she decided to treat herself to a real breakfast. She turned down the road toward the Lake Hotel about a mile away. Her pace turned into a steady run, the air bursting from her mouth in small clouds. She could enjoy the early summer blooms and forget the stress of the job. At the entrance to the Lake Hotel she stopped and bent over gasping for breath. She’d been running all out and had come up on a small heard of Roosevelt elk. She looked up at a large bull. His neck was covered with a shaggy mane, on his head an enormous rack still in velvet. They stared each other down for a minute and she wondered what she would do if he charged. For now she stayed motionless trying not to pose a threat. After a few minutes he wandered off to protect his harem. “You could do better!” she shouted at the cows being herded along by the bull. Then she laughed. At least it made her feel better.

  She picked up her pace again and soon the large yellow building of the Lake Hotel loomed ahead. As she approached she slowed to a walk removing her sweatshirt, exposing bare arms and a deep teal tank top. She was surprised at the number of vehicles in front, mostly park service and rangers. Inside the warm moist air hit her like a steam bath. She draped her sweatshirt over her shoulders and waited by the restaurant entrance. Tim, a big man with silver-gray hair and a gray mustache waved to her. “Come join me, honey,” he called. Tim was a ranger who had spent his senior years at the park. He reminded her of her grandfather. She walked over, greeted him, and pulled out the only vacant chair at the table. On her left was a young man in a maintenance uniform. He looked over at her. “You’re the scientist with the USGS. I seen ya around.”

  “Carlene Carlson,” she said taking a seat.

  “Maybe you can explain what’s going on. The parking lot at Old Faithful is flooded and stinks to high heaven.”

  The ranger on her right set a mug down and glanced over. “I saw you and Jason over there a few days ago. Anything going on we should know?”

  “Normal fault movement,” Carlene said. “Nothing to worry about,” she lied.

  “Then why have they closed the park?” the maintenance man asked.

  “Look guys, I came in for some breakfast. I’ve heard the park was closed, but that’s the extent of it. Probably bad weather at the passes.”

  The waiter, a young man in a white shirt and black slacks, put a coffee cup in front of her and filled it. “Did you hear the news this morning,” the waiter said. “Some Internet group is spreading rumors that the park is going to blow up. They’ll do anything to disrupt our lives. I need this job.” The name-tag read Michael from New Jersey. “These gentlemen have ordered,” Michael said. “May I take your order, ma’am?”

  “Cinnamon roll and coffee. I need a sugar fix.” The closing of the park dominated the conversation. Most of the park personnel remaining were curious as to why the park would close just before tourist season got into full swing. Carlene played dumb. There was nothing to be gained by adding to the rumors that were flying around. She finished the last bite of her roll and wiped her mouth with a napkin before taking a last sip of coffee. “Tim, any chance I could hitch a ride back to camp? I burned myself out on the jog in.”

  “Not often an old man like me gets hit on by a pretty girl,” Tim’s eyes sparkled and he smoothed his silver hair. “Just happens I’m headed in that direction.”

  Carlene smiled and stood up. “Don’t get any ideas. It’s just a ride.”

  Tim put a ten on the table. “That’s for both of us. Keep the change,” he told the waiter. “I got a hot date.”

  “I’ll need another dollar,” Michael said.

  Tim blushed. “Damn prices go up more every year.” Carlene reached for her fanny pack and Tim put his hand out stopping her. “I said I would pay.” He removed another five from his wallet, slapped it on the counter and pointed at the waiter. “We’re even. You take care.” He turned to Carlene. “The bus is departing. All aboard.”

  Outside the cold air chilled her. She stood beside the ranger’s pickup and pulled the sweatshirt on before climbing in.

  Tim looked over as he started the engine. He rested his hand on the gearshift his eyes still on her. “I didn’t want to say anything in there, but the park closing isn’t normal. Something is going on that they aren’t telling us.”

  “Oh?” Carlene raised her eyebrows.

  “Damn right. I saw fifteen Army helicopters; I counted them, all hovering over the south entrance. I called headquarters to see what was going on and they didn’t know anything about it. You’d think if there was a terrorist threat or a problem they’d at least brief us.”

  “Your guess is as good as mine,” Carlene said. “This morning is the first I heard of helicopters.” She fastened the seatbelt, wondering. Maybe Jason had got to the right people or Sanders had finally seen the light, either way it looked like help was on the way.

  Tim grunted and slipped the truck in gear and backed out. “Where’s Jason? Haven’t seen him around much, lately.”

  “He’s been spending his time at Norris Basin. I’m doing most of the monitoring of the rest of the park.”

  “Well they couldn’t have put it in prettier h
ands. You need anything, page me. I know this park like the back of my hand.” He pulled up to a stop in front of the employee mess hall. “I got a daughter a little older than you. She worries about me up here all alone. I tell her I’m surrounded by the best people on earth. You find out anything, don’t make a liar out of me. Don’t want a terrorist putting me out of a job.”

  “Thanks for the ride. I’ll keep my eyes and ears open.”

  He waved and she stood watching until the truck disappeared around a bend. She walked across the gravel lot to her motor home to make a call. What were fifteen Army helicopters doing in the park?

  Jason hated to lie to Carlene, but here he was in a room full of Army personnel at park headquarters instead of Norris Basin where he’d told Carlene he’d be. They were going through each phase of Operation Caldera. It seemed there was a commander over every phase of the operation, all reporting to Montgomery and Montgomery reporting directly to President Turner. By the time he returned to the monitoring station and Carlene the rest of the park personnel would be evacuated leaving Carlene and a new team of USGS scientists to help watch for volcanic activity.

  Jason listened to General Montgomery give an overview of Operation Caldera. Jason would be in charge of the scientists keeping watch. His team would take up headquarters in the Lake Hotel and near by cabins. Within twenty-four hours there would be a thousand specialists with two hundred support personnel located in the park, all experts in nuclear tunneling. Hearing this Jason butted in, “Have you ever done anything like this before?”

  “It’s classified,” Montgomery said smiling. “Let’s get through this, shall we.”

  It was dark by the time the meeting broke up. Lunch and dinner had been brought in so they could keep working. At the first opportunity Jason called Carlene and told her he’d be in, but it would be late. He didn’t tell her where he was.

  “My place is a lot warmer than your tent. Why not spend the night. Doesn’t matter how late, I’ll wait up.”

  Jason shook off the cold as he waited for the defrosters to clear the windshield. Carlene had seemed cheerful and he wondered what was going on. The drive would be a lot more pleasant knowing he didn’t have to sleep in the tent. He occupied the time on the long drive trying to figure out the missing piece of the caldera puzzle. There had to be a hundred loose ends that they hadn’t thought of.

  He had pondered the question for over an hour and as he drove into the parking area and saw the lights on in Carlene’s motor home he speculated he might be asking the question wrong. Maybe it wasn’t what he knew, but what he would have to know to answer the questions. There was a nagging piece of information that was missing from the model. Where would the caldera breach when she finally decided to blow? Even though the level of the earthquakes was at a minimum the ground had to be swelling somewhere. The GPS stations might not be located in the right places.

  He tapped lightly on Carlene’s door. He couldn’t see any activity. The door unlatched. She must have been standing there waiting for him.

  “Can I borrow your shower,” Jason said, then stopped and stared at Carlene. She was wearing a sheer nightgown; white with ruffles and pink flowers embroidered in strategic places. Jason was going to share some of what he’d learned with her, but suddenly that didn’t seem appropriate. The scent of vanilla was in the air from several candles that flickered around the room.

  “Come in before I freeze to death,” Carlene said pulling his hand. “And close your mouth. I took the liberty to get you a change of clothes from your duffel bag. You travel light.”

  “Keeps me from having to do so much laundry,” Jason said. “You promised hot water.” He pretended not to notice her skimpy outfit and headed toward the bathroom.

  “Wait just a minute.” She rose up on her tiptoes and he bent down and kissed her on the mouth. He felt her tongue flicker across his lips.

  “Maybe I don’t need a shower,” he said when they parted.

  Carlene turned on the shower. “And this is the real stuff, heated with propane.”

  He pulled off his sweatshirt. “I think I’m getting too used to the mineral encrusted stuff from the hot springs.”

  “I wondered why you smelled like sulfur,” she quipped. “I was beginning to think it was a new brand of aftershave.

  Jason had seen motor homes that the whole bathroom turned into a shower stall. Not the case with this one. Nonetheless, if it wasn’t for Carlene waiting outside the narrow door, he would have preferred the wide expanse of the public showers. He was doing a final rinse when he felt a cool breeze and saw the door open.

  “I brought you a glass of champagne,” Carlene said. I’ll set it on the shelf behind the toilet.”

  Jason parted the curtain just in time to see her look in his direction. “You were copping a peek, weren’t you? Get out of here,” Jason said.

  “Don’t worry; I’ve seen it all before. I was raised with three brothers.” She paused and raised her eyebrows, “None of them looked as good as you.”

  Jason finished rinsing and dried off. He took a sip of champagne and combed his hair with his fingers. The stubble on his face was beginning to feel soft. He looked in the foggy mirror and decided a beard made him look like most of the other scientists he knew. He’d shave it off in the morning.

  Carlene was lying on the bed with the covers turned back. He heard soft music in the background. “If I didn’t know better I’d think I was being seduced,” he said.

  Carlene got up from the bed and came over to him. She kissed him on the chest and took the towel away. “Too late for seducing. It’s time for bed.”

  Chapter 24

  Jason woke to pounding on the door. It was still dark outside.

  Carlene stirred and rolled over. “You answer it. I’m tired.”

  “Just a minute,” Jason called out. He picked up the towel from the floor where it had spent the night, wrapped it around him, and opened the door to a startled ranger. “Tim, what’s up?”

  Tim’s face lit up in a broad grin. “I was going to let Carlene know that the campground has been evacuated. I guess you can tell her.” He winked.

  “They give you a reason?” Jason asked wanting to see what the story would be. He doubted the government would level with anyone including the park rangers.

  “Something about park security. I told her I saw a bunch of helicopters yesterday. Got to go, they want the entire park clear of personnel by this afternoon. That includes me.”

  “We’re staying,” Jason said. “You’ll find our names on a list somewhere.”

  “Sure, have it right here.” He flipped through the pages of a clipboard. “Yeah, sorry to have bothered you.” He grinned showing a sparkle in his eyes. “You wouldn’t happen to know what’s going on?”

  “You know the government. We’re always the last to know,” Jason said.

  “Tim looked at him curiously, “You two be careful, ya hear.”

  “We’ll be okay. You take care yourself.” Jason watched the old man drive off.

  “What was that about?” Carlene asked when he returned to the bedroom.

  “Ranger Tim. They’re evacuating the park.”

  Suddenly Carlene was wide awake and sitting up pulling the sheet over her breasts. “My God, he didn’t see you in the bath towel?”

  Jason grinned and nodded.

  “He probably thinks I’m a slut,” Carlene said.

  “I don’t know, he had a pretty big grin on his face when he saw me.”

  She shoved him down. You mention this to anyone and you’re dead meat. Got that Trask?”

  “My lips are sealed. You want to get up and see what’s going on?” He hadn’t told her about the meeting, but he knew with the activity that was going to descend on the park he’d have to fill her in before long. That should be interesting, he thought.

  Billy had spent the night huddled next to a hot spot along the river. He worried that the girls wouldn’t survive if he didn’t find help soon. He was on his fe
et at the first sign of light. He knew if he followed the river he couldn’t get lost, but something wasn’t right. With no compass he couldn’t be sure if he was traveling in the right direction. The trail may have led him away from the river and along another stream. He looked around. There were no trail markers. He could backtrack and pick up the trail, but that would take time and he worried about the girls. He decided to continue; follow the stream and hope it would lead him to civilization.

  Jason made a call for the helicopter while Carlene checked the computers. He needed to see the latest readings on carbon dioxide levels. Carlene had told him the park had been quiet for another day. This made four days with no significant activity. Even when the mountain was sleeping the seismic recorders registered some activity, like the breathing of a sleeping giant, Yellowstone was never completely quiet.

  As soon as Jason was off the phone, Carlene made a call to ranger headquarters. “They haven’t found Billy yet,” Carlene said placing the phone in the cradle.

  “We can make some passes in the Lamar River area,” Jason offered. “Maybe we’ll see something.”

  “We need to do something,” Carlene said. “I’m really getting worried.”

  Jason reached down and tapped a few keys on Carlene’s computer and let out a grunt. “We can do a little scouting by air. Then we’ve got to make a presentation to some people.”

  “People? Presentation? What’s going on?”

  “I’ll tell you about it in the air. Did you notice your parking lot steam vent has stopped puffing?”

  “Stopped yesterday while you were gone. Did you hear Old Faithful blew out the side and has flooded the visitor lot. Ranger Tim told me fifteen helicopters have landed near the south entrance. You weren’t at Norris Basin yesterday were you?”

  Jason’s lips formed a tight line and he shook his head. “I’ll tell you about it in the air.”