by Ken Jolly
"One of those critters had his head poked around the corner. He had a lean and hungry look. I didn't mean to scare you."
“You could say something next time, but I appreciate not being on his dinner menu."
A multitude of faces had appeared in the windows above us.
"Think nothing of it. How many of those things do you think are out here?"
I shrugged. “Bigger than any pack I've ever heard of. They have the village treed."
"Well, let’s unload the bodies and get some wood. I don't know about you but I'm not hankering to do the wood run after dark.
The Lodge
Very few people had realized Jake was missing so he still had a room. I bunked with him in spite of his snoring. I guess you can get use to anything.
Everyone had the beginnings of cabin fever and the added stress of the wolves was no help. Since trips outside, even inside the town limits were dangerous people mainly hung around the lounge and complained. Not that complaining did any good. Jake says it’s just human nature. I get tired of listening to them.
To show the desperation of the times even alcohol is strictly rationed, through this may have been more to control the mob.
Yes, I said mob. The Lodge was turning into close quarters and as one of the cooks with pantry access, I eyed the food stores with concern. We were rapidly going through grub.
Things were about to become more serious and I expect soon it was going to be more than just the liquor that was rationed.
Fortunately this being Alaska we were in no shortage of guns but few had enough ammo for a firefight. The extra ammo I brought was really appreciated as this has started having the appearance of a prolonged fight.
Most hunters rarely shoot more than a box of twenty rounds in a year and most of those were for sighting in their rifles, thus they had not brought more than they need. Even my father had the motto of one shot one kill. Definitely not enough ammo to decimate a pack this size.
Most of the hunters had non-standard calibers, meaning they used ammo that I couldn't provide. We distributed my rifles to those non-standard people who wanted one, in addition to ammo.
The Funeral
It was the low point of the week. We held a memorial funeral service for the victims thus far. Victims had stacked up. Come Spring when the ground thawed it would be easier to dig the graves. There were going to be a lot of digging.
Either our security was getting better, or I thought maybe we had lost most of the people when the wolves caught us by surprise. Now that we are ready, it has become much more difficult for the wolves to get meals. No one has been taken in a while.
The wolves proved good as silent stalkers and blending into the buildings and landscape. They were taking to urban hunting as if they were born for it. We shot a lot fewer now however, but there were signs everywhere they still ran the town.
I usually sat around with Jake, Two Fish, and Horace when not sleeping. There was not much to do except sleep and play cards.
Horace proved to be a font of knowledge once you got past his formal professor demeanor, and Two Fish had more war stories than me and Jake combined. I didn’t believe many of them, however it was entertaining.
"Packed in here like sardines," Two Fish complained. "I didn't know there was this many people in the village?"
I responded," Townspeople gathered here from all over once they discovered the difficulty of individual security and sought the comfort of others.”
“They discovered small family groups have trouble maintaining secure round the clock watches. When it comes to surviving, there is a lot to be said for a larger group. It helps spread the work.”
Some with local relatives moved in together and these were holed up in several homes down the street. Occasional we caught sight of them. No one took the risks to go visiting.
Horace brought us up to date. "Things wouldn't be this bad if the wolves hadn't got into the General Store. Maenad was opening the door when the wolves rushed him." He hesitated, " You know this story actual belongs to Hazel. I only heard it second hand." He raised his voice and bellowed, "Hey Hazel, Come over here!"
She had been on the other end of the lounge hanging by the kitchen door. She ambled over as only older people get away with. She didn't look good. This was the first Jonah had seen of her since his return. Her one arm was wrapped in a bandage. It was held in a sling made by an obviously improvised medic.
"What can I do for you boys?"
"I was just about to tell the saga of the sacking of your store and thought you might be the best one to tell it."
Hazel stared off at the wall, "Not that much to tell. It was more of a freak accident and bad timing."
"I was telling them about Maenad letting the wolves in."
"I'll start from there. Something not many people ever knew and it's hard to keep a secret in this town is Maenad and I was sweet on each other quite a few years ago. Luckily, we came to our senses as each of us got crotchety when we aged. We never would have worked.” She paused looking a lot older than I had ever seen her. “In Maenad we lost a good man."
“I was in the freezer rearranging stock when I heard the door chime. I have this fear of being locked in the cooler with no one else around, so I had the door propped open. I looked out the freezer door and two wolves had jumped Maenad pushing him through the doorway just as he was opening it.”
She got off the subject, she paused reliving an obvious painful memory. "They rolled on the floor. I grabbed a nearby broom and jumped in the melee, without giving any proper thought. One of the wolves snapped at the broom and jerked it out of my hands. I fell backwards and scrambled to the office door. I slammed the door behind me as one of the wolves crashed into it and this was when the radio fell from its shelf. Glory, I've never seen so many pieces go flying. I then grabbed my .44 magnum out of the desk opened the door and took a couple of shots at the wolves. By this time there were even more in the store. Maenad was dead and several of the beasts were tugging at him." She seemed horrified at re-living this memory. This even scared me, as I knew how strong Hazel was emotionally.
"That's when one of my shots went astray and the plate glass window fell in thousands of pieces." She looked over at Two Fish. "You know the one I had specially shipped from Fairbanks.
Maenad was dead on the floor and I had dispatched three of the wolves. It must have been the shock but all I can remember is after taking such particular care of that window, I was the one that broke it."
I interrupted, mainly to give her some time and help her compose, "When did the wolf get a hold of your arm?"
She half raised the arm in the sling and grimaced. "This wasn't done by a wolf. I waited in the office until it seemed safe then I climbed out the office window. Like an old fool that I am I've been walking on ice for over fifty years and I slipped on the ice and fell!"
Two fish said, "I'm really sorry about Maenad."
Hazel lifted her head proudly. "He would never have wanted to die in bed. I'm sorry about the loss of the store, but once we are back in communication with Dawson, I'll get the place restocked and give everyone store credit to get them restarted." She smiled as her mood lightened and she looked at me, "Unless they have gold."
"Hazel, you know there hasn't been any gold in this part of Alaska since the veins played out," Two Fish corrected her.
"A girl can always have some hope."
“There are still quite a few people left on the outlying homesteads." I paused my thinking. "I hope." This only served to remind us of the casualties and to wonder about the ones we have heard nothing about.
"You know, people don't realize this because they think of wolves as dogs, however these are more cunning and aggressive. We are dealing with a super pack." Horace continued, "Normally wolves are family packs however this must be more than a single family. How many do you think are out there?"
Jake who had been staring into space broke his far off glaze. "I have no idea. As stealthy, as they are it's
hard to count. They seem to be all over town, but that may only be an impression brought on by our fear of the situation. Might just be a handful and they move around so fast we can't count?"
I did have an answer to some of this. "You are both wrong. My guess is the number is in-between. Based on the color and fur patterns I've seen, must be at least forty plus, likely more.”
I added into the following silence, “Enough to be dangerous.”
Sam who had been hovering in the area joined the conversation. "I heard what you said about the outlying cabins. I have been thinking about that also. We need to do something for them."
"What do you suggest?" I asked.
"What do you suggest?" he returned the question to the group.
"We might get some people to make the circuit and warn the homesteaders plus look for more supplies.
I looked around the room at all of the obviously scared people. "I don't hear a lot of volunteers stepping up."
Fred spoke up. "I've got a team willing to run south to Sanders valley. There are five cabins up there. Jonah, you know the North trail over the mountain. I'm wondering if you would be willing to take the North."
I admitted, “I don’t know. That’s the same trail James and Will died on, however sitting around here is driving me stir crazy. At least we can get out of here and try to accomplish something."
Jake groaned not relishing the suggestion, "Jonah you know we're a team. If you go I'm going to have to go."
Two Fish looked up at me. "I'm kind of tired of sitting around. I could use a good walk. Sitting we all starve. Count me in."
"Ok, we leave tomorrow at first light. Herb, can we borrow a couple of snow machines?"
"After that arsenal you shared with us you can have anything you want. The ammo and guns really bucked us up but there aren’t many machines that are worth much.
"We will need three machines for my crew plus toboggans; if we find people or supplies to bring in we might have some hauling to do.” I picked up my glass, drained the amber fluid and said, "Gentlemen first light, dress warm and bring your big sticks."
First Light
Well we didn't get off at first light. It took a while to get things together, and then we had to give Jake a lesson in riding a snow machine.
"It's a lot like surfing. The terrain is uneven even if the snow looks smooth. Trust me you will be a lot more comfortable and better-balanced standing. The trails are rough.”
“It's also easier to shift your weight to the inside of the curves or when a ski drops into a hole," Two Fish explained.
Jake seemed puzzled. "A lot more energetic than I thought. So your whole body rides the thing kind of like a bicycle?"
"The path is never level from front to back or even sideways. You constantly make corrections. If we were not expecting to bring some ‘steaders back to town and supplies, we would tow you but we need all of the machines and horsepower we can bring."
Jake reassured us though he did not seem confident, “Piece of cake.”
"It shouldn't be bad. There are only three farms up this trail. With the pass snowed in, we can only get so far. "
Two Fish looked questioning at me.
"We stop at Dave's, the Slaws and Jeff's. We should be back in town by dark."
Jake contributed, "These short days suck. I don't see how anyone gets anything done."
I responded, "In winter they don't. It's about hunkering in and staying warm without going off the deep end with cabin fever."
"We should have enough gas but I'm bringing a couple of extra cans if we need them and naturally some supplies in case we get stuck overnight."
Two Fish getting a little impatient with us burning daylight says, "Let's get started. I don't like the feel of this weather. Jonah you break trail, and we’ll put Jake in the middle in case he has trouble. Times a wasting."
"Right," I glanced up at the gathering clouds. "We need to stop at my cabin on the way. I've got more food we can bring down."
Two Fish was right, so we mounted up, revved engines and headed up the North trail that led to the higher elevations above Laurel.
The Relief Effort
The mood was buoyant as we plowed through the drifts and progress was good. Everyone was relieved at doing something useful. Being on point and breaking trail was difficult, however it gave the others an easy passage, and Jake seemed to be doing all right.
We were in communication through short-range two-way radio and even the taciturn Two Fish had joined in on the banter.
We didn't see sign of wolves and the day was as bright as it gets during this time of the winter.
Finding the Davis homestead brought us back to reality like a ton of lead bricks. No one answered the door and I discovered the blood smear when I checked behind the house. One of the windows had been broken. Appearance is that Davis had not been lucky. We saw a lot of blood but no body.
Jake guarded the house and Two Fish and I tried to track the blood trail. We followed it almost three hundred yards into the woods and the few pieces of Davis that we found were not even large enough to consider burial.
Back at the house, Jake gave us an inquiring look however, he already knew better. From our discoveries the past week in town, the wolves never left much behind. The good thing is Davis was single with no kids. No one to miss him.
We found his larder. Loaded the consumable food supplies and distributed it on the toboggans.
While I would never describe homesteaders as preppers, we all have to lay in quite a lot of food to make it through the long winters. This necessity caused us to stockpile to make it through the nine icy cold months. I figure if Davis knew our plight he would have no problem with us taking his stash but in my own mind it felt a lot like looting.
Packing the toboggans and lashing the loads was not easy but with all three of us working it did not take that long and we were soon off to see how the Slaw family had fared.
We were barely three miles past the Davis place when Jake had his accident.
The radio which has become quiet squawked, Jonah, hold up we have a problem. Jake spilled."
Eventually everyone falls. The rougher the trail the more you fall. I had been expecting this sooner.
I gunned the engine laid my machine over on the edge its skis and spun back to check on the damage. Worried I hit the transmit button and yelled, “Jake, how are you" hoping for some response.
Twenty yards ahead of me, I spied the pileup of snow machine, and toboggan but did not see Jake. The closer I rode the situation came into focus. The forks of Jake's machine had left the trail I had blazed and this may have been what turned him sideways.
Two Fish and I became less worried when we heard Jake laughing over the radio. It took several minutes to dig Jake out.
He had fallen off the snow machine and the toboggan with its momentum had landed on top of him. We found him mashed down in a snow pocket. Unharmed except for pride and a lesson learned.
It took time to straighten out his machine however; we were again on the way.
I was more than a little worried about the Slaws after having seen what happened back at Davis's place. Looking for the bodies of the two girls, Lindsey and Betty, or their mother and father would be bad. As my nearest neighbors, I knew and liked them.
It felt like we should have some better news for the day however, our hopes were now greatly diminished.
My cabin was not too far ahead on our loop, so we pulled in for lunch, and to warm up. We loaded everything left from my food cache. Everything was untouched since our visit over a week ago. We also packed all of my remaining ammo and the reloading gear. I was becoming concerned it might come in handy.
I admit to having a large food stock but as you already know, I'm also paranoid. No, I wasn't expecting the wolf problem; however I like to be ready for trouble. Might come from my Boy Scout Days. At this thought, I have to break into a grin. Jake looks at me curious but doesn't say anything.
I still had the feeling
we were watched. You know how that is. I couldn't see anything behind the brush and snowdrifts; however, there was still this chill between my shoulder blades and it was not from the cold.
I was now following in the tracks left by Two Fish's snow machine staying far enough behind not to be blinded by the white wake of ice crystals he was throwing.
We were not too far away from the Slaw’s when I thought I heard a shot. I glanced behind thinking maybe Jake was shooting at something however, both he and Two Fish were riding their handlebars.
Two Fish pulled up short and I slid to a stop alongside, sliding a little broadside. Jake rapidly caught up with us and stopped. I gestured to cut the engines.
"Did you hear a gunshot?” I queried.
"Heard something. Can't say what", Two Fish identified.
As we were paused, we heard it again. "Sounds like a rifle to me, but some distance away." Jake concluded for both of us.
I pointed, "The Slaws live over that way. Since they are next on the list, I suggest we get there pronto! They might be in a bit of trouble."
Two fish agreed but added, “Could just be out hunting?"
I scowled. "Not likely. Jake just follow our trail. We are picking up the pace.”
"Wait a minute. I don't want to be left behind and you can't drive these things and shoot at the same time. Let me get in your toboggan."
"It will be bumpy?"
Jake settled it. "This way we go in shooting.”
I always like the way he thinks.
"OK, hop on and tie in."
As promised as fast as we traveled it was bumpy but Jake held on. We topped the ridge riding down into the Slaws.
It was a pretty homestead with the main cabin, barn, and corral covered in the latest leavings of the storm. Everything was in white except the dark wolves circling the barn and house.
We plowed in but slowed so Jake could get off some well-aimed shots.
The wolves noticed us and charged towards the sleds. Jake quickly dropped two of them. By the time, Two Fish and I could get in action the Pack was running. It was a difficult shot however; I dispatched another, before they cleared the meadow into the woods.
