Silent Hunter

by Maggie K. Black

  By late morning the tents were up and Nicky said she’d take anyone who was interested down to try the aquatic obstacle course.

  Bear slumped into a chair and complained loudly he’d already done more than enough exercise for one day, no doubt irritated to discover his secret whiskey stash was dry.

  David was the first to change into a wetsuit and then tossed one at his brother, Aaron.

  In the end, it was Martin, Nicky, the twins and Luke who headed down a different, much thinner and steeper, path through the woods. A narrow stream bubbled along the trail beside them, so close at times the group had to hop stepping stones to walk on the other side.

  The obstacle course was a ways down the coast from the beach, set in a deep inlet cove. The shore was a sheer bed of rock. A three-story-tall wooden diving structure stood embedded deep in the granite.

  Luke’s eyes ran over the course. It started with a rope-ladder climb to the top of the first platform. From there, a row of suspended hanging tires hung like free-swinging stairs down to a second story platform planted deep in the water. The course then turned right in a cobweb of climbing ropes down to a third platform. Then finally, swinging logs formed the final stretch of the obstacle, ending at one last platform and a short swim back to dry land. He gazed at Nicky. “You helped build this?”

  A beautiful smile crossed her lips, spreading all the way to her hazel eyes. “I designed it. Outdoor courses like this are a passion of mine. I’ve built a handful of them around Camp Spirit. I have some really amazing sketches for what I’d create here on the island, too.” There was something almost infectious about the passion that lit up her face.

  “I’d love to see them sometime,” he said. Her gaze met his and he held it for a few beats.

  “Thank you.” Then she rolled her shoulders back and turned to the group. “Welcome to our obstacle course. Now, a few rules. Only three people on the course at any time, and only one person on each segment. If you fall off, just swim to the next segment and wait for the path ahead to clear. No random swimming around, and heads remain above the surface at all times. Life jackets and wetsuits at all times, no exceptions. This cove is really deep. We don’t even let staff dive down without a headlamp, because of seaweed and rocks. Now, everyone just take your time, enjoy the climb, and if you fall, make it a really good splash.” More nodding. A few smiles. “Let’s go.”

  David, Nicky and Martin were the first to scale the rope ladder. There was some brief conferring at the top, then David took off climbing from one swinging tire to another. His twin stood back on the shore and watched. Aaron was twitchy. There was no doubt about it. The young man was on edge with that same jittery energy Luke had seen in criminals afraid of getting caught. Tension like that had a certain smell to it, when you knew what you were looking for, and from where he was standing, the cofounder of Start Up practically reeked. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, yeah. Yeah... Fine...”

  Now there was a lie if he’d ever heard one. “Look, I can tell something’s up. Big-time. I don’t necessarily have to tell anyone else, if you don’t want me to, as long as no one’s in danger. You can trust me. But I can’t just ignore the fact we’re out on an island in the middle of nowhere and you look upset enough to punch someone.”

  “It’s...it’s nothing.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “It’s...it’s personal.”

  Okay, that he believed. Aaron glanced back over his shoulder again. Luke followed his gaze. Were his eyes playing tricks or was there someone standing by the stream watching them? The shadow disappeared into the trees. Luke’s hand touched Aaron’s shoulder. “Look, I think you should just—”

  A deafening crack spit the air. Luke spun back to the obstacle course just in time to see the platform that Nicky and Martin were standing on lurch toward the water. Wooden pillars shook like cardboard. Tires swung wildly, flinging David’s body through the air. Then the obstacle course collapsed into the lake on top of the twin, dragging Nicky and Martin down with it.

  EIGHT

  It was like watching a craft project getting knocked over by a toddler. Luke’s heart leaped into his throat as Nicky, David and Martin disappeared under the pile of debris. He ran for the water’s edge. Save them, Lord! The prayer had barely formed on his lips when a desperate call for help overtook the air. It was David—terrified and trapped, but thankfully still able to shout. A wall of broken timber blocked his view of most of the cove. There was no sign of Nicky or Martin. Luke dove into the water, swam three strokes and then broke through the surface. In vain his eyes scanned the pile of logs, tires and rope for any signs of life. Oh, Lord, I don’t even know where to start. “David! I’m coming! Nicky, Martin! Shout if you can here me!”

  He glanced back. “Aaron! Can you see them?” But Aaron had sunk to his knees beside the water. His face was pale and eyes were closed. Praying? In shock? Maybe both. “Go get help!” Aaron didn’t move. David’s shouts grew louder. For a second fear flickered like flames at the corners of Luke’s mind, but he couldn’t afford to let fear win. Help me, Lord! I can’t do this alone.

  “Luke!” Nicky broke through the surface.

  Relief burst through his lungs. She swam toward him. Her dark eyes flashed with a determination and clarity that made him long to pull her into his arms. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah.” She gasped in a breath and started treading water. “I’m fine. I jumped free before it hit the surface and landed clean. But Martin’s hurt. He landed badly and I think he’s sprained his wrist. Thankfully he was wearing a life jacket. I was able to get him to shore on the opposite side of the cove. He’ll have a long walk around through the forest, but he’s safe.” By the looks of things Nicky had ditched her life jacket then swum right under the wreckage. “Do you know where David is?”

  Luke shook his head. “No.”

  Her eyes fluttered closed for barely a second as her lips moved in silent prayer. Then she turned to Aaron, still frozen on the shore. “Aaron! Aaron Elliot! Open your eyes and stand up right now! We need your help!” The twin’s eyes snapped open, then he dragged himself to his feet. She pointed toward the woods. “Run back to camp, get Trevor and tell him to bring the first-aid kit, got it?”

  Aaron nodded and took off through the trees. Luke was so impressed he fought the urge to whistle. Nicky’s voice had been filled with so much certainty he half expected the trees themselves to follow her direction. “How did you get him to do that?”

  “After more than a dozen years working at this camp, I’ve seen more than my fair share of emergencies. You get used to dealing with people freezing up in shock and having to snap them out of it. Also, I don’t want him here when we dig out his brother.”

  David’s shouts had stopped. Nicky turned back to the wreckage. Her voice rose. “David, don’t worry. We’re coming to find you. Just stay calm, okay?” A muffled response came from within the wood. Nicky’s hand brushed Luke’s. Her voice dropped. “I’m going to have to search underwater. I don’t know where in this mess he is.”

  Luke was already shrugging his arms out of his life jacket. “Don’t worry. I’m right behind you.”

  She glanced to the sky. The sun had dipped behind a cloud, but still the scattered light seemed to illuminate her skin. “Lord, help us.” She dove underwater.

  He followed. The water was green and murky. His eyes strained to follow the lines of her shape cutting through the water in front of him. But just as he felt his lungs begin to ache, she abruptly changed course and swam straight up into the wreckage. He followed and broke through the surface beside her; nearly bumping his head on the wooden beams above his head.

  They treaded water, face-to-face, in a little pocket of air, in between some partially submerged tires and the solid wooden wall of what used to be platform floorboards. For a moment all they could hear was the soun
ds of their own panting for breath mingling with the creaking wood and lapping water. Then he heard David groan.

  “David?” Luke found his voice first. “Can you hear me?”

  “Yeah...” David’s frightened face came into view through the stack of tires.

  “Don’t move,” Nicky said. “Just stay there and wait for us to come to you. Are you hurt?”

  “No, I’m okay.” His voice was faint. “At least, I think so. I’m kind of pinned between the tires and the roof, though, and I think my life jacket’s caught on something.”

  “Are you able to get it off?” Nicky asked.

  “No. I can’t reach my arms up. I don’t have any wiggle room.”

  Luke looked at Nicky. “You okay if I try to shift some of this wood?”

  She nodded. “Just be careful.”

  Luke leaned his weight against a load-bearing tire. The wood creaked. He could probably shift things enough to let David slip out. But would that send the wood collapsing in on them? “How about now?”

  David’s head bobbed slightly. Then he disappeared out of sight. “Okay, I got the life jacket unzipped. But I can’t get my chest out of it. I’m pretty tightly pinned. It’s like the ceiling is leaning on me.”

  Nicky glanced at Luke. Her eyebrows rose. “Just lie still and give us a moment to sort something out. Then we’ll get you out of here.” She swam closer to Luke until her nose was nearly bumping against his face. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but the ceiling is sinking, and the more he wiggles around, the worse it’s going to get. We don’t have that much longer before this whole thing falls down on our heads. How strong a swimmer are you?”

  His arms and legs were aching and his lungs felt like he’d run a marathon. “Strong enough. What do you need?”

  A grim smile crossed her lips. “I can swim underwater to him and cut him out of the life jacket. I’ve got a small utility knife on me. I’m just afraid that if his body’s helping keep this thing afloat, once he moves, the whole thing is going to cave in on top of us.”

  Luke’s jaw set firmly. “You go get him. I’ll stay here and hold the ceiling up. Then once you’re free from the wreckage, I follow you out.”

  “But it’ll crush you.”

  “No, it won’t. Because I’m a lot bigger than David is and I’ll be supporting it with my arms, not my body. All I’ve got to do is let go and dive down. It’s still wood. It’s hardly going to drop on top of me like a stone.” At least he hoped not. Nicky’s face turned toward the shifting wood above. Luke’s fingers brushed her cheek. “Don’t lose focus. You have to get David out. You’re smaller and a more agile swimmer. I’m going to keep this structure afloat just long enough to give you time to do that, because I’m the only one with the upper body strength to do it. That’s how it’s got to be. Teamwork.”

  Hazel eyes searched his face. “If things collapse in on you...”

  “Then it will hardly be the worst blow I’ve ever taken. I’ve got a pretty tough skull. I’ll push on through and keep swimming until I join you on dry land.” He moved closer still, until she was treading water in between his arms. “You know it’s got to be this way.”

  She took a deep breath. Then nodded. “Okay, but if anything goes wrong I’m going to get you out of here. Even if I’ve got to yank the planks off you one by one.”

  “I know you will.” His voice grew thick as he felt a surge of emotion push through his words. Her long dark hair fell free, framing the lines of her face, trailing around them in the water and tugging at memories of the very young woman she’d once been. Did she have any idea how much he admired her? How strong a person he knew she was? How he’d always known? “Nicky, I trust you.”

  The wood above them lurched. A board knocked against his head. They were running out of time. Suddenly he couldn’t stop the words tumbling over his lips. “Look, Nicky, I’m sorry again. For the person I used to be. For everything. And no matter what happens I hope you know—”

  Her finger brushed over his lips. “Tell me when we’re back on dry land.” She turned back toward the mass of tires. “Okay, David, it’s time we all get out of here. I’m going to swim over right now and cut you loose. Once I do, dive down, follow me and swim out as fast as you can. Don’t stop and don’t look back. We’ll be right behind you. Luke, you ready?”

  He flexed his arms. “Ready.”

  “We got this.” Her lips brushed his cheek. “See you on the other side.”

  She dove. The ceiling was only a few inches above his head now. For a moment silence filled his ears. Then he heard Nicky shout, “I got him! We’re heading out!”

  There was a splash. The wood shifted. The ceiling dropped into his hands. The crushing weight nearly knocked him underwater before he was able to push it back up again. Nicky and David were still swimming out. He would not let it fall.

  Luke’s arms buckled. Wet wood slid beneath his fingers. He arched his back until he could feel the dull ache of the wood above him pressing into his shoulders. He gasped in a breath, his mouth barely an inch above the water.

  Please, Lord, he prayed, help me. I can’t let Nicky down. Not this time.

  Then he heard her voice fill the air. “Luke! We’re safe!”

  “Great. Okay, I’m com—”

  His breath was knocked from his lungs as the ceiling caved in on top of him.

  NINE

  “Luke!” A scream left Nicky’s lips as the remains of the obstacle course dropped into the dark green water. She scanned the surface, willing Luke to break through. No bubbles. No movement. No Luke. Was he knocked unconscious? Or trapped underwater, drowning as he struggled to break free? Please, Lord. Please don’t let him die. The debris creaked and shuddered, then dropped another inch. David was crawling onto the shore but Aaron was yet to return with the others. “Wait here. I’m going back to find him.”

  She took a deep breath and dove toward the structure. A wall of green filled her eyes. Then she saw the bubbles. Hundreds. Luke was trapped and thrashing, churning the water around him as he battled against whatever was holding him. Her heart lurched. If he didn’t stop fighting she wouldn’t be able to see how he was stuck or get close enough to help him break free. She paused underwater, for one heart-wrenching second, begging his eyes to turn toward her and see that she was there; begging him to let her save his life. But all she could see was the uncontrollable fight of a drowning man. Her lungs screamed for air. Her heart ached in prayer. Oh, God, please! Let him see that I’m here and want to help save him! With each stroke she could feel her body growing weaker. If she didn’t leave soon and swim back for air, she could drown, watching him drown.

  Then Luke’s eyes fell upon her face. Their blue-gray depths were filled with a mixture of bravery and need that seemed to shatter her aching heart, sending fresh blood filling her veins. Luke stopped fighting. The water cleared. And she could see. His leg was twisted behind him. His foot was tangled in a harness rope tethered to two beams the size of telephone poles.

  She swam to him, yanked her knife from her pocket and hacked at the ropes that held him. He kicked back hard and broke free. They swam for the surface. She broke through the water and gasped as air filled her lungs again. Grateful tears rushed to her eyes and poured down her cheeks. Luke grabbed on to a free-floating log, then reached for her hand and pulled her toward it. She hung there, panting.

  “You saved my life.” Luke’s voice dragged her gaze back to his face. The sky above pooled in his unguarded eyes. It was the same way he had looked at her the day before he’d run. Open. As though his eyes were a doorway to his soul and he was inviting her inside, asking her to get to know him better. No wonder she’d given him her heart. She’d believed that he’d actually meant it.

  “No problem. You saved mine first. Now we’re even.”

 
She’d said it lightly enough. But he didn’t smile. Instead, the look in his eyes deepened and darkened with emotions that made her wish there was something a lot stronger than a broken piece of wood between them. His eyes searched her face, her lips, her throat, as if he was tracing them from memory. It was as though he was floating adrift at sea and she was his first fleeting glimpse of land. His index finger brushed against the side of her hand. It was enough to send shivers shooting through her core.

  He needed to leave. She needed him off this island, away from her camp and out of her life. Because otherwise he’d just keep chipping away at her heart, bit by bit, glance by glance, until once again she’d find herself falling for someone who was only going to walk off and hurt her again. It didn’t matter how intense a look pooled in his eyes, or how deeply she felt it tug at her heart. He’d told her in the caves last night—he hadn’t known how to love her and was glad that he’d left her. He did not regret having left her before. It was only a matter of time before he’d hurt her again.

  Trevor was running down the path through the woods now, with the others on his heels. “Nicky! Is everyone okay?”

  She turned toward the shore. “All safe and accounted for. No signs of obvious major trauma. Martin landed on the other side of the cove and is heading this way through the woods. You need to find him right away and get his arm in a sling. He may have sprained it. We’ll get these people some lunch quick, then you’re going to need to grab the motorboat and take David, Martin and Luke to get checked out at the hospital.”