Wildcat Run

by Sonya Bates

  Wildcat

  Run

  Sonya

  Spreen Bates

  Illustrated by

  Kasia Charko

  ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

  Text copyright © 2011 Sonya Spreen Bates

  Illustrations copyright © 2011 Kasia Charko

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or to be invented, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

  Bates, Sonya Spreen

  Wildcat run [electronic resource] / Sonya Spreen Bates ; illustrated by Kasia Charko.

  (Orca echoes)

  Type of computer file: Electronic monograph in PDF format.

  Issued also in print format.

  ISBN 978-1-55469-831-8

  I. Charko, Kasia, 1949- II. Title.

  III. Series: Orca echoes (Online)

  PS8603.A8486W54 2011A JC813’.6 C2011-903506-5

  First published in the United States, 2011

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2011907477

  Summary: When Lexie wipes out on the ski slope, Jake and Tommy have to find a way to get help while a cougar prowls in the nearby woods.

  Orca Book Publishers gratefully acknowledges the support for its publishing programs provided by the following agencies: the Government of Canada through the Canada Book Fund and the Canada Council for the Arts, and the Province of British Columbia through the BC Arts Council and the Book Publishing Tax Credit.

  Orca Book Publishers is dedicated to preserving the environment and has printed this book

  on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council®.

  Cover artwork and interior illustrations by Kasia Charko

  ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS ORCA BOOK PUBLISHERS

  PO BOX 5626, Stn. B PO BOX 468

  Victoria, BC Canada Custer, WA USA

  V8R 6S4 98240-0468

  www.orcabook.com

  Printed and bound in Canada.

  14 13 12 11 • 4 3 2 1

  For Eric,

  who had his own adventure in the snow.

  Contents

  Chapter One: ON THE SLOPES

  Chapter Two: WILDCAT RUN

  Chapter Three: TRACKS

  Chapter Four: RACE FOR YOUR LIFE

  Chapter Five: EMERGENCY

  Chapter Six: SHELTER

  Chapter Seven: THE LAST RUN

  Chapter Eight: RESCUE RIDE

  Chapter One

  ON THE SLOPES

  Jake adjusted his ski goggles. He pulled his gloves firmly onto his hands.

  I am a ski patrol, he thought, on my way to a rescue at the top of the mountain.

  Jake’s cousin, Lexie, zipped up her down jacket. The line moved forward. They shuff led closer to the chairlift, pulling Jake’s brother, Tommy, along with them.

  Jake was excited. They had been at Mount Whitmore all week, and it was the first time they were going up the hill on their own. He still couldn’t believe Dad had agreed. When Dad twisted his knee on the last run, Jake thought they would have to go back to the lodge early. But with an hour of daylight left, Dad had reluctantly told them they could go for another run on their own.

  “Make sure you take Easy Street or Gentle Giant,” he said. “Stick together and look after Tommy. You know he can’t go as fast as you and Lexie.”

  Jake and Lexie had promised to be careful, and they had all rushed off for the lift.

  I have my rescue crew with me and my emergency pack on my back, thought Jake. Dad always carried an emergency first-aid kit. He had insisted Jake take it with them. The skiers wait for help, scared and cold. It grows dark.

  Jake looked up to where the clouds covered the sun. It was getting dark. It got dark early in the mountains. And it looked like it might snow. This would probably be their last trip up the lift.

  They moved to the front of the line. Jake sidestepped into position as the chairlift looped around on its track. Tommy slipped on an icy patch, and Jake grabbed onto his arm so he wouldn’t fall. The chair scooped them up. Lexie pulled the bar down over their laps.

  Legs swinging, Jake looked back at the line of skiers waiting for the lift. Dad waved. Jake gave him a thumbs-up and glanced over at his brother, Tommy, puffed up like a snowman in a dark green snowsuit. Tommy was hopeless. Even though he had skied heaps of times, he still snowplowed down the easy runs. He was slower than a turtle on snowshoes. Tommy was always ruining things for Jake. If it wasn’t for Tommy, they could go down one of the harder runs, like Pine Valley or Black Bear Creek or maybe Wildcat Run. Lexie said Wildcat Run was the best run on the slopes. It wasn’t the steepest or the fastest, but it wound around the back side of Mount Whitmore and had some wicked drops.

  “So, are we going for Easy Street again?” said Lexie. “Or should we try something really crazy like Lollipop Lane?”

  Jake made a face at her. He was nine, almost ten. He hadn’t skied Lollipop Lane for years. Not since he was seven. “It’s not my fault we’re stuck on the baby runs,” he said.

  “Easy Street’s not a baby run,” said Tommy. “It’s heaps cool.”

  “Yeah, for beginners,” said Jake.

  Lexie tucked a bit of hair back under her helmet. Stray bits of her brown curly hair always popped out of her ponytail. “Uncle Alan is such a worrywart. If my mom and dad were here, they would let us go down a better run.”

  “Well, they’re not here, are they?” said Jake. He wished Lexie’s parents had come on the ski trip too. Then Jake and Lexie could have skied with them, and Dad could have stayed with Tommy. Mom and Aunt Bonnie had been planning the trip for months. But when Aunt Bonnie broke her leg, she and Uncle Max had to stay home.

  Up ahead, the exit off the chairlift loomed closer. Jake lifted the safety bar and raised the tips of his skis, ready to jump off the chair. He felt the snow under his feet and glided side by side with Lexie down the short ramp to the top of the runs. Tommy wobbled down behind them.

  “Easy Street’s this way,” said Tommy, pointing.

  Lexie gazed at the gently sloping hill and across to Pine Valley. Jake could see she was dying to try it, just like he was.

  “Tommy, don’t you think you’re getting a bit too good for Easy Street?” she said. She glanced at Jake.

  Jake caught on right away. This was their chance to try a new run. A harder run. He had been waiting three years for this. Dad always made him do the easy runs because of Tommy. And Mom. Mom was almost as hopeless on skis as Tommy. She hadn’t even come on the slopes today. She had gone shopping instead. Dad would never let them go down Pine Valley. But Dad wasn’t here.

  “What do you mean?” said Tommy. “I like Easy Street.”

  “Yeah, but wouldn’t you like to try something different?” said Lexie. “It’s boring going down the same run all the time, don’t you think?”

  Tommy shrugged. “I don’t mind.”

  “Yeah, but we do,” said Jake. “Look, Pine Valley’s right there. We could do that one instead. It would be fun.”

  Tommy shuffled toward the top of Pine Valley and watched the skiers and snowboarders disappearing down the steep slope. “I can’t go down that,” he said. “It’s way too steep. Besides, Dad said to do Easy Street or Gentle Giant.”

  “Dad will never know,” said Jake. “Come on, Tommy. Don’t be a wuss. It’s only steep at the top.”

  Tommy backed away from the edge and shook his head. “How do you know? You’ve never been down it before.”

  “I just know,” said Jake.

  “How about Wildcat Run?” said Lexie. “I went on it with my mom before Ch
ristmas. It’s long, but it doesn’t have any really steep parts.”

  Tommy glanced toward Wildcat Run. The top of the run was on the other side of the ridge, away from the lifts. He sighed. “Are you sure?” he said.

  “Promise,” said Lexie.

  Tommy looked almost as scared as when they were trapped in Smuggler’s Cave last fall. “All right,” he said.

  Jake and Lexie high-fived each other.

  “But you have to go slow,” said Tommy. “And wait for me if I get tired.”

  “Don’t worry, Tommy,” said Lexie. “We won’t let anything happen to you.” She grinned. “Wildcat Run, here we come.”

  Chapter Two

  WILDCAT RUN

  Jake followed Lexie down the slope to the top of Wildcat Run. Tommy was close behind. Most of the other skiers were going down the main runs. Before long there was no one else in sight. Jake’s stomach felt as if there was a f lurry of snowf lakes inside. He knew Wildcat Run wasn’t steep. But it was still a moderate run, and longer than he had ever skied before.

  “Are there wildcats on Wildcat Run?” Tommy asked.

  Jake rolled his eyes. “Of course not,” he said. “It’s just a name.”

  “Actually,” said Lexie, “there used to be cats up here, a long time ago. This trail was a logging track. The loggers used to see lots of cougars and bobcats.”

  “Who told you that?” asked Jake. Lexie was ten and older than Jake. She thought she knew everything.

  “I read it on the Internet,” said Lexie.

  Tommy peered fearfully into the trees. His skis crossed, and he almost fell. “Wha—what if there’s one out there right now?” he said.

  “Don’t worry,” said Lexie. “No one’s spotted a wildcat on this mountain for ages. Too many skiers.”

  Jake and Lexie sped up a bit and skied side by side down the track. Tommy followed. The run was narrow. Not at all like Easy Street or Gentle Giant. It wound through the trees, crisscrossing the mountain back and forth. There were dips and long slopes and sharp turns. Jake heard the hiss of snow under his skis and felt the cold wind on his cheeks. The woods smelled like pine trees. Soon he forgot about being nervous.

  I am an arctic explorer, he thought. I’ve lost my sled dogs and am alone in the forest. I search for the north pole.

  They rounded a bend. Jake slowed down as he saw a steep slope up ahead.

  “You said there weren’t any steep parts,” said Tommy.

  “It’s not really steep,” said Lexie. “This is the fun part.” She jabbed her poles into the ground, pushed herself forward and disappeared down the hill.

  Jake gulped. He had never skied down anything this steep before. But Lexie had done it, and she had only learned how to ski last year.

  “It’s all right, Tommy,” he said. “You can do it. I’ll go first, and we’ll wait for you at the bottom.”

  “Come on, slowpokes!” Lexie called from halfway down the slope.

  I am a downhill racer, Jake thought, going for another practice run. This time I’ ll get a personal best.

  Jake shoved off and headed down the hill. It was steeper than he had thought. He zigzagged back and forth, sending a spray of snow shooting off his skis with each turn. Faster and faster he went. It was hard to slow down. Lexie had stopped to wait for him, but he whipped past her, unable to stop. His skis rattled over an icy patch, and he almost fell. His heart thumped. Up ahead the track rounded a bend. He pointed his skis together in a snowplow. If he didn’t slow down, he would never make the corner.

  The snow sprayed over the front of his skis. He leaned into them and felt himself slowing. It was just enough. He flew through the bend. His stomach dropped as he hit a hidden dip, and his skis left the ground. Then he landed, throwing his arms around to keep his balance. The hill leveled out, and he slid to a stop.

  Bending over to catch his breath, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  Lexie slid to a stop beside him, spraying him with snow. “What happened to taking it slow?” she said with a grin.

  Jake shook his head. “That was awesome,” he said.

  “I told you,” said Lexie.

  Then they heard a scream.

  “Tommy,” they said together.

  Chapter Three

  TRACKS

  Tommy rounded the bend, his skis were pointed together in a snowplow, and his arms stuck straight out like a scarecrow’s. His face looked like a comic-book character. His eyes were bugged out, and his mouth was shaped in an O. He bumped through the dip, whirled his arms around like a windmill and fell.

  Jake started up the hill toward him.

  “I’m all right,” said Tommy, sitting up. One of his skis had come off, and the other one stuck out sideways at an awkward angle. Jake snapped the clasp open, and Tommy struggled to his feet. His boots sank into the soft snow at the edge of the run.

  “Did you see how fast I was going?” Tommy asked Jake, his eyes shining.

  “Yeah, you were going fast all right,” Jake said.

  He winked at Lexie. He thought Tommy had been going pretty slow, compared to him.

  “You were racing,” said Lexie.

  Tommy beamed.

  Jake looked around for Tommy’s other ski. He spotted it in the trees not far away. “There’s your ski. I’ll get it,” he said.

  Jake slid down the little slope and snowplowed to a stop. Reaching down to pick up the ski, something caught his eye. All around him the snow was smooth, untouched except for the tracks his skis had just made. But on the other side of the tree was a set of prints that sent a chill up his spine. Paw prints. And they were big. As big as Jake’s hand.

  “Come on, Jake,” called Lexie. “We haven’t got all night.”

  Jake stared at the prints. Could they really be what he thought they were?

  “Hey, Lexie, come down here,” he said. He gestured urgently and peered into the trees.

  Lexie skied down to Jake. Putting a finger to his lips, Jake pointed toward the tracks.

  Lexie gasped. “Cat tracks,” she said. She bent to look at the prints. “They’re big. Probably a cougar.” She touched one with her finger, leaving a small indent in the snow. “And they’re fresh too.” She squinted up the hill, in the direction the prints headed. “Cougars are most active at dusk. We better get back to the lodge.”

  “How do you know so much about cougars?” asked Jake.

  “I told you. The Internet,” said Lexie. “Let’s go.”

  Jake grabbed Tommy’s ski and shuffled back up the slope to where Tommy was waiting.

  “What’s down there?” asked Tommy. “Can I see?”

  “No, it’s nothing,” said Jake. “Let’s get going. I bet Mom will make us hot chocolate when we get back.”

  “Yum!” said Tommy.

  Jake’s stomach was all knotted up as they headed down the hill. He didn’t know much about cougars, but he knew they were big. Big enough to kill a sheep on his grandparents’ farm a few years back.

  They skied in single file with Lexie in the lead. Tommy followed and Jake brought up the rear. Lexie took it slow, looking back to make sure Tommy was keeping up.

  They had skied for only a minute or two when Jake heard something in the trees. It sounded like branches snapping. Lexie must have heard it too. She signaled for them to stop, and Jake and Tommy pulled up beside her. They heard the crack of a twig and the thump of snow falling off a tree branch.

  Chapter Four

  RACE FOR YOUR LIFE

  “What’s that in the bushes?” Tommy whispered.

  No one answered. Then something exploded out of the trees behind them. A deer bounded across the ski run and disappeared into the forest.

  A snarl split the air, and a huge golden cat streaked across the snow. It raced after the deer.

  “Jake!” screeched Tommy. “There’s a—”

  Jake clamped a hand over Tommy’s mouth. “Let’s go!” Jake said.

  Lexie and Tommy took off, and Jake sped after them
. A cougar. Here on Wildcat Run. And only meters away from them!

  Jake raced down the trail, not daring to look behind him. The cougar was after the deer. But what if it didn’t catch it? Would a couple of young kids start looking tasty?

  They sped around curves and over dips and bumps. Lexie was going fast. Tommy had a hard time keeping up to her, and Jake soon passed him. Jake had never skied this fast before. The trees were a blur, and the wind stung his cheeks. He wanted to slow down, but the image of the cougar was still in his mind.

  Jake crouched over his skis. Faster and faster he went, catching up to Lexie. They reached the bottom of the slope and kept going. He snowplowed into the curve, barely missing a tree as he swept around the bend.

  They continued down the run. Lexie glanced back, and then so did Jake. Tommy was a little way behind them. He looked scared.

  “Look out!” shouted Tommy.

  Jake whipped his head around in time to see another sharp bend in the trail. He swerved and skidded around it. Lexie swerved too, but the run was narrow. Her skis caught on the soft deep snow at the edge of the run and she almost fell. Wind-milling her arms, she headed straight toward a tree.

  Jake heard a THUNK. It sounded like the crack of a baseball bat hitting a ball. He skidded to a stop. “Lexie!” he cried. He scrambled back up the slope.

  Lexie was lying very still. Tommy snowplowed up beside Jake, got his skis crossed and tumbled forward.

  “Lexie?” said Jake. He dropped to his knees and shook her gently. “Lexie? Are you all right?”

  “What’s wrong with her?” said Tommy. “Why won’t she wake up?”

  “She hit her head,” said Jake.

  “Is she—is she dead?” asked Tommy.

  “No!” said Jake. “Don’t be stupid.” But Lexie hadn’t moved, and she had a huge red mark on her forehead. Jake put his cheek close to Lexie’s mouth, just to check. He felt her breath, warm and moist on his skin. “She’s just unconscious,” he said.

  “Un—un what?” said Tommy.