Shiver(123)

One by one the players of the game took seats on the stumps. Nadia sat next to Tern, Lucky close on Nadia’s left. Robert on Tern’s right while Mac sat across and Gage remained standing, whittling a piece of diamond willow.

“This is much better,” Nadia said, reaching her feet closer to the heat of the fire. “But what are we going to do about food?”

“Nadia, let me see the envelope the pilot gave you,” Mac asked.

“Oh, right. I almost forgot about the game, what with all our stuff liberated.” Nadia jumped up and rushed to their cabin, returning quickly, and handing the envelope to Mac.

He opened it with a slice of his knife, bending the blade back into its case and slipping it into the scabbard on his belt. He shook out the folded pages, scanned them. “Well, it seems we aren’t just to have a race against each other to find the geocaches, but finding them will aid in our survival.” He passed the pages around the group.

“What?” Nadia jumped to her feet. “There isn’t any food?”

“Doesn’t seem like it. We either catch what we eat, or start searching for geocaches and hope they have the supplies these pages promise.”

“How the hell is this a competition?” Lucky asked, a scowl on his face.

“It’s a test of our survival skills,” Mac said, not looking unhappy about the prospect.

“That isn’t what we signed up for,” Robert added, though he didn’t seem adverse to the challenge presented either.

“We knew this was an extreme competition,” Mac said. “We all agreed by showing up to this little party.”

“I’m here to prove I’m the best geocacher in the state,” Lucky said. “That’s what I signed up for.”

“We already know who the best is.” Mac nodded toward Tern.

“Is there any food at all?” Nadia asked. “I’m starved.”

“By the looks of the rules, we aren’t going to eat until we locate a few geocaches,” Mac said. “It’s getting late. I suggest we divide up into pairs. No sense in being stupid. There will be protection against the unfriendlies if we stay in numbers. Tern, you pair up with me—”

“What?” Robert scoffed. “No way do the old man and the broad get to pair up.”

“Who the hell are you calling a broad?” Tern asked. “Talk like that is going to get you hurt.”

“I’d love you to try it, babe.” Robert cocked his brow at her in challenge, then turned back to Mac. “And who the fuck put you in charge?” he sneered.

“Age and wisdom, you little shit.” Mac stood over Robert, who at least had the survival instincts to back down. “Now—”

“The little shit has a point,” Gage interrupted. “No offense, Mac, but you’re older and the women are weaker—”

“Hey,” Tern spat.

Gage ignored her objection and continued, “We should keep the strength ratio as close to even as we can for protection.”

“Draw names,” Lucky said. “Luck of the draw.”

“I’ll get some paper and a pen.” Nadia once again rushed back to their cabin. She returned, wrote everyone’s name on a piece of paper and tore them into slips. “Gage, can I borrow your hat?”

Gage took off his ball cap and handed it to her, being careful not to get too close to Tern.

Nadia put the names into the cap and one by one drew out a name.

“Robert with—” she reached for a piece of paper “—Mac.” She tossed the names into the fire and glanced around waiting for objections, when no one said anything she drew again. “Lucky with, oh, me.” She smiled at Lucky, and then faced Tern. “I guess that leaves you and Gage.” She mouthed a sorry.

Sorry didn’t begin to cover it.

Tern couldn’t look at Gage, but felt his irritation from behind her where he’d waited for the return of his hat. Of all the people to be paired up with, Gage was her last choice. Everything had seemed to go wrong since she’d entered the hangar this morning.

“All right then,” Mac said. “Let’s divide up and see what we can find. Does everyone have a weapon?” He answered their nods with a short one of his own. “Fire three shots with a full second between each shot if you get into trouble.” He motioned with the paper that had the geocache coordinates on them. “Leroy, you and Nadia head south over that hill. Tern, since you’re more mountain goat than human, you and Gage head north. By these coordinates, looks as though you might have some ice to navigate. Be careful. Robert and I will head west. I suggest we only give ourselves two hours. Find what you can in that time frame, then reconvene back here.” He looked at each of them in turn. “Got it?”