Courage (7 page)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Lucas could hardly wait for the next morning to arrive. He had a fitful sleep, tossing and turning. Finally it started to get light outside and draping the deerskin over his shoulders, he stepped out of the plane. The snow was coming down in big flakes, he looked up and the visibility was only maybe one hundred feet. He jumped down from the edge of the plane and stepped on the wolf. It yelped and took off, stopped about 50 feet from Lucas then looked back at him with a look that said, “What was that all about?” Lucas took another step and stepped on something else. He reached down and touched something then quickly jerked his hand away, kicking the snow off, he realized it was a half frozen rabbit.

“Dad, the wolf has left a rabbit for us and it's a big white one.”

Jim stepped out yawning, shivered and looked up at the sky, thinking winter was definitely here.

“Sorry Lucas, but the signal fire and windshield won't work today, maybe tomorrow.”

“It's okay dad, I'm really looking forward to some roasted rabbit. I think we should go down to the stream to see if we can kill another deer. Why is the rabbit white?”

“It's called a snowshoe rabbit, their fur changes color in winter so they can hide from their predators. Yes, let's go to the stream to search for food.”

Mary and Jill stepped out of the plane, stretched and asked “Why all the yelling and what is so important this early in the morning?”

“Mom, the wolf left us a rabbit. I'll skin it for you, unless Jill wants to do it,” he laughed.

“No thanks, but I will eat a leg.”

“I think I can hear the plane again, must be eight o'clock.”

Jim looked at his watch, “It is eight o'clock; maybe tomorrow the weather will be more co-operative.”

“Mary, Lucas and I are going to the stream for water and maybe some fish. Stay close to the plane and have your poles handy, the fuselage will give you good protection, come on Lucas.”

They took the fenders and the fishing gear, the pole with the knife and set out. They weren't paying much attention to the wolf but he was following behind just out of site.

The stream area was quiet, no tracks of any kind around the bank and the area was covered with a white blanket of snow. They started looking for worms but had no luck. The ground was frozen and even using the knife to dig, they couldn't find any.

“I think our fishing days are over.” Jim commented bleakly.

“Dad I can see the fish swimming just below the surface.

“There's only a thin layer of ice on the waters' edge, if we break it then maybe we can use the knife on the pole to stab a few,” replied Jim.

“You think it will work?”

“We can try, but I don't know if it will work. Even if we are lucky enough to stab one, it will probably wiggle off the blade.”

Jim went right to the edge of the water, broke through the ice and patiently waited for a fish to swim by. He aimed carefully and stabbed at the fish but the knife just glanced off and they ended up returning to camp empty handed except for the water.

“Dad have you seen the wolf this morning?'

“Strange, but I haven't.”

“Maybe he's catching another rabbit for us,” Lucas said hopefully.

It was an unlucky day for them. They couldn't signal the plane, they couldn't catch any fish and there was no sign of the wolf.

By the time they got back to camp, Mary was roasting the rabbit and the aroma was wonderful. It was also really quiet at the camp.

“Mary, have you seen the wolf this morning?”

“No I thought he was with you. Did you catch any fish?”

Jim related their bad luck at the stream, “We have to think of some other way to catch fish. Maybe we could weave a basket and trap the fish. I remember seeing a documentary once, I think it was in the Amazon area where they made this cone-like basket and the fish swam right into it and they couldn't get out, so they were able to catch fish.”

“Here he goes again mom!”

“I'll help you dad!” Jill said.

Lucas just rolled his eyes. “Yeah, remember the shape of the twig trap? And now you want to weave a cone, like that's going to happen!”

They had a delicious rabbit supper, the snow finally stopped and it became very cold.

There was a howl from far off in the distance, followed by an answering howl nearer the camp. That went on for an hour and then all was quiet again.

“Dad, do you think that was our wolf?”

“It could have been, but I don't know.”

“We better go to bed and use all the covers we have, tonight will be really cold. Jim set your watch alarm for seven o'clock. We want to catch the plane tomorrow morning if it's clear,” Mary directed.

Jim agreed, “Right, I have a good feeling that we'll be able to signal the plane tomorrow.”

The alarm went off and Jim, shaking off sleep, looked out of the plane and saw the wolf with another rabbit in its mouth.

“Look Mary, the wolf has bought us another rabbit.”

“At least we'll have something to eat today.”

The four of them stepped out of the plane and saw the wolf about fifty feet away and another wolf close behind it.

“I think our wolf has found a friend,” Jim said.

“Lucas, light your nest and when it's burning, light the signal fire,” Mary suggested.

Lucas lit the nest, blew on it a few times and ran to place it under the signal fire. In stared to burn and was giving up a lot of smoke. The smoke curled up into the air creating a design like a corkscrew in the cold morning air.

“Lucas, you and I will be holding on to the windshield as we hear the plane and just move it back and forth. Maybe the commercial plane will be able to pick up a reflection.”

“Dad, it must be eight o'clock, there's the plane.”

Jim and Lucas moved the windshield slowly back and forth attempting to signal the plane.

In a few moments the plane was gone and they had no idea if they had been spotted or not.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“This is scheduled Air Canada, Flight 522 from Calgary to White Horse, calling Search and Rescue HQ. We understand that you have been searching for a downed plane. For some days now we have seen a reflection bouncing up to us, we thought it was just a small area of water and dismissed it. This morning we saw the reflection more pronounced and in addition there was a curl of smoke at Latitude 52 degrees, 52 minutes, 60 north: Longitude 180 degrees, 10 minutes, 0 west.

It may be nothing, but we thought we should pass it along. Air Canada Flight 522, out.

“This is Search and Rescue HQ. Acknowledging thank you. We'll investigate. Out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

“This is Search and Rescue HQ, calling ‘Firefox One' and ‘Two'. We have received information from Air Canada flight 522, of a possible sighting of the downed plane. Location is Latitude 52 degrees, 52 minutes, 60 north: Longitude 180 degrees, 10 minutes, 0 west. That location is in the Jasper area. If it is the missing plane, it was blown off course by over 300 kilometers. Please investigate. Out.”

“This is ‘Firefox One' and ‘Two', we are fueling. Should be on our way in half an hour. Our ETA to site is three hours, we'll keep you posted. Out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

“‘Firefox One' to ‘Firefox Two' this should be a direct flight until we get to within 10 kilometers of the co-ordinates. ‘Firefox Two' you split to 5 kilometers west and I'll stay five kilometers east. Out.

“‘Firefox One', this is ‘Firefox Two' acknowledged. Out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

“Jim, when could we expect the search planes, assuming they saw our signal?”

“If they saw us, I would think we should hear something in about a day or so.” Jim looked at his watch and said, “We just have to be patient. ”

“We should probably just do what we always do at this time of day, we don't want to raise the kid's hopes.”

“I think that's a good idea,” Jim confirmed.

“Okay kids, we should go down to the stream after lunch for water, in the meantime let's forage for some fire wood.”

Mary stayed back while the three went out to collect firewood.

“Dad look, the wolf is back with his friend. I don't know what they want, but they're looking at us in a strange way,” Jill commented.

A growl was heard in the bushes some distance away. “We have to get back to the plane, I think that sounded like an angry bear.”

They just got back to the plane when they heard a growl again, this time much closer. The two wolves ran toward the growling sounds and growled in return, their ears pulled back and the fur on the back of their necks stood on end. A black bear emerged from the bushes, heading directly toward the plane, and another, much larger, was following it, breaking branches and pawing the ground along the way.

“Into the plane everyone, I just hope they will ignore us and head in the opposite direction,” Jim said but he stayed outside the plane.

Both wolves charged the lead bear and attacked, one from the front and one from the rear. The bear reared up on her hind legs and swung a mighty paw at the wolf approaching her from the front. The wolf jumped sideways to avoid the front paw swipe while at the same time the wolf at the rear jumped on the back of the bear, grabbing it by the skin of its neck. The enraged bear shook off the wolf and ran off into the bushes. The other bear attacked the wolves, forcing them toward the plane. Jim threw the pole with the knife attached into the bear's belly; the bear shook it free and lumbered into the forest. The two wolves licked their paws, yawned and took off in the opposite direction.

“I think it's safe to come out of the plane now. Boy, were those bears angry!”

“Dad, dad look, I think those are search planes, look up, we have to signal them.”

“Can you get the fire going again?”

“It's still smoldering, what if we throw on some of our cedar boughs from the plane, would it work?” Lucas asked.

“Mary, Jill, grab the cedar boughs and throw them on the signal fire. Lucas and I'll be signaling with the windshield.”

The family prayed fervently as they performed their jobs. One of the planes signaled the survivors by dipping its wings up and down.

“Jim, I think they saw us!!!”

“Wave to them, jump up and down, scream, do whatever you can to make sure they see us!”

And they did. The other plane also signaled them by dipping its wings. It flew low and waved to them.

The planes took one more fly by, then headed back to base.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

“This is ‘Firefox One' and ‘Firefox Two'. We have confirmation of the survivors. The co-ordinates were as given. You will need a chopper to get them out. ‘Firefox One' and ‘Firefox Two'. Out.”

“Wonderful news! This is Search and Rescue HQ, understood. We are dispatching a rescue helicopter to specified location. Request you do one more fly by. If you can, signal them that we'll be there just before dark. How many survivors did you see? Out.”

“Counted four and they appeared to be fine.”

“Understood, ‘Firefox One' will drop leaflets with the message. ‘Firefox Two' returning to base. Out.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

“The search plane is coming back, I wonder why?”

The plane dipped low and tossed a bunch of paper out of the plane.

“Look dad, they're throwing something out of the plane.”

“Lucas, chase them down, see what they say!”

“I got one dad! It says they'll be back with a helicopter by nightfall to collect us.”

“It's one o'clock now, so by 5 or so they should be here. Mary, take as many pictures as the camera will hold. I hope the wolf comes back before we leave.”

“Dad, do you know where they'll take us first? I'm sure hungry for a big juicy hamburger and a whole mess of French fries with salt. And when I get home I'll never eat rabbit again, or fish or berries!” Lucas commented.

“I'm with you Lucas,” Jill agreed.

“I don't know, they may want to take us to a hospital to be checked out first,” Jim responded.

Time was dragging, they went back to the old camp, took pictures, snapped a few more at the stream, Lucas even went to the berry patch to capture a few more memories on film.

On the way back to the main camp, they heard a rustling in the bushes; it was the wolf. It came within 5 feet of the family but wouldn't go right up to them. The other wolf stayed back a good distance, acting as a lookout. They took a few pictures of both wolves and headed back to the plane with eager anticipation.

“Mom, dad look the two wolves are kissing,” Jill yelled.

“It would be really neat if the bears came by so we could get their pictures too,” Lucas said.

“No thanks, that bear scared me,” Jill answered.

Their wolf was following them, but stayed back.

“I'm going to try something,” Jim said.

He knelt down and extended his hand toward the wolf. The wolf looked at him, but didn't move. He said very quietly, “Come here wolf.” The wolf looked at Jim curiously and slowly took a few steps toward him. Again quietly, Jim said, “No one is going to hurt you.” The wolf took a few more tentative steps. It was only a foot away, and Jim whispered, “I just want to pet you.” The wolf went to him and licked his hand, but as soon as Jim raised his hand to pet him, the wolf quickly retreated.

“That's okay wolf, we will never forget you. Thank you for what you have done for us, you probably saved our lives.”

They reached the camp and soon after heard the rhythmic beating of the rotors; then they saw the helicopter. It landed almost on top of the signal firebase. Two of the occupants jumped out, “Good evening Mr. and Mrs. Robinson. Your ordeal is over, we are flying you to the Edmonton General Hospital for observation.”

“Where are we?”

“You are in the Jasper area, about 350 kilometers from Edmonton.”

“We thought we were somewhere around Lake Louise. I guess the wind really pushed us north and east.”

“You are safe now. We should be in Edmonton in about two hours.”

“Are there any souvenirs you want to bring back with you?”

“No, we are ready to go home. Can I use your radio to contact our parents?”

“Actually, they have already been notified by Search and Rescue HQ. They know you are all fine and will fly in to meet you at the hospital.”

They looked around once more; this had been their home for almost two months, yet they were really happy to leave it behind.

They all climbed into the helicopter, buckled up and off they flew. They looked down to see if they could spot the wolf, but there was no sign of him.

It was hard to talk in the helicopter; it was really loud with the rotors and the wind. Only Jim had a head set with microphone.

“How did you find us?”

“It was Air Canada flight 522 that spotted your signal, our Search and Rescue planes were quite a distance off to the west. No one had any idea you were blown off course so far north and east because of the storm.”

“We have arrived and will land at that round disc just over to the right. Medical personal are waiting for you with stretchers,” the pilot announced.

“We don't need stretchers, we're fine,” Lucas scoffed.

“We're back in civilization now and there are rules that must be followed, you know,” Mary said.

“Just like back at school, right?” Jill asked.

“Yes and like getting back to the daily grind of school, work snow shoveling, you get the picture,” said Jim.

“Don't forget cooking. I think we'll have a nice roast rabbit for our first meal home,” added Mary.

Lucas said, “No more roast rabbit, please!”

They spent two days at the Edmonton Hospital. The doctors checked them out for all sorts of things including dehydration, frostbite and malnourishment. “You may have lost some weight, but you are all perfectly healthy, in fact you are probably in better shape then you were two months ago.”

The nurses spoiled the kids by giving them whatever they wanted to eat or drink.

The Edmonton Newspaper did a lengthy story on the Robinson family and all the other papers picked up on the incredible story of their endurance and survival. They were famous!

Life for the Robinson's gradually returned to normal and after only a few months of the old routine, Lucas decided he was bored and was heard to ask, “Dad, there's nothing exciting going on here, do you suppose maybe we could go camping one of these days?” Jim quickly responded, “Not a chance Buddy, I've had enough camping to last a lifetime!

They were home and everything was back to normal!

The End