The Kate Shugak Investigations Books 10-20 by Dana Stabenow

Author:Dana Stabenow [Stabenow, Dana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781781857380
Publisher: Head of Zeus Ltd.

8

November

Snow had came late to the Park that year, but winter had come early, three weeks of consistent below-zero temperatures in early October. The Kanuyaq froze solid practically overnight, and when it snowed twenty inches in twelve hours the first week of November, the river promptly took up its winter role of Park Route 1, carrying dog teams, snowmobiles, and pickup trucks between Ahtna and the villages downriver, also known as the ’Burbs. The ice got a little mushy nearer the river’s mouth on the Gulf of Alaska, but farther north and certainly as far as Niniltna it made for a fine highway, better, many said, than the actual road into the Park. It was certainly wider, with room for many more vehicles, as well as the occasional race, and its reach was much farther.

Early on the morning after Thanksgiving Johnny hitched the sled to his snow machine and packed it with tent, sleeping bag, two different sets of five layers of clothes, and everything on Bingley Mercantile’s shelves with a high percentage of fat content, including two large jars of Skippy peanut butter and two more of strawberry jam. “If you get in trouble and can’t build a fire,” Kate said, “you can always use a spoon. Do you have your GPS?”

“For the third time, yes,” Johnny said.

Kate tucked in some more fire starters and a second large box of waterproof matches. “Have you got your PLB?”

“For the fifth time, yes,” Johnny said.

“You checked the batteries?”

“And I have spares,” Johnny said.

“You’ve got them in an inside pocket.”

“Where they’ll stay toasty warm and ready to use if I need them.”

“Rifle?”

“Cleaned and loaded and strapped to the snow machine.”

His patience was monumental and meant to be noticed, but she couldn’t help herself. “Extra shells?”

“Two boxes, Kate.”

“Good.” She prowled around the snow machine. “Have you got that tool kit I put together?”

“In the sled.”

“Extra gas?”

“In the sled.”

“And Van’s riding with you?”

“Yes, Kate.”

“And Ruthe’s got her own machine.”

“Yes, Kate.”

“Maybe I’ll just ride to Ruthe’s with you.”

“Maybe you won’t,” Johnny said. “Maybe I’ve been driving the snow machine back and forth to Ruthe’s cabin for going on three winters now. Maybe I know the way.”

He was right. Still, Kate fretted. “You’re not going to deviate from your route, are you?”

“No, Kate. We’ll be following the Kanuyaq a lot of the way. It’s kind of hard to miss.” Sheesh. By contrast, Jim this morning had tossed him a casual wave and said only, “Have fun, kid. Yell for help if you need it,” before clattering down the steps and heading off to work.

“You can take Mutt,” Kate said.

“I really can’t,” Johnny said. “Van’s riding with me. I’d have to unload the sled to make room for Mutt. Then we’d have Mutt and nothing to eat. Oh, wait, we could eat Mutt.”

“Very funny. Ruthe could take her.”

“Then Ruthe’d have to unload her own sled. We’ll be fine, Kate.”

“I know you will be,” Kate said, not believing a word of it. “Just, you know, just be careful, okay?”

“I always am.

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