Short story in Adventure

"Fair Game"

Mike Kahmann

I'm floating...floating in a light blue mist. Voices...or maybe just echoes. Something pushing me deep into the soft earth. Gasping for breath...and I see shadows flickering back and forth. God what a terrible smell...

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"This one's alive, Jake! Better call in the chopper! Gees, I've never seen anything like this. No, no don't try to move him yet. He's lost too much blood. We've got to get this old sow off of him. No, don't waste any time on the other one. Looks like she broke his neck."

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I can see light. What a stench but a great weight off me. Who's pulling at me? - Can't form the words...got to tell them not to move me. Oh! The pain and flashing...spinning again...and darkness.

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"Easy, mister, don't move. We'll have you out of here in a little bit. Watch him, Jake. I'll get the board and start an IV. No. Don't let him move his head."

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I'm cold. So damn cold. I keep blinking, but can't see. I hear a helicopter. Thank God! Must tell Frank it's OK now. We'll be OK. Stupid damn move though...got to have one picture...one good close up. Why can't he use a long lens. I know he's got several. Closer and Closer. Shivering again. I told him to wait for the damn guide...

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"That's it. Try not to roll him too far. Stay with me, Jake! Don't get sick 'till we get him up in the chopper."

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I can't feel anything. I can't move, but the pain is going away. I want to cry. Maybe I am crying. Let's see… Treat for shock… No, stop the bleeding. I'm sweating again. Screaming!! "Frank! I only see the two little ones, the cubs." There's something behind me. I try to turn but get slammed to the ground. I hear a terrible crunching…Oh Jesus! The thing is biting me!---I'm still holding the shotgun but it's underneath me...must relax. I feel a wet trickle in my ear. She's so heavy, and the smell!!

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"Yea, Doc. About eight minutes. No. No. Head and shoulder mostly. No. Weak but stable. OK...OK. Tell them to go on up. What? Say again? Looks like a couple of city fellas wanted to get their picture took with a family of grizz. No. I seen one cub, but it ran off. I think the one we got here killed the sow."

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Pictures flashing in my head...won't stop and I'm sick to my stomach... She's off me now and Frank's hollering at her. I'm moving so slow...got to stand up but my hands are so slick. I wipe my eyes and pick up the twelve gage. It's slippery. I look down at my hands; they're all red and wet. I can see her now. Frank's trying to get up a small tree but he won't make it. I push the safety button to the fire position and wipe my eyes. She's got to Frank now, I can hear him screaming. I pump in a round and try to remember what the guide said: with a short barrel and double-ought buck you need to be handshake close. It's still too far but maybe it will draw her off. Frank's screams are drowned in the sound of the blast and the recoil against my torn shoulder blinds me. I can't see again and wipe my eyes with my torn jacket front. I can't move and I know I'm going to faint. Oh, no! Here she comes...

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"Easy, friend. Try not to move. We'll be at the hospital in a few minutes. You're chewed up pretty good but I think you’re going to make it."

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Hospital? Yes, that’s good...Going to need the hospital...But where the hell is she!! No don't sit down...can't run. Too weak...Maybe she left...I call out to Frank but no answer...My ears are ringing...pump in another round just in case. I'm losing too much blood...Must try to stay awake...Oh no! Oh God no! She is coming straight at me! This is crazy. Stupid...I want to laugh...Can't stop it, can't help it...Must get control...Mad, I'm getting mad as hell! Come on you whore-bitch bear...You'll never feed those little bastards again! I'll feed you nine lead balls to take home for supper. Steady now...Wipe my eyes, they sting so bad...The guide said you had to be close... First one goes when she clears that old stump, then as many as I can put into her before she gets me. Run you bitch...She's in the clear now...Head bobbing and she's making some kind of 'clop - clop' noise with her mouth...Grunting in between...Blood all over her face and those eyes...Two little bore holes into the middle of hell...Hurry your fat ass...My God I can't believe I want her close now...I would run toward her if I could... I want to kill her with my bare hands! Must be going mad...So angry and so scared...I don't want to die like this. Two more strides...Close enough now; I grit my teeth and jamb the stock into my torn shoulder...Now!! I feel the stock slam against my shoulder and a blinding white-hot flash of pain from forehead to tail bone...Pump in one more and squeeze...Lost in the blast and she's on me...Down into darkness.

THE END

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