Touching the Clouds: A Novel (Alaskan Skies Book #1)

Kate pressed her fingertips to Nena’s wrist. The pulse was steady. Thank you, Lord. She pulled off her jacket and draped it over her friend. It was wet, but might help hold in a little warmth.

Kate’s head throbbed. She put a hand to her forehead and discovered a large bump. It was tender. She figured it couldn’t be too serious—she was conscious. Gingerly she turned her head to the left and then the right. Her neck was sore. A cut on her right arm bled, but didn’t look serious. She had a lot to be grateful for—no broken bones, and she and Nena were alive.

Taking a deep breath, Kate brushed strands of wet hair off her face. She gazed at the quiet lake, which reflected the surrounding wilderness. The accident rolled through her mind. She’d become too casual about flying.

“I’m sorry, Nena. I’ll get us out of this mess. I promise.” Guilt and hopelessness swept through Kate. What could she do to save them?

She pushed to her feet and studied the place where the plane had gone down. There’d been no time to salvage anything. Her pack, her survival gear, her grandmother’s Bible were all at the bottom of the lake. Her hand rested on the sheath attached to her belt. At least she had a knife.

Angel loped up to Kate, who knelt and pulled the soaking wet dog into her arms.

“Good girl.” She smoothed Angel’s hair. “Someone will find us.”

She said the words with conviction, but wasn’t convinced. Fear mounded up inside and like a wet leather strap wrapped itself around her heart, growing tighter with every negative thought.

“At least we have plenty of water to drink,” she joked, but didn’t laugh. Looking down at Nena, covered in her jacket, she knew she needed to dry it out. The sun might warm her enough for now.

Kate removed the coat and hung it over a tree limb. She also hung up Nena’s jacket and dress, hoping they’d dry before the sun set. After dark, the temperatures would plummet. She needed a fire, but had no matches. They were in her pack.

An idea worked at the fringes of her mind. Kate pulled off her shoes and socks. She did the same for Nena. She set the shoes on a downed log and hung the socks on a tree limb.

Walking along the beach, she studied the place her plane went in. It wasn’t that far out. Maybe the water wasn’t very deep. She might be able to get some of the things she needed like blankets, an axe and a shovel, and the matches she kept in a watertight container. And she’d feel safer with her pistol. She had to try.

Although dreading returning to the icy water, she sat down and stripped off her pants and shirt and laid them on the log beside her shoes. Shivering, she waded into the lake.

Angel splashed in.

“No, Angel. You stay.”

The dog looked at her with a question in her eyes. Kate moved farther out. The dog followed.

“No! Stay!”

Angel stood in the shallow water and watched Kate.

Her shivering intensified, but Kate kept swimming, stopping only when she thought she’d reached the place where the plane had disappeared. Putting her face in the water, she searched for it, but couldn’t see anything. She swam a little farther and looked again. Still nothing. She moved on and this time she spotted her plane, lying quietly on the bottom. How far down was it? She couldn’t even make an approximation.

Only one way to find out. Kate dove, heading straight for the submerged Bellanca. She’d almost reached it, when her craving for oxygen forced her back to the surface. Unwilling to give up, she treaded water for a few minutes, then took several deep breaths and went down again, pulling hard with her arms and kicking furiously. Her shoulder hurt, but not enough to stop her. She managed to reach the plane this time, but didn’t have enough air in her lungs to get inside. She barely made it back to the surface before taking a breath.

She spotted Angel swimming out. “No! Go back!”

The dog kept on, intent upon reaching her. Deciding more attempts to retrieve anything from the plane were useless, Kate swam to shore.

Chilled through, her body rattled from the cold as she stepped out of the water. Dressed in only her underclothes, she sat in the sun beside Nena, pulling her legs close to her body and wrapping her arms around bent knees. What was she going to do?

She looked around at the woodlands, feeling small and alone. Fear closed in again, threatening to cut off her breath. Looking at Nena, Kate dug for resolve. Her friend needed her. She couldn’t give up.

Kate had often thought about what she’d do in an emergency. But in all her imaginings, she’d had her survival gear to rely on. I wish I were more prepared. I should have taken a course or at least read up on how to survive.

She tried to come up with a way to signal anyone flying overhead, but she had nothing to use and the trees pushed in almost to the ridge of the lake. All she could do was wait.

We’ll need shelter. I can do that.

Kate checked on Nena again. There was no change. Did she have a concussion, or something more serious? Was her brain damaged? If only I knew how to help her.

Kate set off, searching for a place that would offer them protection. The best she could come up with was a large tree that had fallen. If she braced branches against the trunk, she could create a lean-to.

She cut evergreen limbs from trees and broke off ferns. The activity seemed to stir up flies and mosquitoes, which feasted on her exposed skin. No amount of swatting discouraged them. After gathering the evergreens, she placed them against the roots of the tree. Standing back, she studied the shelter. It wasn’t fancy, but it would do for a night or two. She took some additional boughs and placed them over Nena, hoping they would offer some protection from insects and the cold.

If only she could start a fire.

She thought back to every survival story she’d ever heard or read that included fire building. She had a vague memory of someone using a wooden rod and a block of wood. Maybe she could do that.

Keeping an eye on Nena, Kate scoured the area for the wood she’d need. She found some she thought might work and took them to the shelter. After coming up with some dry grass and bits of timber, she sat down and pressed a chunk of soft wood on the ground in front of her. Using a small branch, she cut the end into a dull point and placed it on the wood chunk, then rolled the branch between her palms, back and forth. Several times it flew out of her hands. She dropped it again and again. This was impossible. In the end, all she had to show for her efforts were raw, red palms.

Fighting tears, she berated herself for not being prepared. “I should know how to do this.”

Unwilling to give up, she decided to try something else she’d read about. She might be able to create a spark by striking rocks against each other. She just wasn’t sure what kind to use.

With the last of the day’s sun fading, she scoured the shoreline for stones that might work. No luck.

Kate took Nena’s damp clothing off the tree and dressed her. She’d figured by now Nena would have shown signs of consciousness, but there’d been no change.

“Nena, please wake up.”

Kate pulled on her own half-dried clothes. At first they made her feel colder, and she shivered so hard her teeth chattered. Gradually her body warmed the clothing and she felt slightly better.

As darkness descended, Kate carried Nena to the tiny shelter and pulled her inside, then lay down and held her close. Angel snuggled against Kate’s back. The air turned chill and it seemed like the mosquitoes were hungrier than ever. She pulled Nena’s hood over her face, hoping it would help protect against biting insects. Pressing her own face into her bent elbow, she tried to sleep. Her empty stomach rumbled, and she decided that with first light she’d search for berries. Maybe Nena would be awake by then.

Sleep eluded Kate. Her neck and arm ached and the bump on her head throbbed. The cold and biting insects brought more misery. She couldn’t imagine another night like this one. God, please help us. Don’t let Nena suffer. Please forgive me for my foolishness.

Kate felt God’s presence. It was as if he was right beside her, quieting her fears.

She imagined what was going on at the airfield. Sidney would be keyed up and nervous, spouting orders. Dear Mike, he would be in the air, searching. Kate’s heart warmed at the thought of him. He’d do everything he could to find her. He was a good man. Albert and Helen would be at the field, helping in any way they could. And they’d be praying.

Kate closed her eyes and thought about Frank. Had he suffered?

Cold and bug-bitten, Kate finally slept, though fitfully. Sometime during the night, she heard movement in the forest. Angel let off a low growl. Kate shushed her, not wanting to attract a predator.

She stared into the inky blackness. The crackling of brush and an occasional woofing noise cut through the night. It’s probably just a moose, she told herself and hoped she was right. She moved deeper into her shelter, pulling Nena with her. She took her knife out of its sheath and held absolutely still, breathing as quietly as possible.

Finally, whatever was out there moved away. Angel settled down. Shivering, Kate huddled against the dog as exhaustion pulled her back into a restless sleep.

In the morning, her first thoughts were of Nena. Had she awakened?

Kate pushed up on an elbow and looked at her friend. “Nena? Nena.”

Not even a stir of an eyelid. Fearfully, Kate pressed two fingers against Nena’s throat and was thankful to feel the beating of her heart.

Driven by thirst, Kate climbed out of the shelter and headed for the lake. Her clothes were still damp and felt scratchy and stiff.

Early morning sunlight cast a glow on the trees and hillsides but hadn’t yet reached the lake, where a mist hung above the water. The lonely sound of a loon echoed from an inlet. Kate walked to the edge, removed her shoes and socks, and waded in just deep enough to scoop water into her hands and drink. She hoped the liquid would quiet the ache in her empty stomach.

When her thirst was satiated, she straightened and searched the skies, willing a plane into sight. None came. Would they even think to look here? First they’d explore the areas that were part of her route. When they didn’t find her, they’d widen the search.

A frightening thought exploded in her mind. What if they think I went down in the inlet or the river? They’ll give up. Fear vibrated through her. They’d assume she was dead.

She turned and stared at the forest. Could she walk out? Everything she’d been taught said stay with the plane. But it was at the bottom of the lake. She decided to wait. Besides, how would she get Nena out? She couldn’t leave her.

Kate’s rumbling stomach drove her to search for food. Looking for berries, she headed to the edge of the forest. She stayed close enough to the lake so if she heard the sound of a plane, she could run out into the open and wave it down.

Some of the bushes had half-shriveled fruit. Kate snatched them up and shoved them in her mouth, then offered some to Angel, who quickly caught on to how to pick her own. Happily, Kate found patches of plump, juicy berries. As she foraged, she kept an ear and eye out for bears. They’d be eating the last of the summer crop too.

With her hunger pangs quieted, Kate returned to the lake. Not sure what she was looking for, she walked along the shore. She picked up several rocks and tried to produce a spark, but none of them worked.

When she saw the flash of a fish in the water, her pulse picked up. Maybe she could catch one. Removing her shoes and rolling up her pants, she waded in. Standing absolutely still with her hands just above the water, she waited and watched, her feet aching from the cold. When one swam by her, she grabbed for it, but he darted away. She tried again and again, but she was never fast enough. Finally, she got her hands on one. Squeezing tightly so it couldn’t wriggle free, she ran toward shore, but before she could get out of the water, it twisted away and fell back into the lake. Kate hollered her frustration, hit the water with her fist, and then kicked at it. Finally, she sat on a rock and ruminated over her situation.

She needed a spear. If she could find a suitable branch, she could make one. She set out to find one. It didn’t take long. Using her knife, she whittled a point on the end, then waded back into the water. Standing perfectly still, she waited and finally a fish swam near. She flung the homemade lance, but missed.

She tried again and again with no luck. Finally, she sat on a log and stared at the lake. What was she going to do? She tossed a rock into the water. If I’d gotten a radio, I could have told Sidney where I was before I ditched.

Kate saw something move in the shadows on the far side of the lake. Every nerve in her body sprang to life. She straightened, trying to get a better look. It was an animal of some sort. A wolf? Fear prickled through her. Squinting, she tried to make out what it was. A lynx emerged from the shadows and cautiously moved to the water’s edge to drink.

She’d never thought to be afraid of a lynx. Did they attack people? She remained still, hoping it wouldn’t see her. Finally it returned to the forest, leaving Kate feeling defenseless. A spear and a knife would be of little help against anything like a wolf or bear.

At the end of the day, Nena still hadn’t regained consciousness even when Kate tried to rouse her. She began to worry that if Nena didn’t drink, she’d die. Using her knife, Kate cut a section off the bottom of her shirt. She walked to the edge of the lake and dipped the fabric into the water, then returned with the soaking material. Opening Nena’s mouth, she squeezed water from the fabric. Most of it dribbled down her friend’s chin, but Kate thought some had been swallowed.

She tried several more times and hoped the moisture would be sufficient. With darkness stealing over the lake, Kate pulled on her coat and hunkered down between Nena and Angel. The air felt colder than the previous night. Peering out of the shelter, Kate looked at the sky with its stars glittering in a black universe.

“God, do you see us? We need you.” Kate hated crying, but she couldn’t hold back her tears. “Please, help us. Don’t let us die.”

That night the mosquitoes seemed more ruthless than the night before. By morning Kate’s arms and legs were covered with red, itching bumps. They’d even bitten through her clothing. She could feel welts on her face and neck. Nena looked as bad as Kate felt. She remembered Patrick telling her that cow parsnips soothed the itching, so she searched for some, but didn’t find any.

The day passed, and Kate busied herself foraging for and eating berries. Angel had pounced on a rabbit, but it escaped. The loss of food left Kate’s stomach feeling emptier than before.

She continued giving Nena water, hoping it was enough. She also tried fishing again, but by the time the sun went down, she returned to the shelter, hungry and weak.

The night sounds were less frightening. The rustle of a small creature in the grass and a screech owl’s call cut through the blackness. They made her feel less alone. Later she heard a distinctive stomping sound and figured it must be a caribou or moose. In spite of hunger, bugs, and the cold, she slept.

The next morning, she woke to cramps from an empty stomach or maybe too many berries. She wasn’t sure which. A light drizzle fell and a heavy mist obscured the lake. Everything was soaked. The earth gave off a musty scent and the air smelled of evergreens and overripe berries.

She climbed out of the shelter and headed to the lake for a drink, then returned with water for Nena. She huddled inside the small haven to wait out the rain. When the sun broke through the clouds, she moved outside to warm herself and search the skies, listening for the sound of a plane.

No one came.

No one was going to come.

Scanning her surroundings and the distant hills and mountains, Kate knew the direction civilization lay. She might be able to hike to Susitna Station or get lucky and stumble across a homesteader’s cabin. She’d follow the sun and keep her bearings by the mountain peaks. She recognized most of them. But how would she carry Nena?

Kate decided to make a litter. That way she could pull Nena along behind her. She gathered sturdy branches, then ripped her shirt into strips, which she used to lash the limbs together. It wasn’t fancy, but it ought to work.

Before setting out, Kate gathered stones from along the shore. She placed them beside her camp in the shape of an arrow, pointing the way she’d planned to head.

“At least if someone comes, they’ll know which way we went,” she told Nena. She wished there were some way to carry water, but she’d have to rely on streams and morning dew.

After hefting her friend onto the litter, she gave Angel’s head a pat. “You ready for a hike?”

The dog whined and leaned against her, wagging her tail. Kate got her bearings, said a prayer, and set off.

In no time, the trees closed in behind, blocking the lake and the mountains from view. Using her knife, Kate scored the trees every ten or fifteen feet. That way she wouldn’t get lost and if someone came looking for her, hopefully they’d see the markings. She kept moving, using the sun as a guide and hoping for openings in the woodland that would help her stay on course.

Pulling the litter meant slow going. And Kate wasn’t even sure it would hold together. She had to stop several times to tighten the cloth strips.

With no trail, Kate fought her way through brush and downed trees. When clouds moved in, blocking out the sun, it became more difficult to maintain a constant heading. Still, she continued, trusting in her sense of direction.

Kate could only guess at how long they’d been traveling, but it must have been several hours. She was tired and thirsty and now wondered if she’d made a terrible mistake. She considered going back, but to what? Their only hope was to push ahead.

When a soft rain started, she stopped and tipped her face up, catching drops in her mouth. She moved on. She’d find her way . . . somehow. That night they slept beneath a tree huddled together—vulnerable.

The next morning, she stopped at the top of a ravine and studied a creek winding its way through the bottom. She needed water and remembered hearing that, when lost, a person should follow moving water downstream. It would inevitably lead to a larger stream or a river, and with any luck, people.

Making sure the litter was secure, she started down the steep bank, pushing the heels of her boots into soft earth. Without warning, the ground gave way. Kate started to slide. She leaned backward, planting her feet into the loose soil, but she was moving too quickly and the litter came apart behind her. She pushed her feet deeper, but the toe of her boot caught on a branch, and she tumbled forward and somersaulted down the side of the ravine, leaving Nena behind.

Her head struck something. Pain and colors exploded behind her eyes. After that, there was nothing, only the oblivion of unconsciousness.