Ninety Degrees Out

“Hey dad, do you have any explosives left?” Chayton had his cell on speaker. It had taken countless tries before he got through to his father

“Why? I have a couple of sticks left.”

“Can you get here to help me blow an ice dam? Twig Creek is flooding. I’ve got a waterfall at the end of the canyon.”

“Damn! We’re cut off by flooding too. Can you get up here by plane? I’m not sure if you’d be better off with floats or skis though. Snow’s melting faster than I’ve ever seen.”

“To tell the truth, I don’t know. I haven’t talked to Hakan yet. I’ve got my neighbor here, she barely made it from the old Markham place. She rented it for the next year.”

“Hakan needs to be told. He might have some C4 left from the training session he did with a few of the special ops guys earlier this winter,” his dad suggested. “Otherwise, find out if you can make it to the airport, and text to let me know which way you’re going to go.”

“I quit counting the tries it took to get this call through, so text will be better. We’re lucky the cell towers are handling the load.”

“I’m getting my radio tuned up. The windmill is producing good power, and our solar panels are going full tilt, so we’re good there. Get your HF rig hooked up, son. It could be the only thing working if this keeps up.” Dasan Stargazer urged.

“Good point, I’ve still got the long line antenna strung up in the trees behind the house. I’ll get it hooked up and I’m going to see that I get a diesel delivery for my generator. Propane too. Now while everyone else is panicking.”

“Now you’re thinking. Did you get your meat into the freezer?”

“Done, and a big pot of stew going with what was thawing.”

“Good stuff. Your mother is doing the same. I’ll wait for your text. Get moving, the flooding is going to get worse when the permafrost starts to thaw. I think the lake is going to triple in size. I’m glad we’re on a cliff.”

“I’m putting the floats on the Super Cub then. I think you’re right. It’s going to be a water world.”

“Take care of yourself, son.”

“Bye dad,” Chay hit the disconnect.

“So, you’re a pilot,” Alicia said.

“Yeah, kind of had to learn. Dad flies too, and my brother will if he needs to move his clients to a remote location. Usually it’s his wife who does the flying.”

“Your parents, do they live in the back country?”

“There’s one road in and it’s rough going. You’d better have a 4x4 or you’re not getting in. In the winter, flying is the only way in.”

An awkward silence stretched between them, as Chayton studied the woman leaning against his kitchen counter. She seemed more comfortable with silence than he was, so he tugged his braid as he lifted the lid on the crock pot. He wanted to know more about her.

“Say, do you and Arimina want to stay for lunch? The stew should be ready in a couple of hours, and then we can go back to check out how bad it’s getting at your place. If it looks like we need sandbags, I’ll see what I can do to get a load of them dumped at your place. My brother will come help us put up a barrier.”

“Please can we stay mom?” Arimina piped up, putting her open book face down on the table.

“We can, but that means we have to help clean up afterward. Do you promise to help load the dishwasher?”

Chay grinned at the exchange. Obviously, Alicia cared about teaching her daughter some good values. He heard the scratching at the door, at the same time as a yodeling howl erupted at his back door.

“What the hell? Do you have a wolf out there?” Alicia demanded.

“No, it’s Jazz, my malamute wolf cross. He’s got about a quarter wolf in him. I was hoping he’d find his way home. I let him out before I went to sleep yesterday. If you would sit at the table, and you stay there too, Arimina, I’ll let him in and introduce you to him.”

“Are you sure he’s not going to bite,” Alicia’s face paled, her lovely chocolate skin turning slightly grey.

“He won’t bite. He’ll lick you to death, and he might knock you over to do it, but he doesn’t bite. Just sit at the table, and I’ll bring him in,” Chay went through the great room and opened the door onto his deck. Jazz sat with his tongue lolling out, panting like he’d run miles.

Opening the sliding glass door, and the screen he would need to inspect for holes, he let the husky into the interior, and he sat obediently on the thick towel in front of the window.

“Looks like you’ve been through some mud. Stay there I’ll be back to clean your feet.”

Jazz tilted his head and yipped.

“I know, you can smell them. Stay.” He commanded.

He went back into the kitchen and grabbed a dish towel, soaking it down in the sink. Wringing out out, he went back to deal with Jazz’s filthy feet, making sure he got all the mud out from between the pads of his paws. Turning around he saw Arimina standing at the edge of the kitchen watching with round eyes.

“He’s big!” she squeaked.

“Big isn’t the right word, sweetie, humungous or monster would be more like it,” Alicia peeked around the edge of the archway.

“Jazz, down,” Chay pointed at the floor.

The Malawolf whined as he obeyed, stretching out and rolling over on his side. His eyes focused on the child bouncing with excitement.

“You have him well trained,” Alicia observed.

“He makes me think of a teddy bear,” Arimina said. “I want to go play with him!”

“I thought I told you two to stay at the table, but since you’re halfway here, I’ll introduce you to Jazz. Sit, boy,” Chay’s command brought instant movement.

“Walk slowly and come over here,” he said softly pointing at the little girl. Her head was barely above the dog’s snout as he snuffled drawing her scent in.

“Put your hand in mine, so I can let him get your scent. Once he smells you, he knows you are a friend.”

He took her tiny hand in his and turned them palms up, letting Jazz bury his nose in Arimina’s fingers. The dog started licking her and she giggled.

“Jazz, shake,” Chay said.

The dog raised his right front paw, and placed it in Arimina’s hand, dwarfing her tiny fingers and winning a huge grin from the girl. He reached forward, swiped his rough pink tongue across her chin and was rewarded with a belly laugh as she stepped forward to hug his neck.

“Mommy, can we have one?”

“Not right now. Let’s see how you get along with Jazz first.” Alicia crossed the parquet floor slowly.

“But Mommy, I want one just like him.”

“A dog is a big responsibility. If Mr. Chayton will let you, and you can show me you can help take care of a dog, then we’ll see”

“That works for me. Once we clear that ice dam, she can probably walk from your place to mine. It’s way shorter along the canyon trail than it is to drive. Now, let’s get you introduced to Jazz," Chay said.

“What do I have to do?”

“Hold your hand out, palm up, and let Jazz sniff it. He’ll probably lick it as well. You’re doing well, considering you looked like a ghost when I first mentioned him.”

“I had to remind myself he isn’t a wild full-blooded wolf. I’m well versed in wolf behavior, but I’ve still got this fear of them.”

Alicia stood still and extended her fingers.

“Jazz, come.”

The dog pushed away from Arimina and walked over to sniff Alicia’s taut digits. He sat and offered his paw immediately.

“Well, aren’t you a gentleman,” Alicia shook and smiled.

“That’s a first,” Chay exclaimed.

“Really?”

“He’s never offered a paw without me telling him to before. He likes you.”

“I think I like him too. We’re going to get along just fine. Okay Jazz you can go play with Arimina.”

When he turned and went back to rub against the little girl with the ringlet curls, Chay shook his head again.

“I think my dog is in love. He plays with my niece and nephew all the time, but I’ve never seen him take to anyone like he has to you and your daughter.”

Alicia shrugged. “I’ve always had a way with animals. It’s why I’m a zoologist.”

“Let’s leave them to play. We can figure out how we’re going to deal with the ice dam. And find out what’s going on in the world. I’ll turn the TV on in the kitchen.”

“I’d prefer to have them in the kitchen with us, I like Jazz, but I don’t trust my daughter not to do something to upset him.”

“There’s enough wolf in him that he treats children like puppies.”

“I don’t doubt it, but you don’t know Arimina. She can get pretty rough at times.”

“Jazz, come,” Chay snapped his fingers and the dog followed him into the kitchen.