Page 47 of Dark Sky

“That created a distraction,” Joe said. “I hit Kirby and Earl with bear spray and took off.”

“So Steve-2 got away, too?”

“I reckon.”

“They wanthim, not us,” Boedecker said.

“What’s your point?”

“If they have him, they might not come after us for a while. If he somehow got away from them during the confusion, I wouldn’t think a guy like that would get very far.”

“Again, what’s your point?”

“I’m just saying, if you and me stick together, we might be able to get down the mountain in one piece. And if we run into Steve-2, well...” He let his thought trail off.

“Are you saying we should turn him over to them?” Joe asked.

Boedecker shrugged. But it meantMaybe.

“Do you really think that could happen?” Joe asked. “We’ve already got them down for two murders. Do you really think they’d let us walk even if we gave them Price?”

“Maybe, but probably not,” Boedecker said. “Earl may be inclined to make us a deal—Steve-2 for us. I know I’d make that deal, considering what the guy did to Earl. It would be a good thing for humanity in general, I’d say.”

“I didn’t do anything to that man!” Price shouted at Boedecker as he scrambled to his feet behind Joe. Joe sighed inwardly to himself. The man just couldn’t be silent.

“You had no good reason to betray me,” Price said to Boedecker. “I don’t even know you.”

Boedecker registered his surprise by stepping back a few feet. When he recovered, he said, “I might not have a good reason, but Earl sure as hell does.”

Joe, once again, was confused. There seemed to be a lot goingon beneath the surface he wasn’t privy to. But he didn’t want to take the time to litigate it, not with the very real possibility that the Thomas clan could emerge through the aspen at any moment.

He had to think fast.

“You can stay with us for the time being,” Joe said to Boedecker. “We were just about to climb that north ridge and drop down into the next drainage. We thought we might be able to shake ’em.”

“Harder to track over the rocks. Smart. I’ll do my part,” Boedecker said with relief. “I know the country over there better than most. I’ve hunted it all my life.”

“I’m aware of that.”

To Price, Boedecker said, “I didn’t know you were there. I was just spitballing ideas with Joe.”

“Fuck you,” Price spat.

—

A half hour later, the trees started to thin as the granite wall punched up through the forest floor. It was marked by fissures and ledges that looked difficult to climb, but not impossible. They’d tried to step from rock to rock on their way north to avoid leaving tracks.

Boedecker announced he’d scout to the west to see if there was an easier route to the top than the one they were looking at.

When he was gone, Price turned to Joe. “Were you really thinking about giving me up?”

“Nope, although I’m not sure why.”

Price ignored the caveat. “Can we trust your friend?”

“Nope.”

Price was angry. “Then why are we bringing him along?”