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ONE

I DON'T KNOW WHO wasthis eency helicopter evacuation any easier I patted Kenjii and she shifted until her full hundred pounds of Gerle away, she lanced at Daniel He was staring out the , fingers dru

I twisted to look at the others Daniel and I were in the first passenger row, behind the pilot and Mayor Tillson, as in the copilot's seat Behind us were theout their respective s Hayley Morris and Corey Carling sat in the last row Hayley was talking; Corey wasn't listening

"We're going north" Daniel had to yell to Mayor Tillson to be heard over the helicopter noise "We're supposed to be heading to Victoria, aren't we?"

When the e of plans, son Victoria's backed up with evacuees We're taking you to Vancouver"

"Okay, so why are we heading north?"

We live on Vancouver Island, near Nanaiia from the city of Vancouver, British Columbia

"Wind," the pilot said "Sa us to circle north Don't worry I'll have you there in an hour"

I looked at Daniel His face was draorry I couldn't blame him, under the circumstances We'd outrun a forest fire and outwitted a mysterious fake rescue team only to be whisked from town before we had time to catch our breath

I orried, too, about a lot of things, but right now, mostly about Rafe Martinez, unconscious on the floor behindto do when he found out that his sister, Annie, was still ?

I twisted the bracelet on my wrist A cat's-eye stone on a worn leather band Rafe's He'd want it back when he found out that I'd told them not to wake him up because he wouldn't leave without Annie That would be the end of anything between us But I could live with that Better than I could live with myself if I'd let him die in that inferno

"Are the other helicopters going to Vancouver, too?" Daniel asked "The ones with our parents?"

"I believe so," the pilot said "Is that right, sir?"

When Mayor Tillson didn't answer, the pilot glanced over "Sir?"

He bent to see the mayor's face and chuckled "Seems someone doesn't mind the racket this bird makes He's sound asleep I'm sure he said the other helicopter was just a few minutes behind us"

I leaned forward The mayor was slule that didn't look colanced back

"Whoa, none of that This isn't a 747 Belt on at all times Maya, isn't it?"

I scooted to the edge of my seat and touched the mayor's arm "Mr Tillson?"

"Hey," the pilot said, voice sharp "If you want me to check on your parents, just say so Your mayor has had one hell of a day with this fire, and you kids running off didn't help Let the et some rest"

Sure, thethat happened, I doubted he could relax enough to fall asleep

"Mr Tillson?" I said, shaking him harder

Daniel undid his belt Sa forward, hunched, as she stepped over Rafe