Tora returned the smile. True, it was just a flesh wound, and with some luck he would be fully recovered in a few days. The only trouble was, they didn’t have a few days…

Angelina’s eyes closed then, as she drifted off to sleep.

They had an hour at most, Tora guessed.

And the hospital was at least two hours away.

Chapter 20

Mrs. Abruzzo stood by the roadside, sobbing into her gloved hand. It had been some time since the search parties had headed out, and hours since her young daughter had gone missing. It seemed like an eternity when it was freezing cold out and there were all kinds of wild animals roaming the forest, each one of them looking for a meal that would help them make it through the winter.

Ranger Brock, who had just finished searching one grid and was about to begin another, noticed Mrs. Abruzzo standing off by herself and decided to go and talk to her. He couldn’t make her any promises, but maybe there were a few things he could say that might ease her pain, or perhaps give her hope.

“Mrs. Abruzzo,” he said. “How are you holding up?”

She looked up at the ranger and suddenly stood up straight, as if she didn’t want anyone seeing her at anything but her best. But the brave face lasted only a few moments before she slumped forward and began to cry again. “Not good,” she said.

“I’ve never been in your situation before,” said the ranger, “so I can only imagine what you must be going through.”

“I can hardly believe it myself,” she sobbed.

Ranger Brock paused a moment. What could he possibly say to put this woman at ease? He offered her a small pack of tissues that he always had handy inside a jacket pocket.

“Thanks,” she said.

The ranger took a deep breath. “You know, there are a lot of good people out there looking for your daughter.”

Mrs. Abruzzo nodded.

“And a lot of them know their way around the forest very, very well. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if someone’s already found your daughter.”

“You really think so?”

Ranger Brock thought about it. It wouldn’t be right to say something just to give the woman hope, but if the girl was out there, Tora, Harlan, and Argus had probably found her by now.

“Yes, I do,” he said.

She smiled at that, and said, “Thanks.”

* * *

“How is she?” Tora asked.

Harlan knelt down beside the girl, putting a hand over her forehead, then placing a finger against her throat to check her pulse. Harlan had taken a St. John Ambulance course after school one semester and knew more about first aid than any of them. “Her body temperature’s dropped,” he said, “but her pulse is still strong.”