of levers in front of the driver's seat that controlled the tanklike steering.

J L7 L L\ li L U 1 v i~ u

Cabrillo knew that with a flick of the levers the Thiokol could spin on

its treads in a circle. The dashboard was metal, with a cluster of gauges

in front of the driver and heater vents down lower. Mounted behind the

seat, hung on racks on each side of the rear window, was a large-caliber

rifle. There were emergency flares, a tool kit with spares, and detailed

waterproof maps.

Everything was freshly painted, oiled and maintained.

Cabrillo finished his inspection and walked back inside. He stopped

just inside the door and knocked the snow off his boots, then walked back

into the living room.

"What's the range?" he asked Campbell.

"With the extra fuel tank and some jerry cans, it'll get you to Mount

Forel and back, with an extra hundred miles or so in case of trouble or

snow slides," Campbell said. "I wouldn't hesitate to make a trip anywhere

in her-she's never let me down."

Cabrillo walked over near a fuel-oil stove. "Ball's in your court."

Campbell was silent. He stared at the bottle, looked up at the ceiling,

then looked down at the floor and thought for a moment. At this

pace, he had maybe one more summer. Then his body would start shutting

down-or he'd make a drunken mistake in a land where mistakes

are not forgiven. He was fifty-seven years old and he felt like he was a

hundred. He had reached his end.

"I'm done," Campbell said.

"It's not that easy," Cabrillo said. "You have a tough battle ahead."

"I'm ready to try," Campbell said.

"We'll get you out of here and into detox in return for the snowcat.

Do you have any living family?"

"Two brothers and a sister in Colorado," Campbell admitted, "but

I haven't spoken to them in years."

"You have a choice," Cabrillo said, "either go home for treatmentor

die here."

For the first time in years, Campbell smiled. "I think I'll try home."

"You've got to hold it together for the next few days," Cabrillo said.

"First I need you to show me the route through the mountains here on

64 CLIVE CUSSL- K

the maps and help me prepare. Then I'm going to leave you with my

spare satellite telephone so I can call you if I run into trouble. Do you

think you'll be able to handle that?"

"I won't be able to stop cold turkey," Campbell said honestly. "I'd

shake myself to death or go into convulsions."

"I don't want or expect you to," Cabrillo said. "You need medical

care. I just want you sober enough to be able to answer the telephone

and give me advice if any problems arise I can't handle."

"That I can do."

"Then hold on," Cabrillo said as he removed his satellite phone and

dialed the Oregon, "and let me set it up."