As soon as Eric called for Nicole to be sent out to join him, Cliff would head south along the lake to where he had planted explosive charges at the base of a huge pine tree. Surprise number five. It wouldn’t be as effective as the rock outcropping, but it was the best they could find, and it would slow the Guardians down enough for Eric and his family to get back off the dam and to the horses.

The only question was, how many surprises did the Major and Travis have planned? Eric shook off that thought and squared his shoulders. “Okay, then, I guess this is it.”

Cliff touched his arm. “I don’t think the Major will call for his dogs until he’s sure Nicole is safe, so that should give us a few minutes to get in place, but watch yourself. And bring them home.”

He gave Cliff a thumbs-up sign and moved out onto the dam.

He had gone only twenty yards toward the center of the dam when a burst of static at his waist broke his stride. He unclipped the walkie-talkie and pressed the button. “Yes?”

It was Chet Abernathy’s voice. “Someone is just starting out onto the dam—tall, dark-haired, wearing a Guardian uniform. He’s not armed, as far as we can tell.”

“Is he alone?”

“Yes.”

“Okay, that’s Travis. Have they brought my family out yet?”

“No, not yet. They’re still inside the Visitors Center.”

“Okay, cover him. I’ll leave the transmit button switched on so all of you can hear what is going on.”

The engineers who designed Hungry Horse Dam had shaped it into a sweeping concave curve so it could better withstand the almost unbelievable weight pushing at its back. The roadway that spanned the half-mile long crest had been lined with concrete retaining walls chest high, and so, for a minute or two, as Eric walked steadily toward the center of the dam, all he could see of Travis was his head and shoulders. Only as they got to within the last hundred yards of each other did he come fully into view.

Eric slowed his pace slightly and then halted next to the concrete blockhouse that housed the central elevator shaft. He took the padlock out of his back pocket, keeping it behind him, and tested to make sure it was open.

“Hello, Eric.” Travis stopped about twenty feet away.

Eric nodded. “Travis.” Then he turned and stared at the door of the blockhouse. It was just as Cliff had said. “Well, well,” he drawled, “would you look at that carelessness.” Moving quickly enough to make Travis jump, he reached the door in three steps, slammed shut the metal hasp on the doorway, and clicked the heavy-duty padlock over it. “Someone could get hurt, leaving a doorway unlocked like that.”