We waited quietly while the chief spoke with one of the brass. Jubal was already frowning, disagreeing about something, pointing to the mountain.

“Well, fuck. That doesn’t look good,” Pup said.

“Shut your hole,” Tyler said. “We go where we’re told.”

Pup nodded once.

Chief shook his head then walked over to where we were gathered. “Six minutes for safety,” he announced. We circled around him for the safety briefing.

Chief had to talk over the blades of the helo whipping up the wind and ground behind us. “Nineteen clicks to the first black. Aerial Detection reports four pop ups at last count. Aerial Recon reports that the northeast pop up is an active crown fire. Keep your eyes open and radios on. We’ve got to stay ahead and behind this time. Any questions?”

We shook our heads, then Chief led us past fire camp up a trail the line of returning hotshots had just come down.

“Hey,” Watts said, catching up to me. “Did you get a chance to call Jenn?”

I shook my head. “It just freaks her out. I only call before every other or every third tour now. Lots of calls in-between.”

“What did your sister think about that veggie casserole?”

“She liked it.”

“How’s she liking college? Still hating it?”

“She’s better now.”

“What about—”

“Watts?” I said.

“Yeah?”

“I’m on the job. Shut the fuck up.”

“You got it.”

We continued up the trail, the tops of the mountains hiding above a veil of smoke. The Aspens were green, their leaves blowing in the same gentle breeze that could get any crew up here killed. The smell of smoke was already heavy, overwhelming the wildflowers and the crisp mountain air with the stench of death. Trees, animals, insects—everything that was once thriving and growing—instantly bursting into flames, withering, and burned to a crisp. Fire was loud, sucking all the oxygen, heat creating wind, a living, sentient being growing with every victim it consumed.

We were here to stop it, to strangle the flames slowly, to save whatever was left by standing between life and death. That seemed normal to me. I’d been living in oblivion my entire existence.

Nineteen of us completed nearly twenty klicks before we stopped for water and found a high point for Chief and Jubal to scout a good spot for us to dig in.

“Black there,” Chief said, pointing out the crispy remains. Spot fires at two and three o’clock, five and eight. “Jubal and Bucky, take your team to the back.” He pointed to the first captain, Fish. “Your team’s at two o’clock.” He pointed to Sage. “Take your guys to the three o’clock. Sawyers and swampers on the canopy.” He pointed to me. “Your guys with me. Slick, your team’s at three.” Taylor, Runt, Puddin’ and I stayed with Chief.