I’m racking my brain, trying to remember what little I know about bears. Black bears like we have in New Hampshire. I’ve seen a few, but never close up. And never standing on hind legs to full height. Looking plenty dangerous, with dripping fangs and claws displayed.

Mia, Imani, and I stand guard over Cindi, who is moaning but not fully conscious. I doubt she knows what’s going on. We link our arms, forming a human wall to protect her.

“Go away!” Deke shouts, his voice booming. “Get!”

The bear waddles closer on hind legs, front paws scratching the air.

“Deke! I just remembered something! If it attacks, fight back! Don’t play dead! Never play dead!”

I’m not sure he hears what I’m saying, he’s so focused on standing up to the bear, not backing down. His hands are fists. His chest is pumped out, and the muscles on his shoulders and neck are tensed. He looks plenty scary to me, but the bear doesn’t seem to be impressed. It advances another step, spittle pouring from its open mouth.

Deke stops shouting words and makes a roaring scream. A human growl.

The bear responds by dropping to the ground. It scratches at the ground to show the power of its claws.

And then it puts its head down and charges straight at Deke.

I’m pretty sure that if it was me standing there, I’d have cut and run. Tried to climb a tree, or maybe jump in the river, even though I know a bear can’t be outrun or outclimbed. But not Deke. He doesn’t move an inch. Bears look kind of slow and ambling when they’re walking around sniffing at stuff, but when they charge, the speed is unreal. This bear comes at Deke like it’s been shot from a cannon. It crashes into Deke’s legs, sending him head over heels to the ground.

The bear skids to a stop just in time to see Deke leap to his feet, pumping his fists over his head. For some reason, that freaks the bear out. It moans, head shaking from side to side, as if unable to decide what to do next.

Then it bolts into the woods, as if running for its life, and vanishes into the trees.

We’re safe!

“Deke!”

He’s down on the ground, with both hands around the lower part of his right leg. Holding tight as blood gushes from between his fingers.

42. Look Up at the Stars

Mia digs into the pack and retrieves the first aid kid. Deke is the one who is wounded, but it’s me who feels woozy from the sight of blood. A little of my own, like scraping a knee, that’s okay. But someone else? All I can do not to barf.