Windkill

Cal vented a grunt when he heard the voice of his son calling for help. How the hell could he have forgotten about the radio? Reaching across his chest he ripped the radio from the strap knocking the camera askew.

He glanced at the small boom canted to one side and ignored the damn thing with a look of hatred.

“Bryon,” he shouted. “This is Dad. Where are you?”

The relief in his son’s voice could have brought tears to Cal’s eyes. “I don’t know. Somewhere in the valley.”

The voice of a technician came through the receiver in Cal’s ear. “You need to fix the camera, Cal.”

With a growl, Cal dropped his flashlight and roughly adjusted the camera to the correct angle. He was uncertain of how much longer he could perform for the show. Every fiber of Cal’s being wanted to locate his children and usher them from this place.

“Listen,” he instructed with a deliberate calm to his voice. “I’m walking north on a road that heads up the center of the valley. Pick east or west and walk that direction for ten minutes. This valley is narrow, so if you go the wrong way, just reverse your direction. When you reach the road, stay there and wait for me.”

“I’m going east,” Bryon replied after some thought, his voice calming as he gained strength from contact with his father. “Dad, a monster chased me.”

Cal bit his lip and bowed his head. Bryon was not a boy given to hysterics or imagined threats. If Bryon said he saw a monster, then Cal knew he had to take the information seriously.

“A train almost ran me over,” another voice added. Cal recognized Bob’s voice and relaxed a little more.

“Have you seen Cynthia?’ he asked.

“No. I’m already heading east and can see a bridge past some trees. I’ll climb the bridge and have a look.”

“Good Bob. Bryon, get going. I want us all together as soon as possible.” He waited as the boys answered his instructions, then called for Cynthia. There was no reply. Maybe her radio was off. Marilyn was also unresponsive.

Replacing the radio, Cal looked at the camera and decided. “You bastards tell me where they are?” he demanded gruffly.