Джордан Шор - The Search

Even though the Canadian authorities still searched for survivors, no one had much hope of finding any. Boats, helicopters, and drones had searched the entire Great Slave Lake that Saturday. Experts now presumed that the plane had sunk intact and nobody had survived the crash. The main focus had shifted on Sunday to being more a matter of locating the plane.

George had written several press statements the day before, and his boss had held a couple of further press briefings, but the media didn’t seem that interested in what little information the airline had provided. Instead, the media was focused on the Imam who not only was a passenger on the plane, but also had been highlighted in the media on several previous occasions arguing that Sharia law should be enforced in the American legal system.

In contrast to his colleagues, George managed to restrain himself from taking part in the many discussions of what might have happened on board the plane. He thought it was counterproductive to speculate at this stage. But he also knew it would be weeks, if not months, before the investigation finally revealed what had actually happened. The expected wait made him feel powerless.

The feeling made him think of his sister, who had recently been in a car crash and was now lying in the hospital in a coma. George was supposed to visit her with his parents this weekend, but due to the missing plane, he had no real alternative but to cancel the visit.

That thought reminded George of his father’s birthday this coming week, and he made a mental note not to congratulate him. He wasn’t going to repeat his mistake ever again. His father didn’t celebrate his birthday; instead, he celebrated the day he became an American citizen. The two occasions were only a few days apart. One year, George got the dates mixed up, and his father didn’t speak to him that day. His father rarely spoke at all, but when he did, he tried his best to hide his Japanese accent. However, on the day in question, his father had spoken more than ever—just not to George.

His father was a strange man.

Sunday morning

It didn’t rain, though the sun couldn’t break through the clouds.

Jack stood by the oddly shaped tree and looked at the sky, moving his head back and forth. Nancy and Andrew were still asleep. Julie had just woken up.

Julie blinked several times, then squinted, and smiled. “You came back.”

“It was too dark too walk last night, so we slept on the other side of the lake,” Jack said.” I yelled your names, but you didn’t hear me.”

“That was you,” Julie said. “I thought it was an owl.”

“That’s a big owl,” Jack said with a modest smile.

Julie’s jaw dropped. “Did you say we?”

“Me and Kevin.”

Jack pointed at the man who sat up against the sloping tree trunk and had his hands in his jacket pockets. Julie turned her head around and stared at the man with wide eyes.

“Hi. I’m Julie.”

“He told me your names.”

“So, how old are you, Kevin?” Julie asked.

“Forty,” Kevin mumbled.

“I’m twenty-ten myself . ” Julie smiled.

“You’re thirty?” Kevin sounded surprised.

“No, I’m twenty-ten.” Julie smiled even bigger. “Are you married?”

Kevin barely shook his head.

“Kids?”

“What, are you writing a book?” Kevin sounded harsh.

“No, I’m just making small talk.” Julie seemed disappointed.

Jack looked at Julie then shrugged his nose and shook his head slightly.

“You wouldn’t happen to have a lighter, would you?” Jack asked Kevin.

“If I had a lighter, don’t you think I would have told you by now?”

Jack sniffed. “I just thought you might have a lighter since you’re wearing a jacket.”

“You think I should feel guilty for wearing a jacket?”

“I didn’t say that,” Jack responded.

“Are you cold, Jack?” Julie asked.

Jack shrugged. “I’m okay.”

“Perhaps we can make a fire? If you get me a couple of branches, and if I rub them long enough, I might be able to start a fire.”

“It’s too wet, Julie.”

“I don’t mind trying, Jack. Besides, I filled my pockets with grass yesterday. That’s why my pockets are so full.” Julie took a handful of grass from her pocket. “See, it will dry eventually.”

Jack focused on Julie’s jacket pockets. “It’s better if you hold the grass up against the wind. Your pockets will just preserve the moisture.”

Julie put her hand up, and the grass straws began to dance in the wind.

“Can you get me a couple of branches?” Julie asked.

Jack shrugged “Okay.”

“Make sure they break off easily. If the branch bends without breaking, it’s because it’s full of water.”

Jack took a few steps in the direction of the hillside and the nearby bushes.

“Could you perhaps go the other way?” Julie asked. “I was just about to go to the ladies’ room.”

Jack looked at the nearby bushes and then shrugged. “Okay.”

Jack walked in the opposite direction. Julie rose to her feet and slowly limped toward the bushes.

“You’re all right?” Kevin asked.

“It’s just my ankle. I’m fine.”

Kevin rolled his body forward, and put his left knee on the ground.

“What you’re doing?” Julie asked.

“I thought I’d give you a helping hand.”

“I don’t need help,” Julie said in a loud decisive tone. “Just stay where you are.”

“Whatever,” Kevin mumbled and then leaned back against the tree trunk.

Just then, Andrew and Nancy woke up. Andrew squinted in each direction, before his face suddenly froze; his eyes locked in on Kevin.

“I’m Kevin. You’re Andrew—am I right?”

“Oh yeah.” Andrew exhaled. “You swam the other way, did you?”

Kevin nodded.

“So, where are Jack and Julie?”

“Jack went to get some branches, and Julie had to… pee.” Kevin hesitated.

Nancy kept staring at Kevin for a long time.

“Can I help you?” Kevin eventually asked.

“I had a black boyfriend in college,” Nancy claimed. “I mean, he was in college. I was in high school.”

“Good for you.” Kevin said hesitantly and then looked at Andrew.

Andrew scratched his temple and then he indicated Nancy’s temple.

Kevin looked at Nancy. “She shouldn’t be moving around too much.”

Soon after that, Jack returned with a couple of branches, and Julie, who had also come back, began to peel off the tree bark.

“What’re you doing there, Julie?” Andrew asked.

“I’m gonna try to start a fire,” Julie said enthusiastically.

“That’s never going to work.” Andrew sneered. “You’re wasting your time.”

“Wasting my time,” Julie said in a mocking voice. “What else am I gonna do?”

Andrew rolled his eyes and looked the other way.

“Didn’t you ever see Cast Away? Tom Hanks started a fire,” Julie added.

“Tom Hanks wasn’t stuck in the Canadian wilderness,” Andrew said. “You have a better chance of finding a coconut.”

Kevin focused on the branch in Julie’s hand. “We could gather branches, and spell out SOS on the shore.”

“That’s a good idea,” Andrew said. “You know, there might be hikers in these mountains, and they just see us sitting here and don’t think twice about it.”

“Okay.” Jack shrugged. “Let’s gather rocks and branches then.”

The men rose, and began walking toward the woods. Julie had just finished peeling the bark off the one branch and was just about to start on the other. Andrew looked down as he walked past her, and their eyes met.

“That-a girl.” Andrew chuckled.