Heavy Metal (standard:horror, 2184 words)
Author: radiodenver	Added: Mar 18 2005	Views/Reads: 3510/2455	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A Cold Winters Night

Heavy Metal 

Two Eagle County Sheriff's Deputies are sitting in their Jeep cruiser on
a narrow Colorado mountain road in late January.  It is Thursday 
evening, eleven o'clock.  After two days of continuous winter storm, 
the sky is clear, the moon is full and the road is covered with fresh 
snow.  Deputy Sergeant Williams is behind the wheel, puffing a 
cigarette.  His stare is fixed on the windshield.  Deputy Patrolman 
Avery is plugging a cell phone charger into the power outlet on the 
dash.  Their faces are lit blue and red by the reflection of emergency 
lights from the snow covered rocks on the steep hillside next to their 
truck. 

“Can you roll a window down?”  Avery asks. 

“Yeah...sorry.”  Williams replies as he presses the button on the door. 
The motor groans as the window moves a few inches lower.  The men's 
warm breath cloud in front of their faces.  Williams turns the ignition 
key and starts the engine.  “I better get some heat in here.  It's 
gonna be a long night.” 

“You think we should try the radio again?”  Avery asks. 

“I've tried it four times.  It won't transmit out of this canyon.” 

“My phone is dead.  I talked to the old-lady for two hours earlier. 
This cord is too short, I can't get the phone up to my ear.  Guess I 
better charge it up.” 

“You get signal on it up here?” 

“Yeah-three bars.  It's not as good down the hill.” 

“What'd the Captain say?”  Williams asks. 

“He said to sit tight until they can get up here.  I wasn't able to talk
long, the battery went dead.” 

“It'll take an hour.  You want some coffee?”  Williams asks, reaching
for his thermos lying on the rear seat.” 

“Yeah, sure.” 

Williams twists the lid from the thermos, pours the hot coffee into the
plastic cup and hands it to Avery.  Avery's hands are shaking. 

“Thanks.  Can I get a cigarette from you?” 

“I thought you didn't smoke.” 

“Not until tonight.”  Avery replies, his hands still shaking as he sips
the hot coffee.  Williams pulls a pack of Marlboro's from his inside 
jacket pocket and tosses it on the dash.  Avery picks it up and fumbles 
for a cigarette. 

“Look at this?”  Avery says, holding the cigarette in his trembling
hand. 

“Don't smoke'em all, that's all we got until we get back down the
mountain.” 

“I'm not sure they know where we are.  The phone went dead while I was
talking.” 

“What'cha tell'em?” 

“I told dispatch we were on county road twenty-four just above the ridge
on Mt. Falcon.” 

“They'll find us then.  You sure they got it?” 

“Pretty sure.  When the phone charges up a little, I'll call'em back. 
How much gas we got?” 

“Half a tank.  Plenty to keep us warm - for a while.” 


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