Chapter 20
Midnight Fight
The wood stacked next to the stone ring was wet, but Bill found enough dry wood in the stack next to the big cabin to start and maintain a good blaze. He piled them in a rough imitation of Ryan’s kindling cabin of the night before, and splashed gasoline on the stack.
Then he lit the fire, hoping the flames would draw Rex out the way a porch light draws bugs. It did not.
They made a triangle around the fire, Bill facing the lodge and cabins, gripping his axe with both hands, Jim facing the mouth of The Devil’s Tail, the torch wand in one hand and the machete in the other. Ryan looked out at the lake trail. The axe rested over his shoulder. The pickaxe leaned against the stump seat at his feet.
“Where is he?” Jim said, casting expectant glances from the tr
