The Yellowstone Affair Chapter 5
Sep. 9th, 2014 10:46 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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section7mfuAuthor's Note: some rough language
Chapter 1 http://pactnmmt.livejournal.com/10718.html
Chapter 2 http://pactnmmt.livejournal.com/10804.html
Chapter 3 http://pactnmmt.livejournal.com/11144.html
Chapter 4 http://pactnmmt.livejournal.com/feed?show=C&skip=20
Illya Kuryakin arrived in Gardiner, Montana, faster than expected in spite of the heavy snow that began to fall as he drove through the twists and turns of an area known as Yankee Jim Canyon ten miles north of Gardiner.
As he approached the tiny town he could see the Roosevelt Archway that graced the northern entrance to Yellowstone National Park, and to the only road that remained open to cars throughout the winter.
He pulled up in front of the old west style building that housed the park’s ranger offices. As he climbed out of the truck, the cold sub-zero air momentarily took his breath away leaving cold puffs of moisture in its wake. His boots squeaked in the hard packed snow as he walked up the stairs and onto the board walk. Stamping his feet to loosen any snow on them, he opened the door to the office. A small bell attached to the top of the door chimed announcing his arrival.
A man dressed in a uniform of green pants with a gray shirt sat behind the front desk. His signature “Smokey the Bear” hat hung on a wall hook just to the left of the desk.
“May I help you, sir?” The ranger stood as Illya approached the desk. The agent handed his gold ID card to the ranger.
“Good morning. My name is Illya Kuryakin. I believe Agent Crowley from the Helena office for the U.N.C.L.E. spoke to someone here about the reason I have come to see you.”
The ranger checked the ID and extended a hand. “I’m glad to meet you Mr. Kuryakin. My name is Charles Brighton, but please call me Charley. I heard rumors that there is some strange monkey business going on in the back country. We’ve run some air patrols but haven’t found anything. Are you sure your intel is correct?”
“I am afraid so. We lost a plane last night in the general area of the suspected activity and are fairly certain the two are connected.”
Charley scratched his head. “Damn! Well, I’ve been directed to help you in any way we can, Mr. Kuryakin. What can we do to help?”
“Thank you. All I really need is a way to get my gear to a point where I can hike in…
“You mean to tell me that you plan on going in alone?” Charley interrupted.
Illya half smiled, “This is a ruthless group of international thugs, Charley. They do not care who they push out of the way or who they kill. There is no way my organization nor I would let National Park personnel endanger themselves, although I do appreciate your concern.
“No, all I need is to get close enough to snowshoe in, find a way to dismantle or destroy their installation, and get out.
“However, Charley,” Illya’s voice took on a sad somber note, “once I have finished the mission maybe I can enlist your help finding the downed plane. You see, my partner was on that plane and I intend to find him and bring him out.”
Charley saw a brief show of subdued emotion in the eyes of the U.N.C.L.E agent standing before him. “Of course, Agent Kuryakin, we’ll…”
“Please, call me Illya.”
“Okay, Illya. You have my word on it. When do you want to get started on your mission?”
“As soon as possible. I have all of my gear and am ready to go.”
“You want to travel in this storm?”
“The snow will give me some cover. And, as you know, there is nothing better than a snow storm to dampen sounds. This storm will definitely give me an advantage.” He sighed deeply, “Besides the sooner I can finish my mission the sooner I can begin looking for my friend.”
Ernest Houghton bent down to loosen the straps on his snowshoes and kicked them off before stepping down to the porch of the log cabin. He was tired of snow and the bitter cold weather. He looked back over his shoulder at the snow trail and muttered to himself, "It's a helluva thing when you have to snowshoe through snow six feet deep to get to the god damn outhouse!” He turned back to the cabin door and kicked it open, stamping snow from his boots, and pulled off his heavy mittens.
"Shut the fucking door! You're letting all of the heat out, you idiot."
The first voice was accompanied by another disgruntled voice echoing the same sentiment.
"Come on, Ernie! Don't we have enough snow outside. We certainly don't need any in here."
"Aww, keep your shirt on, Gene! You bring as much in when you come in so just shut up, will you? Hey, Bill, suit up. We need to go check the laser gun. It needs recalibrating after last night’s test.”
Bill Townsend grumbled as he donned his outerwear and stuffed his feet into his arctic boots. Both men stepped three feet up from the porch onto the hard packed snow, and strapped on their snow shoes before heading to a small outbuilding about fifty yards east of the cabin.
THRUSH had sent the three men to the cabin which was located in a remote area in the back country of Yellowstone National Park. It was essentially abandoned during the winter months due to the high snow pack. Currently, there was about seven feet of unpacked snow around the cabin and another four feet of the white stuff piled on the roof. Because of the snow depth the only way to access the cabin was by air, which explained the helicopter parked on a packed snow platform another 25 yards beyond the out building.
The door to the small building, more like a shed, protested loudly as it swung inward on rusted hinges. Ernest, carrying a flashlight, entered first and headed for the portable generator. As he gave the cord a hard pull, the motor coughed and sputtered before roaring to life. Bill flipped a switch and the lights in the shed came on illuminating the device that had brought a plane down the previous night.
“Hard to believe that a bunch of metal and glass tubes can cause so much damage!”
“Yeh, Bill, but remember that is the most expensive bunch of glass and metal that you’ve ever seen. You stay here and check its calibrations. I’m gonna get Gene and take the ‘copter out to see if we can find the wreckage of the plane we brought down. I doubt there are any survivors, but we need to make sure and I want to check before we’re completely socked in by the snow,” Ernie replied.
Within minutes, Bill heard the roar of the ‘copter’s motor start up and fade as it took off and flew to the north over the ridge.
Napoleon swiped at the tickle he felt on his nose. Another sensation, soft and not unlike cold kisses, fluttered on his eye lids and cheeks. Still, the man remained asleep. Gradually, the soft sensation had become more like pelting ice balls. His eyes jerked open. In seconds, he was brought back to the reality of his predicament. In the time that he had dozed off his fire had gone out and snow was rapidly covering the area. His blankets were completely covered with snow. Shit! Just as he began to toss the blankets aside he heard the unmistakable sound of a helicopter’s rotors.
Instantly, he whooped with joy at the prospect of being rescued. But his elation was short-lived. He could see the ‘copter through the trees and saw the unmistakable outline of one stylized ugly bird on the fuselage…THRUSH.
It was too late to run into the brush, even if he could, and crawling was out of the question. Napoleon quickly dove under the blankets and nestled down in the snow which had drifted against him. He prayed that the men in the chopper would not be able to see him.
He heard the chopper sweeping back and forth before finally seeing the downed jet. It hovered for a minute or so before turning away, heading back in the direction from which it came.
Napoleon waited for twenty more minutes before coming out from under the blankets. He couldn’t wait any longer. The sun had nearly finished its low arc across the winter sky, and he had yet to build a shelter and builder another fire before darkness pressed down around him.
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Date: 2014-09-09 06:15 pm (UTC)That was a nice Thrush scene. And, fics are better if the Thush agents are givena bit of solidity.
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Date: 2014-09-10 05:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-09 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-09 07:04 pm (UTC)Thanks for reading and commenting!
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Date: 2014-09-10 02:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-10 05:19 pm (UTC)