64

Uncharacteristic Uncertainty

Nick admitted that Heidein had been right. The trail did get less mucky as they climbed higher. However, the steep switchbacks continued to be tricky. He was amazed not only at the fortitude of his grandparents and Heidein, who was easily fifty years his senior, but also Lottica who didn’t appear overly winded, though her muddy boots and lower half of her jeans attested that she had slogged through as much as he had.

"You don't look half tired," he told Lottica as they rested, eating a light lunch on a bluff that revealed the valley below them.

"You look tired enough for us both,” she responded. “You okay?"

"I think my brain is working as hard as my legs. And, you know, I'm not exactly Mr. Athlete."

"Me neither. I’m running on adrenaline thinking about Mom and Dad."

Nick nodded, "I know what you mean. As much as I want to help them, I kind of wonder what we’re doing here. I know Heidein has told us the police are searching here, too. But, I mean, look around you. It's a huge area."

They both looked down at the valley floor that stretched on and on. And behind them, the towering expanse of the mountaintops.

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"And, if we catch up with them, what are we supposed to do against Beilla? He's got weapons." Nick made a gun gesture with his hand.

"Well, I don't think Bopei, Ladamei, or Heidein would lead us into danger. They seem to know something we don’t."

"Yeah," Nick turned his gaze up to where his grandparents sat with Heidein a few dozen yards away showing them something on his phone. "I just have the funny feeling that something they know is going to involve us. You know, dead-parent story stuff."

"What? You're not up to slaying a dragon or blowing up a Death Star, Nick?"

He grinned. "I'm barely able to get to the top of this mountain."

Heidein, who had been talking with their grandparents, crossed to where they sat. He fished into his jacket for his phone. "I have been able to connect with Weirhamatt. Four search parties have been organized and are following other likely trails. There will also be a concerted aerial search by tomorrow." His sharp eyes beneath craggy brows scanned the vacant skies around them. "It is too bad they could not search today. Tomorrow it may be harder to see anything."

"Why?" asked Nick. "Is another storm coming?"

"Possibly, but not a storm as you and I might think of it." Heidein looked evasively away towards the rugged peaks before turning back to the siblings. "Weirhamatt was very excited to hear of the the missing piece, found in Beilla's plane. He believes it to be authentic."

"How will it help us?" Lottica asked.

"It has already helped us. If Beilla took so much effort to obtain it, surely he did not mean to leave it behind. That is a factor in our favor. We have something he believes he needed. We may be able to use it."

Nick made eye contact with Lottica before asking. "Then what's our role in this?"

Heidein hedged for a moment. "To be here."

"To do what?" Lottica pressed.

Once again, Heiden’s confident eyes turned towards the mountaintop, but his voice betrayed uncharacteristic uncertainty. "Hawk only knows."