Alive and Alone by W. R. Benton

you.”
    “Well, send your man over after I call back and we’ll see what we can do about getting the good doc out of the woods.”
    “Alright, Zee.”  Colonel Wilcox put the phone down and wondered where the Air Force came up with good men like Zlotkowski and his crew.  They were always ready for the dangers and challenges of a rescue mission, regardless of the risks any time.
    When Sergeant Donaldson entered the colonel’s office with some routine messages, the old sergeant gave the Wilcox the eye, grinned and said, “With all due respect sir, but you look a complete mess.  Why don’t you go and get some sleep and let me hold the fort down?”
    Wilcox yawned, rubbed his tired eyes and replied, “I’ll do that sarge and I’ll be at my home if you need me.  Also, get a weather check every four hours from the weather guys.  Any break in the weather coming, you call me immediately regardless of the time of day.  Oh, and when Captain Zlotkowski calls, let him speak to Parker.  I want Parker to go to the alert shack and give Zee’s crew a mission briefing on the Wade plane.”
    “Yes sir, I’ll keep a close eye on the weather for you and I’ll pass on to Captain Parker to expect a call from Captain Zlotkowski.”
    Wilcox picked up his fatigue cap and left his office.  He was near the door to the main building when he heard a voice call his name and turning he noticed it was General Moores.
    “Frank, I was just returning to my office from a staff meeting, do you have a few minutes?”  The general asked as he gave Colonel Wilcox a very sober look.
    “Sure sir.”  Frank Wilcox replied and then thought, what does he expect me to say when he wears two stars and wants to see me?  I have little choice, I’d say.
    As they entered the general’s office the senior officer said, “Close the door and be seated Frank.  This conversation, well, let me say it’s not one I want to have with you.  The search for Doctor Wade and his son will have to be called off by the end of the week.  I got a message in from the Search and Rescue Center at Scott Air Force Base and they have two reasons for calling this to an end.”
    Wilcox waited, knowing the senior officer had more to say, but dreading every single word he would hear.
    “First, the survival experts don’t think those two could survive in this kind of weather for over ten days, and that’s how long it will be this Friday.  Furthermore, they pointed out to me that as the rescue proceeds we are using up valuable fuel, time, and resources.  I know that you are of friend of the Wade family, but Frank we have to draw a line and the four star general at Headquarters Air Force has drawn it for me.”  The general spoke slowly as he walked to the window with his hands locked behind his back and looked out at the falling snow.
    Colonel Frank Wilcox didn’t comment, he simply closed his tired eyes as he wondered how he would be able to tell Cathy Wade.
    “Come on, Frank, what’s on your mind?  I’ve known you too long not to know you have something to say.”  The general said as he walked to his desk and sat down in his oversized chair.
    “General Moores, has this all been coordinated with the Civil Air Patrol and the civilian volunteers who are involved with the search?”
    The older man met Frank’s eyes and replied, “No, of course not.  I wanted to explain it to you before I informed anyone.  You’re the best I’ve ever seen in the rescue business Frank and I mean that.  But, don’t let your personal involvement with this missing man and his family cloud your judgment.  You and I both know that in search and rescue the most important time is the first forty-eight hours and with each hour after that the chances of finding a survivor alive goes down.”
    “Sir, you and I are both flyers.  You know as well as I do that there are times when folks have lived much longer than ten days in the bush.”
    “Frank, this is not like a combat search