Alive and Alone by W. R. Benton Page A

and rescue mission where we quickly fly in and recover the man, or he gets captured within a few hours by the enemy.  While James Wade was a good pilot, he didn’t have near the flying time either of us has and, I hate to say this, it’s more than likely they are both dead.  My God, Frank, it must be twenty below out there right now!”
    “But, I have the general’s permission to search up until midnight on Friday, is that correct sir?”
    General Moores gave a dry chuckle and as he spoke his eyes turn stern, “You can do that Frank, but on one condition.  I want no aircrew lives put in danger with this mission.  If, and I mean if, the weather breaks you can launch your birds, but no launches in bad weather.”
    Frank stood, saluted the general, and did an about face to leave the room.  Just as he was reaching for the door, he heard General Moores say, “Frank, I’m sorry about this.  I know how hard it must be for you, and if I can help in any way, just let me know.  Now, go and get some rest, you look like something two cats dragged it.”
    As Frank Wilcox drove home he kept thinking, I’ve only got five days left to find Jim and Dave.  I won’t tell Cathy Wade about the deadline until Thursday, because if I tell her now it will just cause her to worry more.  Why in the world did I ever get into this business?   A few miles down the road, he answered his own question as he thought, because sometimes we save lives.
    Frank kissed and hugged his wife, glanced briefly at the mail, and took a long hot shower.  Quickly changing into his pajama’s he ate his dinner at the kitchen table as he talked about the rescue in general terms with his wife.  One thing Frank had learned after almost twenty-five years of marriage was to keep his work to himself, or at least the dangerous or critical aspects of the job.  He didn’t want her to worry and he for sure wasn’t going to tell her about his discussion with General Moores, because he was just too tired to try to explain the logic behind the decision for the deadline.  
    He finished eating and taking his coffee, he walked to the sofa in front of the fireplace.  He placed his tired feet up on the coffee table.  As the fire cracked and popped, he wondered if Jim or Dave were still alive.  He knew Jim was no quitter and Dave was cut from the same cloth, because the boy had always done well on any hunting trip.   Listen to me, if you both are alive, or even just one of you, hang tough, because I’m coming for you as soon as I can, Frank thought as he raised his coffee cup to his lips.
    By the time Carol had showered and dressed, Frank was asleep on the sofa.  She covered him gently with a blanket, turned the television down low, and curled up beside him.  While Frank had not said anything she knew the military was about to call the search and rescue mission off because of weather and besides, she’d been married to the man too long not to know when something serious was on his mind.  But, anyone would have serious doubts of finding survivors after weather like this. You’re a good man and I know you’ll hate breakin’ the news to Cathy, but you’ll do it if it comes to that.  That’s one of the things I love about you Frank, you always do what is best, whether you like doing it or not, Carol thought as she picked up the remote and started channel surfing.

CHAPTER 8
    D AVID DIDN ’ T KNOW the snow had stopped a little after midnight, because he had fallen asleep shortly after his prayer.  For an hour or so, even the moon was out as it peeked through the cloud cover.  While Dave slept, a small pack of wolves moved silently across the soft new snow, drawn to the smell of well over a hundred pounds of dried meat the young boy had in his shelter.  The wind had died down, though the temperature was still well below zero, and while the snow had quit, it was only for a short while.
    The dried moose meat was in the back of Dave’s shelter.  He had