Depositphotos

Brushfires are on my mind again – always at this time of the year, living in Southern California. I’ve had my experiences over the years…so I drew on those plus a ton of research to write COLONY ON FIRE, where the planet’s only doctor becomes trapped behind the firelines.

Here’s the moment of my absolutely worst nightmare, being trapped on the road when the fire overtakes those trying to flee:

Saffia peered ahead and checked the vids but as far as she could see, there were cars. No one was moving. She remembered how on her first visit Ellen had told her most of the residents lived in the remote canyons and among the trees. And now we’re all trying to escape together.

As they sat, waiting with no other choices, she noticed more embers blowing past the car. It was getting hot. A few individual trees were ablaze on either side of the road, ignited by the blowing embers.

“Maybe a tree is down up ahead,” Milly said.

“Or maybe there’s been an accident.” Saffia debated getting out and going to check, in case there were injuries involved but checking her companion’s state she knew she couldn’t leave Milly alone. She appeared to be in distress, breathing hard, sweating and pale. Saffia reached over and squeezed her hand. “Sorry I had to be so abrupt back there at the house but we had to get out. How are you doing? Any contractions?”

“I think so, one a few minutes ago.” Milly closed her eyes. “I don’t feel well.”

“It’s the smoke and the heat. The groundcar is doing its best to filter and cool the interior but—”

Saffia broke off whatever she was going to say as someone pounded on the car, yelling at her through the window. Hastily she hit the control to retract it and the man screamed at her, “Leave your car and run! The fire is coming. Abandon the vehicle.”

Before she could ask any questions, he was gone, sprinting away down the road, pounding on other cars as he went. More people scrambled past. Saffia checked the rear vids again and was appalled at how close the flames were now. She opened her door, nearly hitting another man and grabbed his arm, hoping to get more information.

Eyes wide in a soot stained face, he yanked his arm free and was on his way, shouting over his shoulder. “Lady, you gotta run for it. There’s people burned to death in the cars behind mine.”

Nauseous with the smoke and fear, she ran to Milly’s door and somehow got the woman out of the car. Grabbing the dog’s leash and handing it to Milly, Saffia spared a single glance for the medical gear and the personal items in the back and dismissed them from her mind. “Come on,” she said, moving to support Milly, “Time to move.”

With her patient leaning heavily on her, Saffia headed in the direction of the town, moving as fast as she could, given Milly’s distress and general condition. The dog strained at the leash, obviously wanting to bolt, which did inspire her mistress to speed up a bit.

Sparks and embers flowed across the road like glittering angry red lava from a volcano. Individual trees were in flames on both sides of the road, as the howling wind carried its deadly burden. Saffia knew the area was going to be an inferno all too soon. She looked around desperately for  another person she could beg to help her with Milly but the cars and trucks were all empty, many with their engines still running uselessly, lights on vainly attempting to pierce the eerie dark. As she passed one car, the dog at her side barked and was answered by a bark from inside. Saffia paused, while Milly leaned on the hood of the car, wheezing.

There was a couple and a dog inside. Saffia motioned for them to lower the window and when they didn’t respond, she pounded on the pane. The driver lowered the window a few grudging inches. “You have to get out of your car,” she said to him. “The fire is coming.”

“We’ll be safe in here,” the man said.

“No, you won’t. The fire is burning up to 2000 degrees or more—your groundcar can’t shield you.”

For answer, the man closed the window.

“At least let the fucking dog out so it has a chance,” Saffia screamed, completely losing her patience. There was nothing to be done if the couple refused to save themselves, so she pulled Milly upright and they ran towards town.

The nightmare continued and the ever present clinical portion of her mind told her she was disassociating to some extent, only taking in fractured pieces of the reality. A survival mechanism to keep her from becoming so overwhelmed with terror that she’d be paralyzed and die where she stood. At one point she checked behind them and saw a fire tornado in the distance, dancing between the flaming trees in a spiral of death. Other people ran with them at times but mostly they were alone. Milly needed breaks more often as the air grew worse and the heat climbed. Saffia had a vague memory of a man helping her support Milly for a few minutes and they made better time but then he dropped away and sprinted ahead, saying “Gotta get to the lake. I’ll send help for you.”

No help is coming. She knew the truth in her bones. Their survival was on her and depended literally on which way the wind blew. They were on the outskirts of the tiny town, all by themselves.

“I can’t make it to the lake,” Milly said, barely able to talk.

VS: Of course since this is a scifi romance there’s an HEA…

COLONY ON FIRE HAVEN COLONY BOOK TWO

When she came to Haven Two Dr. Saffia Mandell expected to grimly do her five years of medical service as the colony’s only doctor, work off her medical school debt and leave. Then she’d fallen in love, handled an epidemic and become an accepted member of the community. Now, in her second year, she faces new challenges as the tinder dry planet heads into a fire season and a mysterious food allergy threatens the local restaurant’s reputation.

Chief Ranger Micah Navonn of the Calinurra never expected to fall in love with a human woman but Saffia was a special person who captured his heart and now means everything to him. Not all of his people are as enthusiastic about the situation and his efforts to handle the politics are getting complicated. Add to that an infestation by insects from another world, causing portions of the forest to die off and his plate is full.
When the jet stream shifts course and the fires rage, will the colonists and the Calinurra set aside their differences? With Saffia’s life hanging in the balance, can Micah arrive in time to save her and the colonists in jeopardy?

Life on Haven Two never lets up…

This is the sequel to COLONY UNDER SIEGE: INTERSTELLAR VIRUS, which told the story of Saffia’s first year at the colony, but can be read as a standalone. The story is set in my Sectors scifi universe.

Amazon     Apple Books     Kobo     Nook     GooglePlay