The Journalist

Barry and Joel, friends since college, thought they were taking a two-week vacation in the snowcapped mountains. This was the fourth year they had taken this same vacation, so they expected nothing to happen that they hadn't already experienced. Their plan was to hike down slowly; camping and enjoying life in the wild. Now, Barry was desperately trying to get help for his friend who had been shot by the pilot of the aircraft that had carried them to their starting point. Without any provisions he didn't know if he would make it to safety, much less be able to get help back to Joel in time to save his life. Joel drifted in and out of consciousness while he lay in the shelter Barry built to protect him from the weather. During his conscious moments he thought of Millie, his wife, and wished he had listened to her when she asked him not to take the trip this year. He also thought of the last ten years.the stories he had written, the investigative work he had done on people who had skeletons in their closets. Had he uncovered something he, himself, didn't realize he had? Was someone acting out of fear of being caught or anger or revenge? Who wanted him dead? Or was Barry the target?