Cognatus Mons (Blood Mountain) TXF/DSR (UNFINISHED) Melody Clark Chapter Two: Going South Summary: A local uprising bring D&S deep into the heart of an ancient mystery, surrounding the oldest mountains on earth. Chapter Two: Going South She had showered and dressed before first light. When morning illumined the yellow brocade curtains of her room, it blazed up as a flashfire through the fabric itself. At once, the room swelled with light. The long night was over. She opened the door, and instantly caught her breath at the sight. She feared her jaw might hit the ground. Blue mist. Hovering, as if alive. Fog like smoke, veiling the conifers, climbing the mountains. Up the road, she could see the vista the darkness had hidden. A swayback ridge of mountain, toward which the interstate rose. This higher mountain was caped in a velvet blue mantle of smoke. "Blue Ridge," she said to herself, observing the reason. She smiled alone. "That's why they called them Smokies," Doggett added, from his own open door. "That is how they got their name." "This is beautiful," she said, shaking her head, at a glimpse of wonder. "Imagine this place four-hundred years ago. Imagine coming here, everything untouched by white civilization." "Must have resembled paradise." He nodded. "A dangerous paradise, but…paradise. For that matter, it still is." He pointed toward the Rise. "Watch when the sun crests – " And she did, spotting the fingers of cadmium red combing up- slope to set the mountain afire – bright red. "Blood Mountain," she said. "That's a relief. Although I'm still somewhat wary of the prospect of Fear Cove." "Not fear as in terror. In this case, fear means friendship. Nothing to be concerned about, so long as we both remember a few rules of engagement in the mountains." "You are the homeboy, as it were, I therefore bow to your authority. Would it be best for you to appear in charge, so far as the locals are concerned?" "No, this is really a kind of matriarchal society in a lot of ways. Women are doctors here. Women are preachers. They only have a problem with one kind of person – and that's a Federal agent. Doesn't matter if you're Social Services trying to distribute aid or one of us guys. You're still a revenuer around here. Most people will treat you politely. But when we head way off the trail, which we'll have to do to reach the boys' fostermother, we may have some problems if we fly our color of authority too obviously." "Very well. No badge-flashing. What about weapon?" "Where we're headed, everyone's packin'. And I do mean everyone." He looked down at her Nikes; he looked up with a teasing light in his eyes. "You bring real shoes?" She nodded. "As noted in your directives, Agent Doggett. No, your words, citykid Cumberland olive-drab mallwalking crap. I braved a military surplus outfitters." He grinned. "Perfect." "What about you?" She shined her eyes at his boots, crooking her mouth in scrutiny. "Are those adequate to the task at hand?" He grinned bigger. "They'll do, Ma'am." "See that they do." A smile escaped. "We're hiking the trail, I take it?" "I would suggest. I figure we prepare to bivouac a night out, just in case. The area we're headed through is protected by Federal covenant. No cars. Rough terrain. The Appalachian Trail is a widely known obstacle course for hikers." "That will entail a tent of some kind?" "I'm going to hike in with one, yes. There are also various Trail shelters, open to hikers. The Park employees were murdered at the head of the trail, near one, so we'll be going there. Mrs Coddle lives a-ways from the shelters, though. We might be camping out that night." She nodded. "Very well. I guess high carbohydrates, various hiking type foods." "I took the liberty of stocking up. I got enough for both of us. There aren't many Zippie Boys along the way." "Well, there's one good thing," she said. "I'll go get geared up." "You do know how to tie a military boot knot, Agent Scully?" he asked, his eyes twinkling again. She arched a brow. "I know several boot knots, Agent Doggett. I am William Scully's daughter. I'd be happy to demonstrate them all for you, though." "Naw, I've got them covered, I think." She walked toward her room. At the door, she turned back. "You said you're packing a tent, Agent Doggett? Tent…Singular?" He nodded. "Best for security purposes, and for warmth out in this mountain cold." "Yes," she said quickly, "that does sound wise. Meanwhile, I'll be tying my boots." "Yell if you need any help," he said. She looked directly at him, with just a hint of bravado. "The same to you." He grinned, going in. She smiled to herself, after he was gone. Shook her head. Then she tapped a short, impulsive rhythm against her own motel room door, "You are just having way too much fun, Dana Katherine." "You holdin' up there, Agent Scully?" a hoarse voice called back, while its speaker drank from a field canteen. "I am fine, Agent Doggett," she said, stopping to inhale. She stooped over to grasp her thighs, enjoying the breeze travelling through her white shirt, clinging with sweat. She reached for the offered canteen, drinking from it gladly. She capped it, handed it back, then started circling a nearby trailmarker, to keep her muscles moving. "You seem a bit tired, though. Shall we rest?" "Naw, never felt better. Just stopped to get our bearings." He opened his mappad. "We're not far now from the scene of the murders, which is not far at all from where the boys were last seen. We should probably stow our stuff at the Trail Pike, just north of here. This time of year, it should be pretty empty. Maybe some throughhikers." "Sounds fine to me," she said, still circling the marker. "Are we auschlanders here yet?" "Nope," he said. "Not yet. That's another fifty miles that way." "Fifty miles?" "We'll take two days to get there." "Fifty miles?" She stopped cold. "I just had a baby!" "That's been a whole year, Dana. Don't want to get soft." "Soft? I'll show you soft." "Maybe later," he said, grinning to goad her on. "For now, we better get a move on." "You'd better get a move on, John..." He smiled back. "Thanks for the warning, Dana."