Once Inside A Mountain

ONCE INSIDE A MOUNTAIN

By Ann B. Keller

Once Inside A Mountain

By Ann B. Keller

Smashwords Edition

ISBN – EPUB: 9781370498383

Copyright 2017 Ann B. Keller

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ONCE INSIDE A MOUNTAIN

By Ann B. Keller

Chapter 1

Ferise Tremont glanced up at the blazing sun, her heart thundering inside her chest. According to her sources, a rich deposit of beryl was somewhere close by. At the moment, however, the exact location continued to elude her.

She was a graduate student at the University of Boston, majoring in environmental earth sciences. For her summer project, Ferise had proposed following up on several old leads detailing site locations for beryl, calcite and elbaite tourmaline in the high mountains of Maine. It was a rather unique project and her professor had at first been reluctant to approve the notion, but she’d finally relented.

The week before, the mountains had been shrouded with repeated thunderstorms. Ferise’s spirits plummeted, seeing her dreams literally being washed away. However, a front had miraculously come through on Sunday afternoon, bringing with it much better weather. It was dry, but was now unbearably hot. The remaining moisture made the mountains steamy. Ferise would have been just as uncomfortable in a Turkish bath than she was climbing the remote mountains.

Wiping the perspiration from her pale brow, Ferise leaned against a large boulder and took a welcome drink of water from her canteen. Ferise chuckled. Anyone taking a look at her now would have been astonished that she’d even attempt such an endeavor.

Ferise was not a large woman. Drawing herself up to her full height, she barely topped five feet. Her skin was pale, with a decided tendency to burn. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks as though a tiny fairy had danced upon them with her dirty little feet. Ferise supposed that her nose was attractive enough and she had deep, sea green eyes. The color mirrored the full growth of the trees surrounding her and the depth of her gaze only hinted at her intelligence.

Ferise was small boned, with delicate wrists and ankles. Her one downfall was her addiction to chocolate. She supposed it was a little healthier than indulging herself in liquor, drugs or cigarettes, but Ferise still carried a little more weight than she would have liked. Her breasts were full and large enough to fill a man’s hands. Although her waist was attractively small, her hips could, at best, be described as generous.

Ferise’s crowning glory was her hair. Her chestnut curls lovingly framed her pale features, then cascaded over her slender shoulders like a waterfall. Twisting and curling with wild abandon, the heavy strands fell almost to her waist, ending in a tiny up flip at the bottom.

Ferise definitely felt her additional weight now, as she struggled up the mountain with her thirty-pound pack strapped onto her back. She might have started her journey this morning when it was slightly cooler, however, she’d inadvertently forgotten something at the college and been forced to retrieve it. By the time Ferise grabbed a quick burger and was on the road once again, several precious hours had passed.

Ferise felt compelled to continue her journey up the mountainside, but her legs were still protesting. So, she contented herself by looking out over the valley.

It was very pretty here, very much like a postcard. The mountains were rather stark in places, featuring deep cuts of tan and gray stone. Some of the rocky crags were accented by delicate, lacy waterfalls bearing the runoff from the recent rains to the river slicing through the valley below.

The mountains rolled away into the distance in a series of soft undulating green waves. No communication towers or ranger outposts marred the pristine landscape. To the west, it was all park land, untarnished by human hands.

Above the mountains, Ferise could see there were some darker clouds in the distance. That didn’t bode well for a long leisurely hike. Unfortunately, she would have to make this trip pay and then hightail it back to her car before she was drenched to the skin.

Finally deciding she was sufficiently recovered, Ferise stowed her canteen back into its pocket and pushed herself off the tan boulder. She continued climbing.

To help pass the time, Ferise sang a series of showtunes, often running the entire series before shifting to a new Broadway hit. Unfortunately, as the altitude and angle of the climb increased, Ferise was unable to maintain a serviceable rendition as she gasped for breath. Finally, she stopped singing completely, saving what little stamina which remained for the climb itself.

Rounding a large tan boulder which had tumbled onto the trail, Ferise suddenly found herself face to face with a mother lynx and her two kittens. Ferise’s eyes widened in alarm and she stopped dead in her tracks.

One young lynx seemed interested in the newcomer, but it was clear that the mother wanted nothing to do with Ferise. The big cat called out a warning. The sound skittered down Ferise’s spine like the rasp of nails scraping against a chalkboard.

Remembering her training, Ferise attempted to make herself look as small and non-threatening as possible. She lowered her head, deferring dominance to the mother lynx. The big cat stared Ferise down, her icy blue eyes coldly assessing.

Come on, Mama, Ferise softly murmured. I’m not going to hurt your babies.

Stay very still, a low, masculine voice suddenly directed from the trees. She’s sizing you up.

Ferise hadn’t noticed anyone hiking close by and she was startled by the strange man’s presence. Nevertheless, what he said made sense.

Now, slowly back away, the voice directed. Don’t turn around and, for God’s sake, don’t run.

Tentatively, Ferise took one step backward.

The mother lynx’s shoulder muscles tensed and she eyed Ferise warily. Once again, Ferise stepped backward. This time, however, Ferise inadvertently slid a little on some loose stones. For a moment, she teetered on one foot, then regained her balance and stepped again.

Out of the corner of her left eye, Ferise could see that the storm was rapidly getting closer. The winds were beginning to pick up, kicking up loose dirt and dust and launching it into the air. The windborne dust made Ferise’s nose itch.

Curious, one of the lynx kittens padded toward Ferise. Ferise stopped and held her breath. The little tyke boldly walked up to Ferise and sniffed her boots. Apparently, Ferise smelled intriguing, for the baby set one dainty paw on Ferise’s toe and leaned forward to sniff her pant