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and yanked it to its death.
    Without even looking, I jump out into the scree.

Chapter Twelve
    My right foot lands and immediately I start sailing down the slope. It’s is steeper than anything I’ve boarded on. I lean back to keep my balance and take another bounding leap into the loose rock.
    In any other time and place, this could be fun. I glance over my shoulder to see the large butt of the mother bear disappearing above me. Below me, I can just see Tej’s head. Rocks blow past me and I call out to Tej, “Rocks!”
    Each time I land, I traverse for as long as I can in order to stay up and try to check my speed. I reach back with one hand, using it like a rudder. The rocks shred my gloves. The other hand I extend out for some ballast.
    My heels slip out from under me and I land on my butt. I struggle to regain my footing. My boot dislodges a good-sized rock and it takes on speed, rolling in front of me and spinning into the air.
    â€œTej!”
    He is totally in the wrong place. We should be close together so the rocks I kick up won’t build such speed. I’m back on my feet, leaping almost straight down the mountain. I’m gaining on Tej. I can see the rocks bouncing past him. One catches him in the shoulder. He ducks another, and then he takes a big one in the back of the leg. He cries out. His legs buckle and he sinks onto the rocks.
    â€œStay up, man!”
    I see him fighting to get his balance, but rocks are screaming by him and heducks his head. His shoulder catches and as quick as I can scream his name, he’s airborne.
    He rotates once, slowly, and hits the rocks. I hear the air slam out of his lungs. He bounces, spinning now, his arms flailing at his sides. I see his hands scrambling on the rocks, trying to get a hold, trying to slow down.
    â€œTej!” I throw my arms forward with each leap, trying to make up the distance between us.
    Tej is tumbling now, rolling on the rocks, ricocheting into the air, hitting the rocks again.
    My feet feel hot from friction. My gloves are hanging in pieces.
    Tej spills out of the gully onto a fan of scree as the slope flattens into the valley. I hit this too and it feels like sudden slow motion. Tej is sliding on his back. He’s jabbing his feet into the rocks, trying to keep from rolling again.
    â€œHang on!” Rock dust coats my tongue and throat. My eyes are streaming fromthe air rushing by. I reach out and grab the collar of Tej’s jacket.
    Finally, we stop. I collapse beside him. “Are you okay?”
    Nothing.
    I pull myself onto my knees. His eyes are open, but he’s not looking at me. Then his eyes roll to white.

Chapter Thirteen
    I bend close to Tej’s mouth. His breath rasps in my ear.
    â€œYou’re alive.” My throat closes on a lump. Then my empty stomach lurches and I retch a wad of green onto the rocks. His face is laced with cuts. A gash over his forehead hangs in a bloody flap. I rip off my gloves and feel the back of his neck. I’ve never felt a broken neck, so I don’t know what I’m looking for, but I run myhand down his spine as far as I can reach.
    He murmurs, and then he groans. He lifts one knee and lets it drop. His eyes focus on me. His voice croaks, “Of course I’m alive, you idiot.”
    I hoot and high-five him. He returns it weakly and groans. “My leg.” He motions to his right foot.
    His right boot is on his leg sideways. My stomach drops again and I swallow bile. I say, “You’ve broken it, Tej. We’ll get you fixed up.”
    I slip a finger into the top of his boot and feel for blood. I know not to take the boot off. It seems to be about all that’s holding his foot on. There’s no blood, and I breathe with relief.
    I have to brace his foot somehow so it doesn’t move. I reach for Tej’s pack and slip it off his shoulders. His wild ride ripped open the covering on the outside, but the padded interior frame is