The Deadliest Strain
Moosehead Lake, MaineAs the sun rose, setting the eastern sky ablaze, the northwestern hills ahead of them grew bright against the deep blue to the west. It had been three hours since they'd started out from her sister's house in Portland. Haley knew they should be getting close to the lake now.The sunny weather forecasted for the week had sounded like a good omen to her. She glanced at her husband, but Neil was focused on the road ahead. With good weather, Haley knew the two teenagers in the backseat would soon get over their complaining about being taken away on this "forced" family vacation. Their friends and sports and the zillion electronic gadgets were so important now.Still, they'd been coming to this same island, renting the same cabin, for eight years now. The boys had been five and seven when they first started. Eager for a week of hiking, fishing, swimming—and having a hundred percent of their father's attention—the boys had always regarded this vacation as a special treat. That made it worth it to Haley. Neil needed this more than any of them. He traveled nearly fifty-one weeks a year for his job, and going to an island in the middle of nowhere in Maine, with no electricity or Internet or cell phone service, was the only way he knew of getting a full week to devote just to his family."I think you should wake them up," Neil said in a low voice as he turned onto the familiar road that took them to the lake's edge in Greenville. From there, they would take a rental boat out to the cottage.Haley looked over her shoulder and smiled. At the sound of Neil's voice, their eight-month-old Lab was doing the job for her, stepping all over the boys, going from one window to the other."What the heck!" the younger one whined, waking abruptly. "Mom, Trouble's gotta pee. He'd better not go on me." At thirteen, Stevie was in the throes of a love/hate relationship with their dog."Be nice to him, moron," Bobby snapped at his younger brother. "He's not going to pee on you."The silence of a moment earlier erupted into a full-fledged brawl as the dog joined in, barking louder than the boys could argue.In a few minutes the van pulled into a space in the gravel lot by the docks, and Haley scrambled out, taking the excited animal with her and leaving the peacemaking to Neil. She stretched and took a deep breath as the dog darted toward the water.The cool scent of the lake and the pines was welcome and familiar. Haley followed the dog to the water's edge and marveled. It still affected her, just as it had when she'd first seen it eight years ago. The morning sky was a deep, cloudless blue, the air crisp and fresh, the water dark and clean. To her left, the sun was shining, bright and warm, on the trees and cottages along the Point. Here and there, the light flashed off a cottage window or a boat tied to a dock. Beyond the Point, where the lake extended for forty miles or more, pockets of mist could be seen rising off the water as the sun chased the darkness from the tree-lined eastern edge. Moosehead Lake was so different from the South Jersey suburb where they lived the rest of the year. Over the years, there'd been some development in Greenville, but not much seemed to change really. And almost nothing ever changed on the dozens of islands that dotted the huge body of water.The dog ran back toward the car. Haley saw Judd McCabe's pickup truck had pulled in next to their van.Judd was the owner of the cottage they rented. He also owned about fifteen other rental places scattered over the area. Every year, he made a point of meeting them at this very spot the first morning they arrived.Now he was pointing out to Neil the boat he'd arranged for them to rent. Haley looked out at the dock.As Neil and the boys started unloading the car, Haley clipped the leash on the dog's collar to keep him from getting in the way. She walked over and said hello to the older man."So, this is the new addition to the family," Judd said, petting the playful animal. "What's his name?""Trouble," she replied. Seeing the older man's wry grin, she nodded wholeheartedly. "It really is the beast's name. The boys named him Trouble, and it fits him like a glove. A well-chewed glove, but a glove nonetheless.""Looks like a happy bit o' trouble, Mrs. Murray.""He is, actually," she said, smiling. "By the way, thanks so much for not minding us taking him out to the cottage."He waved a hand in the air. "Not at all. In fact, the people who are renting the other cabin on the island these two weeks have a dog, too.""That's great," she said, hiding her disappointment. There were only two places to stay on the small island, and with the exception of one time about five years ago, the other cottage had always been unoccupied. This year they'd have to share their private island."Any kids?" she asked."One daughter. I think she's thirteen or fourteen.""Perfect," she replied. "Friendly, I hope.""Don't know. Pretty little thing, though." Judd glanced at the boys. "They arrived two days ago, and the girl seemed to be fighting a cold, so she was kinda quiet. With your handsome fellas around, though, I'm sure she'll be getting better and romping around the place in no time."Having a girl on the island would definitely be an added attraction for the boys, especially Bobby. Haley decided to keep that little bit of news to herself until they got out onto the island."And we're in for perfect weather," she commented, watching Neil hand the last cooler to Bobby."Seems like it." Judd nodded toward the lake. "That fog hanging out around the Point should burn off pretty quick."Haley looked across the water and saw the thick pocket of fog that enveloped the end of the Point. Frowning, she glanced at her husband."Why don't you folks stick around town till it lifts?" Judd suggested to Neil. He added with a laugh, "Hate to see you miss the island and end up in Canada somewheres."Neil smiled at the older man as he locked up the car and shook his head. "No. The boys are excited. It's better to be on our way and get settled in. We'll be fine.""I can grab another boat and you can follow me out, if you like. With the fog—""I can find my way," Neil said, too quickly for Haley's comfort. "After eight summers, I know these waters like the back of my hand. Thanks, anyway, Judd."Haley shook her head. "Men and directions," she muttered, saying goodbye to the old man.There was no point in arguing with Neil about it. She knew he wouldn't change his mind and take Judd's offer. After eighteen years of marriage, she knew her husband too well. The twenty-minute boat ride might take three hours, but Neil would never admit that he needed help. Haley let it go. They were taking a boat on a lake. There was only so far they could go before they'd reach one shore or the other.Their coolers and bags of groceries and luggage and fishing gear were piled high in the middle of the small rental boat. The boys were already in, up at the bow, but it took some coaxing to convince Trouble to climb in. Haley held the dog between her feet in the stern seat, where she sat next to Neil."I get the top bunk," Stevie announced argumentatively up front."No, you slept there last year. I get the top bunk," Bobby asserted loudly.The battle started before they'd even left the shore. Haley waved back at Judd, who was standing on the dock, looking after them pensively. He waved back.The small boat cut through the waters toward the Point, and then moved past it. Haley only half listened to the ongoing argument. When the boat entered the bank of fog, however, the boys stopped abruptly. The fog became much thicker as they moved farther out onto the lake, and Neil slowed the boat. She could tell he was concentrating on going straight ahead. Haley could only see a few feet ahead of the boys, though every now and then she would get a glimpse of some trees to the right or left, or the end of a boat ramp coming down from the unseen shore of one of the islands.The sudden appearance through the fog of another boat creeping toward them was a relief. The two men in fishing gear waved as they went by. Haley could see no sign of where they'd come from. The thick fog was sticking like a mist to her skin and she felt cold creeping down her back. She looked at the bag that contained her sweatshirt. Naturally, it was buried under everything else."Do you know where you're going?" she asked her husband quietly."Of course," Neil answered, obviously trying to sound cheerful. "Trust me, will you?"Well, they weren't the only ones crazy enough to be on the water, she told herself.Trouble stood up, shook himself, and then sat again against Haley's leg. The dog plunked his head on her lap and looked up at her almost mournfully. She shook her head and petted him, glancing at the shore of another island they were passing. There was something familiar about the boathouse. "We aren't too far away, are we?" she asked. "I recognize that place."Neil nodded. "We'll go past one more island, and then you'll see our place."Haley felt relief wash through her. "You hear that?" she said to the dog, scratching behind his ears. "Daddy led us straight to the cottage. He's a regular Daniel Boone.""Very funny," Neil said.Haley called to the boys. "We're almost there.""What are we going to do first when we dock?" Stevie asked, turning in his seat."Are we going fishing?" Bobby chimed in.The dog sensed the boys' excitement from the pitch of their voices. He stood up and looked around, ready to jump in the lake. Haley had to hold on tight to his collar."We'll unload the boat first. No one goes anywhere until we've taken everything out and put it in the cottage," Neil told them. He smiled at Haley. "That doesn't include you, honey. You do whatever you want."She leaned over and gave him a peck on the cheek. Just getting close to their vacation cottage was making a noticeable difference in everyone's mood. Haley looked around. Even the fog seemed to be lightening. If Judd was right, in another hour the sun would be shining.Hopefully.Haley consid...