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He shrugged. It didn't matter. Just get to safety. As I drove, Daniel checked his cell phone.
"Still no service?" I said.
"Don't worry about it. We'll be there in--"
A huge shape leaped from the bushes. I hit the brakes as Daniel shouted "Don't swerve!" I knew better--out here you learned that lesson as soon as you got behind the wheel. Then I realized it was a massive Roosevelt elk, its antlers nearly as wide as the windshield.
"Duck!" I said.
I hit the brakes as hard as I could and steered to the right, away from the elk. The rule "don't swerve" doesn't apply with a creature that big. We ducked--another tactic we'd been taught, though elk herds rarely ventured this far east. When an elk hits a car, it'll crush the roof--and you under it.
A thump as the truck hit the animal, but it was a glancing blow and the elk only stumbled, then--
Crash!
Something hit my door. Then a doe scrambled right over the hood.
"They're running into the truck!" Daniel shouted. "Drive!"
I hit the gas. Another thud. I looked over to see the huge elk charging. Its antlers hit and the truck rocked, threatening to tip right over. The animal backed up. Its eyes rolled in rage and panic. It charged the door again. The glass smashed. Daniel grabbed me, but I was caught in my seat belt. He fumbled with it as I braced for the next blow.
Calm down, I thought. Please, please, please, calm down.
The elk hit the door but seemed to check itself at the last second. It snorted. Hot air blasted through the window. I could smell the beast, smell its panic. It backed away, head lowering, those huge antlers swinging through the window, one prong brushing my cheek as I ducked.
Just calm down. Please calm down.
"Got it!" Daniel said.
The seat belt flew loose and he grabbed me as the elk charged again.
"Hang on!" Daniel shouted.
I clutched the steering wheel, but at the last second, the elk swerved. Then it stood there, sides heaving, looking faintly confused, as if it had forgotten what it was doing.
Daniel threw open the passenger door, and we tumbled onto the road. The elk snorted again and nudged the truck. It rocked. I scrambled out of the way, tugging Daniel after me.
"Hey!" someone shouted.
I caught the distant pounding of footsteps.
"Hey! Yeah, you! Get out of here!"
I knew that voice. Knew it, but couldn't believe I was hearing it.
I turned to see Rafe running toward the elk, waving his arms. The rest of the herd stood on the side of the road, milling about in confusion, waiting for their leader.
"Go on!" Rafe shouted. "Move it!"
The elk snorted. Then, with a dismissive flip of its tail, it bounded across the road and into the forest. The herd followed.
I tried to stand, but Daniel made me sit on the ground as he checked me out. He squeezed my shoulder and I winced.
"Just bruised," I said. "I can walk."
Rafe jogged over to us. "She was driving? Is she okay?"
"Yes, she is," I said, getting to my feet. I looked behind him. "Where's Annie?"
