The Mountain's Money

  “Why did you smile when you said that?”

  “Just happy you’re not up here for me.”

  “You would recognize him if you saw Brando wouldn’t you?”

  “Sure, I’ve known him for years... haven’t seen him.”

  ***

  Brando yelled until he was breathless and his chest and shoulder hurt too much to continue. He cursed himself for not bringing the radio, not that he could get a signal out from this side of the mountain. He told himself someone would tell and it was only a matter of time before SWAT on skis came looking for him.

  ***

  “Gerry, the mountain go-for says he dropped Brando off at the bottom of the hill. He is in the security hut.” Ed pointed Constable Le Bourne to it.

  The Constable puffed himself up before entering the security hut. He made a point of having his hat hit the top of the door frame. “Gerry Palmer you say you had Brando in your car? Why would you be driving him around?”

  “It’s my job, I got a call from dispatch to take him to the base of the hill and I did. Then I came right back up here. Like I do every time they need to close the road.”

  “Why were you going like a bat out of hell down the road?”

  “Because that is how I drive.”

  “Did Brando have anything strange on him?”

  “When he walked away he had a kid’s knapsack over his shoulder.”

  “Where did he walk to?”

  “I don’t know... I turned around to go back up the mountain.”

  “I don’t believe a word of it. I think you think I’m stupid.” The constable got in his personal space. “Where did your buddy go?”

  “Am I under arrest?”

  “Yes.”

  “Mate you can talk all you want but I ain’t say nothing without a lawyer present.” And Gerry did not say a word.

  ***

  The clouds had cleared and Brando could almost imagine he was on the ferry departing for the island. He was not getting seriously cold. His shivering was uncontrollable. But he had dug most of one side of his body out and was able to reach his lighter, a pre rolled joint and his wallet. He gathered what other twigs and wood that was around then lit the tiny fire. He smiled as the paper caught the wood. Maybe a policy copter would see his tiny fire. He lit the joint in celebration. He took a long drag from it and exploded coughing. His fit of coughing was so violent he blew his little fire into smouldering pieces. The pain from coughing made him pass out. He never regained consciousness. He spent his last breaths on an oddly cold tropical beach.

  ***

  Three days later the crew got together to celebrate Brando’s score at a local off mountain pub. The drink flowed and the tales grew with Gerry’s arrest the longest. They were heroes helping Robin Hood and hoping to get that email from Mexico.

  The next summer Brando’s body was found gnawed on by a black bear and with two bags of money. A wake was held on the mountain.