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    THE SERPENT'S BITE
    THE SERPENT'S BITE
    THE SERPENT'S BITE
    Ebook325 pages4 hours

    THE SERPENT'S BITE

    By Warren Adler

    2.5/5

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherStonehouse Press
    Release dateJan 24, 2017
    ISBN9781532982880
    THE SERPENT'S BITE
    Author

    Warren Adler

    Acclaimed author, playwright, poet, and essayist Warren Adler is best known for The War of the Roses, his masterpiece fictionalization of a macabre divorce adapted into the BAFTA- and Golden Globe–nominated hit film starring Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas, and Kathleen Turner. Adler has also optioned and sold film rights for a number of his works, including Random Hearts (starring Harrison Ford and Kristin Scott Thomas) and The Sunset Gang (produced by Linda Lavin for PBS’s American Playhouse series starring Jerry Stiller, Uta Hagen, Harold Gould, and Doris Roberts), which garnered Doris Roberts an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries. His recent stage/film/TV developments include the Broadway adaptation of The War of the Roses, to be produced by Jay and Cindy Gutterman, The War of the Roses: The Children (Grey Eagle Films and Permut Presentations), a feature film adaptation of the sequel to Adler’s iconic divorce story, and Capitol Crimes (Grey Eagle Films and Sennet Entertainment), a television series based on his Fiona Fitzgerald mystery series. For an entire list of developments, news and updates visit www.Greyeaglefilms.com. Adler’s works have been translated into more than 25 languages, including his staged version of The War of the Roses, which has opened to spectacular reviews worldwide. Adler has taught creative writing seminars at New York University, and has lectured on creative writing, film and television adaptation, and electronic publishing.

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    Reviews for THE SERPENT'S BITE

    2.5/5

    20 ratings11 reviews

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    • 3/5
      It was a very quick read. Slow in parts. The story is about a wealthy father, now 70, trying to connect to his grown son and daughter after a 4 year separation. His desire to once again invest in their futures no matter how ill advised he has thought it to be. The father estimates he has given them about $9 million dollars to support them but to no avail. His planned trip, by horseback, to the same place, as a family, when the kids where 16 and 14 is to rekindle the fun they all experienced then. The story has incest started by the 15 year old sister seducing her 13 year old brother. Their, only happy memories, of the trip, was about having sex as much as possible. This trip proves no exception as she quickly seduces her brother again. Only this time, it leads to blackmail, with them doing it, captured on film. The daughter is a failed actress who believes, with enough money, she can still make it as a star. The son has been unsuccessful at several business ventures. The son’s latest business venture is a restaurant he can get for $800,000. Both daughter and son are relentless trying to get their father to commit to an amount of continued support. He tells them they can expect his help but no specifics. A new women in his life has convinced him to due right by his kids and give them $10 million each now, which would be the bulk of their inheritance and allow them to do what they want. He plans to tell them when they get back home from the trip. His daughter, on hearing of a new woman, becomes obsessed she will steal their inheritance. Greed in the end does no one any good.
    • 1/5
      I really wanted to like this book but found myself quite disappointed.I found the writing to be elementary; one sentence didn't flow into the next. It felt choppy and stunted. There is so much repetition in the narration and the dialogue - the same things are brought up over and over again. And certain words, such as ‘largesse’ were repeated ad nauseam. I also found some of the dialogue to be kind of old-fashioned and formal. I thought things started moving a bit better in the second half of the book, but not enough to change my overall opinion. I felt like the relationship between Courtney and Scott was thrown in simply to shock us; it didn't really seem crucial to the plot. There wasn't a single character that I felt connected to or interested in - they were under-developed, predictable and boring.In summary: the author failed to draw me in to the story or the characters, and I was disappointed with the writing style. I agree with another reviewer, the author just didn’t seem to put much effort into the story. It’s almost as though he found it as boring as I did.
    • 2/5
      Had a really tough time getting through this book. Received it as a Early Reviewer, and did not like it. The story line follows a widower trying to reconnect with his two grown children by taking a horseback trip through Yellowstone. The trip is a recreation of one the family had made years earlier. The main reason for the estrangement is that the father has finally turned off the money spigot after years of supporting the two of them in their various money making ventures. The two children go on the trip because they want to fool their father into thinking they will reconcile, just so they can get the money again. The main issue I have with this is that the characters (except the father) are just absolutely terrible people. Beyond cold hearted. And they make up the bulk of the narrative. Having never read Warren Adler before I don't know if this just how he writes, but it was unrelentingly cold and angry.
    • 3/5
      In the rugged wilderness, lead by an alcoholic outfitter and his illegal Mexican wrangler, George Temple, a wealthy businessman attempts to reconcile a broken and estranged relationship with his son and daughter. The trek down memory lane through Yellowstone Park is ridden with dangers from predators and Mother Nature herself, but unbeknownst to George, the disaster that lurks within the secrets of his own family and those who were hired to protect them may be the very one to claim their lives.I would have enjoyed this book a lot more except for a few, but very annoying points. The characters were cliche and one dimensional. The author was rather fond of using expletives that I didn't think were necessary. I am a firm believer that you can still get the point across without throwing the F bomb out incessantly. Furthermore, the relationship between the brother and sister was creepy to say the least and ridiculous to boot. Overall, the premise of the story, familial angst, reconciliation, and the secrets that haunt us all were interesting, but the execution was rather ludicrous. Recommended if you are one of those people who just can't stop staring at a car wreck even though you know nothing good can come from it.
    • 3/5
      I have mixed feelings about this book. Initially, I wanted to chuck it. The characters are ugly, vile, and tedious. They repeat the same stuff over and over; the narrative does too. It pounds into our head over and over that his kids just want the man's money and yada yada.. Harry hates Mexicans. I got that impression the first time he use a derogatory racial slur. I didn't feel it was necessary to have him say it over and over.Even the nice guy, the dad, was annoying. "I didn't expect this.." OVER AND OVER. (Do you see how annoying it is to read the same thing constantly?)There is a very dirty, scandalous relationship and though that didn't bother me so much as their stupidity.. Do you really think you won't get caught? I mean, walking a bit away from camp and fornicating for three hours.. Duh.Despite the ugliness and stupidity of the characters, however, I was driven to read until the end. I wanted to know what happened. It kept me in suspense enough that I was entertained. There were some surprising twists.
    • 2/5
      The inclusion of a quotation from William Shakespeare's King Lear in the opening pages of Warren Adler's The Serpent's Bite serves as an appropriate analogy for readers to comprehend where Adler obtained his ideas from when he set out to write this book and also for readers to deduce why the book fails to meet literary critics expectations. King Lear follows the title character's descent into madness as he discovers that two of his three daughters have tricked him into believing they care for him when in fact they are merely using him in order to attain their inheritance; Goneril and Regan are manipulative, loathesome characters who capture the audience's attention and evoke feelings of anger and disgust within the reader's mind. Adler's The Serpent's Bite follows Shakespeare's plotline very closely by having two children attempt to entice their father to give them the money that they feel they are entitled to. The difference between Shakespeare's King Lear and Adler's The Serpent's Bite is that Shakespeare provided audiences with characters that were well-developed and interesting whereas Adler serves readers with a group of characters that are contrived and boring. The plot of The Serpent's Bite is surprisingly simplistic and the diction that Mr. Adler uses could be attributed to the work of a high school student; other than the pointless inclusion of the incestuous relationship between the two siblings, the book offers nothing different or unusual. Coming from an author who is as revered as Warren Adler, I would have expected this book to provide an interesting plot, unique characters, and/or eloquent word choices. Rather, The Serpent's Bite relies upon a mundane plotline, under-developed characters, and diction that most fifteen year old students use when they are writing a paper for their English classes. There is nothing in this book that could be considered memorable or original; fortunately it is a very quick read and therefore not a great deal of time was wasted reading it. Perhaps Mr. Adler had a contract with the publishers for a certain number of books and The Serpent's Bite was written simply to fulfill a contractual obligation. It would appear that very little effort or thought was put into this book and I would recommend readers to skip it at all costs.2/5
    • 3/5
      A delightfully vile and over-the-top story with a satisfying end. However, pretty predictable, no real surprises here. I agree with others that the dialogue was very repetitive and the repetition, when it happened, went on for far too long (3 pages when 1 would suffice). Still, I think the finished product will do well (if edited properly) and I wouldn't be surprised if this one is made into a movie as well (provided a good screenwriter works on it). This review based on the Advanced Reader Copy, June 2012.
    • 2/5
      This was my first book by Warren Adler so I wasn't sure what to expect. The book is slow and the dialogue is extremely repetitive. Honestly had the author cut out the repetitive dialogue the book would have been half as long and maybe wouldn't have felt like such a slow read.The characters I felt were very predictable from page one. You knew how the book was pretty much going to end. You have the rich aging father, the spoiled incestuous adult kids and the drunk outfitter and his illegal immigrant employee in the wilderness. Father wants to reconnect with the kids, the kids want money. A drunk outfitter trying to make it in a dying career and the illegal immigrant trying to make money to be rich when he returns home. Book is summed up this way: money, sex, money, alcohol, money.
    • 2/5
      I haven't read anything by Warren Adler prior to this, but had heard that the War of the Roses was a great book. With that in mind, I had looked forward to reading this book.While the writing is very good and the pace is quick, the book was very predictable. I was able to read it cover to cover in less than two days and there was no part that surprised me or that I didn't see coming.I was hoping that this would present turns that helped to look deeper into the characters but they never seemed to get beyond the initial levels - greed and guilt.
    • 5/5
      The Sting of the Natural WorldWhat could be nicer than a family get together in the wilderness? Let’s get back to nature and relax. The idea of the benefits of a family get-together is a popular one, but isn’t the reality of the situation somewhat different? Families after all are the subject of a very number of interviews with psychologists. In this novel George Temple has this idea of getting together with his adult son and daughter, Courtney and Scott, by going on a trek through the wilderness of Yellowstone Park. Things have not been right with his family and George seems to want to heal the matters. Unfortunately matters are not quite as simple as this.Warren Adler is a leading writer of thrill/chill fiction and this is his thirty-sixth novel. His most famous work is The War of the Roses, which was made into a movie starring Danny De Vito, Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner. Unlike some horror books this is not a work of the fantastic, but it does have a slightly larger than life quality. But then how normal is ‘normal’ life?True to the genre the plot of Bite has many twists and turns. Some changes of direction are well prepared for, others are hinted at and some are very unexpected. The style is calm, then explosive, then calm again in a cycle that runs throughout the book. There are two sex scenes which may shock very conservative readers. Adler manages admirably to maintain our attention by including many flash backs (prior to the trip), which add variety. He also uses the interesting technique of writing each chapter from a different character’s point of view. This sometimes adds considerable irony to the book as we see that some character’s perspective is not quite right. On the whole Adler presents a rather hard-boiled view of human nature and the style captures this well.The characters in this novel are hardly likable, but Adler is not trying to be ‘nice’. We are indeed delighted by these people’s nastiness and foolishness. Even the good George Temple comes in for some criticism. Being powerfully motivated, these characters are relentless, carving a clear direction for themselves, but some evolve over time.The book has a clear theme of addiction. First we meet alcohol addiction, but there are other compulsions waiting to be discovered later in the plot. Temptation and ‘sin’ also run as topics, though I do not mean to imply that this is a religious book. The Temple’s are Jews, but not practicing synagogue visitors.From the psychological perspective Adler has written a fairly accurate novel. The information about addiction rings true to life. Adler delves into peoples’ blind spots: the lies they consciously and even unconsciously maintain. Close to this is the truth of secrets kept from others.Women may at first be a bit offended by this tale. Courtney is certainly a powerful, determined woman, however she falls into the category of the classic ‘prime hussy’, a rather stereotyped role. Mrs Temple, only alluded to in the text, also seems the stereotyped ‘loving mother’. Adler is, however, talking about the very notion of stereotyping which very really occurs in our lives as we are subject to social values from family, books, TV and films. The very idea of feminism is based on this notion. Adler certainly encourages us to question this stereotyping. To add balance the male characters are equally driven pigs.In the larger perspective of the society Adler playfully upholds vales and questions them at the same time. His characters are bad people but their rebel views sometimes make sense and carry weight. The philosopher Michel Foucault pointed out that a great deal of society is a power system which manipulates us and in this novel much of what manipulates us is delved into and questioned. I do not mean that this is a heavy philosophy text of the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre. The average reader will most certainly enjoy this book.Nature features prominently in the book and Adler plays with it as he plays with the notion of society. George Temple’s idea is to get his children away from things in order to work their life together out, but can we ever get away from life and is life really what we think. The ambivalence of nature provides an interesting, symbolic backdrop to the book as a whole.Adler has written an exciting, very readable book which also has deeper meaning if you look twice. Be prepared to be shocked. I have mentioned feminism, philosophy and symbolism but don’t reject this book because you think it is too intellectual for you. At its heart this is overwhelmingly horror, pure and simple.
    • 3/5
      This is my first novel by Warren Adler, I never read War of the Ross and thus didn't come in with any expectations but just thought it sounded like an interesting story. Whelp. I have to admit this was a did not finish book for me. The writing style didn't bother me horribly as I've seen it used before, the "shocking" relationship didn't bother me. I just wasn't able to sustain interest in the characters or storyline.

    Book preview

    THE SERPENT'S BITE - Warren Adler

    Praise for Warren Adler’s Fiction

    Warren Adler writes with skill and a sense of scene.

    —The New York Times Book Review on The War of the Roses

    Engrossing, gripping, absorbing… written by a superb storyteller. Adler’s pen uses brisk, descriptive strokes that are enviable and masterful.

    —West Coast Review of Books on Trans-Siberian Express

    A fast-paced suspense story… only a seasoned newspaperman could have written with such inside skills.

    —The Washington Star on The Henderson Equation

    High-tension political intrigue with excellent dramatization of the worlds of good and evil.

    —Calgary Herald on The Casanova Embrace

    A man who willingly rips the veil from political intrigue.

    —Bethesda Tribune on Undertow

    Warren Adler’s political thrillers are…

    Ingenious.

    —Publishers Weekly

    Diverting, well-written and sexy.

    —Houston Chronicle

    Exciting.

    —London Daily Telegraph

    Praise for Warren Adler’s Fiona Fitzgerald Mystery Series

    High-class suspense.

    —The New York Times on American Quartet

    Adler’s a dandy plot-weaver, a real tale-teller.

    —Los Angeles Times on American Sextet

    Adler’s depiction of Washington—its geography, social whirl, political intrigue—rings true.

    —Booklist on Senator Love

    A wildly kaleidoscopic look at the scandals and political life of Washington D.C.

    —Los Angeles Times on Death of a Washington Madame

    Both the public and the private story in Adler’s second book about intrepid sergeant Fitzgerald make good reading, capturing the political scene and the passionate duplicity of those who would wield power.

    —Publishers Weekly on Immaculate Deception

    The Serpent’s Bite

    by Warren Adler

    Copyright © 2012 by Stonehouse Press

    ISBN (EPUB edition): 9780795347054

    ISBN (Kindle edition): 9780795347061

    All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any form without permission. This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination based on historical events or are used fictitiously.

    Inquiries: Customerservice@warrenadler.com

    STONEHOUSE PRODUCTIONS

    Published by Stonehouse Productions

    For Jonathan

    Contents

    Chapter 1

    Chapter 2

    Chapter 3

    Chapter 4

    Chapter 5

    Chapter 6

    Chapter 7

    Chapter 8

    Chapter 9

    Chapter 10

    Chapter 11

    Chapter 12

    Chapter 13

    Chapter 14

    Chapter 15

    Chapter 16

    Chapter 17

    Chapter 18

    Chapter 19

    Chapter 20

    Chapter 21

    Chapter 22

    Chapter 23

    Chapter 24

    Epilogue

    More Thrillers from Warren Adler

    Also by Warren Adler

    About the Author

    How sharper than a serpent’s tooth it is

    To have a thankless child!

    —Shakespeare, King Lear

    Chapter 1

    They crossed the asphalt road into the trailhead, slipping seamlessly into the alien world of the wilderness. To Courtney Temple, the abruptness of the change was daunting, and she worried that its suddenness might trigger a panic attack and abort her participation in this eccentric attempt by her father to effect a family reconciliation.

    Only the snorting of the mules and horses and the occasional sound of their metal shoes clopping on stone broke the initial eerie silence. Soon the atmosphere of audibility transformed, as her mind grew attentive to the birdsongs, insect buzz, and the rustling cacophony of breeze-brushed leaves. The July sun poked brightly through the tree branches like a roving beam, forcing an occasional painful squint through the lenses of her sunglasses.

    Courtney was on the third horse in the string, behind three heavily laden mules and Harry McGrath, their outfitter leading the pack, and Tomas, the Mexican wrangler riding behind him. Harry had placed each of the horses on a domination scale known only to himself. Courtney’s horse was named Bubba, and he was steady as a rock as he lumbered slowly forward with what seemed like a sense of bored equestrian indifference. Behind her was her brother Scott, his long legs perched awkwardly in their stirrups, and behind him, their father, who had required a helpful boost from Harry to get his leg over the cantle bag and his butt on the saddle. Courtney felt an odd sensation of elation as she observed this sign of her father’s aging after their four-year hiatus, as if it were a prologue to his decline and demise, the latter a wished-for outcome, the timing of which had often intruded on her thoughts. But aside from this show of diminished strength, his features seemed more youthful than she remembered. Puzzled at first, she realized on closer observation that he had had the bags removed from under his eyes, and his teeth were obvious implants, white and too perfect for a man of his years.

    His complexion, too, seemed clearer, another obvious repair, probably by chemical means. His hair, once prematurely gray, had now miraculously turned to rusty brown. There was only one conclusion. The man had had a deliberate makeover. Why? The reason seemed obvious. It was an outcome that had already filled her with dread. There was a woman in the picture. He was well over his widower’s mourning. In Courtney’s mind the imaginary woman was certain to be a dangerous predator, a transforming competitor in the coming inheritance stakes. Whoever she was, she had become an instant enemy.

    Not that Courtney was certain that he had changed his will to shortchange what was once their promised inheritance. Once, he and their now-deceased mother had proudly revealed that his two children would share equally in their largesse when they both had passed on. Had he cut them out or reduced their take after their rift and estrangement over the past few years?

    She suspected as much but couldn’t be certain. Was this trek a test for her and her brother? Was it worth the discomfort to find out? Was there a new wrinkle, a new demanding woman in the picture?

    They had checked into the motel in West Yellowstone the evening before but had not had dinner together, since they had all arrived at different times. In the morning, they had breakfasted with Harry before leaving for the trailhead but had little chance for anything but the banal and polite chatter of a traditional family reunion.

    Their father had greeted her with an affectionate hug that seemed oddly incongruous with the bitterness of their last argument and the long aftermath of the four-year silence that followed. He was equally affectionate in greeting her brother Scott, and both she and Scott had returned the gesture with propriety as if nothing had happened to split the once-unbreakable bond.

    Throughout breakfast Harry did all the talking, outlining what they were to expect during their seven-day, fifty-odd-mile trek on horseback. They listened in silent concentration as he showed them the map of the journey and reeled off instructions reminiscent of their earlier trip. Their father had arranged an abridged replica of the original family trek, which had lasted ten days.

    Harry seemed to offer a more detailed introduction than she remembered twenty-odd years earlier. A dirty-nailed finger traced their future journey on a wrinkled, much-used map of the Yellowstone area. He sounded more like someone eager to continue selling, as if he was still uncertain that he had made the deal. His voice seemed to have become rougher over the years, and his weathered complexion had the look of ancient parchment, out of which peered pale blue eyes surrounded by tiny rivulets of red.

    She figured him for about sixty, a man well-sculpted by the harsh outdoors and bad habits. His facial skin was florid, with bands of rough red mantling his nose and cheeks. There was a permanent indentation midway on his forehead, undoubtedly made by the band of his stained and misshapen cowboy hat, an apt symbol of his authentic Western bona fides. It struck her that he was trying hard, too hard, to reach for good humor and to portray himself as still young and vigorous. About him was a stale odor of dried sweat and boozy breath, larded with the obvious scent of the chewing tobacco that had yellowed his teeth.

    In his explanation, he made a historical point that she did not recall, informing them that the Thorofare Trail, which they would partially follow, was the route taken by the Washburn party who first tracked the Yellowstone. The report of that journey had convinced politicians that two-million-two-hundred-thousand acres had to be preserved, and as a consequence, Yellowstone became the first national park in the world. He noted, too, that they were heading for an area just outside the official borders of the park, known generally as the Teton Wilderness, more than a half-million acres of unspoiled land. It sounded as if he was trying to validate his knowledge like some chamber-of-commerce booster, and they all listened politely and nodded as he spoke.

    Here’s where we’re going, he said, following the trail with his finger as he informed them that they would be heading through the southeastern edge of the park, an area of high meadows in the Absaroka Mountain Range. He paused and looked up.

    Lot of this was burned out in ’88 but it’s mostly come back, though you can still see the residues of the burn.

    Harry explained further that they would be traveling on trails along Yellowstone Lake, the biggest mountain lake in North America, then returning over backcountry trails with spectacular views.

    No Eagle Pass, Courtney interjected, suddenly remembering its hazardous trail.

    He rubbed his jaw and laughed.

    As your dad and I agreed, no Eagle Pass.

    Now that was something, their father said. Remember Mom’s attitude? She was petrified.

    God, yes, Courtney said, remembering the narrow switchbacks and deep canyons.

    Scared the living shit out of me, Scott said.

    Hate to be dependent on a four-legged creature with a small brain, Courtney said good-naturedly. She was determined to be pleasant and ingratiating. She was, after all, a professional actress. And I’m slightly uncomfortable living with my heart in my throat.

    Their father chuckled.

    Tell you the truth, Temple said. I’m a little too old for that kind of fear.

    He was about to go on but aborted his remarks, obviously remembering his violation of the outfitter’s age limit.

    Actually it was the shortest route of return during that last trek. That was a lot longer than what we plan this time. Of course, it’s your nickel and your choice. Anyway, this I can promise, we’ll see lots of critters, big and little, elk, moose, cougars, mountain lions, bison, deer, big-horn sheep, brown bears, and, I don’t want to scare you… grizzlies, biggest carnivore in North America, and what you didn’t see last time you were here, wolves. He pulled a face, sighed, and shook his head. Damned wolves. Totally screwed up my hunting business. Maybe we’re at the tail end of an era. Stupid government and those goddamned tree huggers.

    Courtney exchanged glances with her father. There was an ominous tone to his remark, a flicker of both anger and anxiety. Although she had no passionate political leanings, she was exposed to the usual Hollywood mindset that leaned heavily liberal, assuming that most people felt this way. Not that she really cared one way or another. Actually, she was nonpolitical, except when it mattered career wise.

    I thought bringing the wolves back was a good thing, her father said.

    For the wolves maybe, but not for us outfitters. We make most of our living hunting during season. The wolves are taking all the elk and moose calves. Anything they can find, especially the babies. The young ones kill for sport. Fucking ecology freaks. He coughed, looked at Courtney. Sorry, but they just don’t get it. Won’t be elk or moose left to hunt in a couple of years. Maybe some brown bears. The wolves are everywhere now and…, he lowered his voice and turned toward her father as if he were confiding some vital information. Not only the wolves, Temple. Fact is the grizzlies are invading. Endangered my ass. Tough bastards, big feeding machines, need lots of range space. I used to do my business out here in the wilderness without being armed, which is illegal. No more. He lowered his head and shook it sadly. You’ll see ’em. I guarantee that. We take precautions. They come smelling around for food, we hang it high. Remember the meat pole? Can’t be too careful. They’ll as soon as eat you as any piece of raw meat. Don’t worry, though. We’ll be watching. One gets ornery around me or my clients, I’ll blow his fucking brains out, government or no government order, prison or not. He stopped abruptly, as if he had gone too far.

    It seemed obvious to Courtney that he was disturbed, angry, and deeply depressed about the situation in general, adding to her suspicion that things were not going well for Harry. He was a long way from the Harry of twenty years ago. This man was obviously suffering, perhaps facing the end of his career and way of life. He was definitely not the strong, confident, rugged figure she remembered.

    Not to worry, he said, perking up, transparently trying to restore confidence and allay fear. I’ll bring you back safe and sound and give you the best damned adventure of your lifetime. He turned to Courtney’s father. Just like last time. Right, Temple?

    That’s what I’m hoping, her father said, nodding and offering a tight smile. It could not mask his concern.

    What do we do if one… you know… say a wolf or a grizzly pays us a visit? Courtney asked. She felt genuinely frightened, remembering the famous story by Jack London about fending off wolves.

    Wolf doesn’t go after humans.

    And grizzlies?

    Hell, you remember your grizzly lesson, Harry chuckled. Just don’t get in his space. If you do, don’t run. Assume the fetal position and play dead, and don’t look the big bastard in the eye or threaten him in any way. And above all, don’t go near the cubs if it’s a female. And remember, he’s a foodie and needs lots of protein to feed his bulk.

    Just lay there? she asked. And if that doesn’t work?

    Just pee in your pants, Scott said.

    Is this trip necessary? Courtney asked with humorous sarcasm.

    Haven’t lost anyone yet, Harry laughed, continuing. Hell, we’re here for adventure. Maybe I advertised the dangers too hard.

    Adventure, yes, Scott said. But I wasn’t planning an early demise. He winked at Courtney. Not just yet.

    Not on my agenda either, their father said with a chuckle.

    Looks like I made it sound worse than it is. Just remember, you’re in my care. And if any of those big bastards start something funny, I’m fully armed and loaded and can take down one of ’em in a couple of well-placed shots. You’re under my care and protection. I’ve got more than thirty-five years of outfitting under my belt. My job is to bring you back safe, healthy, and happy and give you an experience to make conversation for years. Right, Temple? Did I deliver before? He was getting repetitive.

    Sure did, Harry. And here we are back at the old cigar stand. It’s been on my memory reel for two decades, Temple said. I’m looking for at least another couple of decades to tell the story. Fodder for my dotage. He was cautious about talking about age now.

    I could do without the grizzlies, Courtney said, forcing herself to maintain the light tone. And I’ll take your word for it about the wolves.

    Actually I’d like to see at least one of both, Scott said.

    If I have to, I’ll hire ’em, Harry replied, obviously hoping this banter would bond them closer. Actually I can guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

    Thanks a lot, Courtney murmured.

    You’re as safe with me as a baby in a cradle, Harry said. Observing him, a faded version of his old self, did not give her much confidence. An image of old homeless drunks that infested Santa Monica popped into her mind.

    She wondered how many times he had gone over the same ground with others, whetting their expectations with projections of danger. All part of the show. He was simply manipulating one’s expectation in pure Hollywood fashion. As for her and her brother, adventure was hardly the reason for their participation. In stark terms, for them it was all about money.

    We’re going over trails that are the furthest point from a road in the continental United States. And that includes logging roads, Harry added, embellishing the expectation further.

    Occasionally Courtney’s mind drifted as she stole clandestine glances at her father and brother. She had almost given up hope that sentiment and nostalgia would one day force her father into a reconciliation mode.

    From his friendly and affectionate attitude, she was encouraged to believe that he might again be willing to reverse course and restore his earlier generosity in financing his darling daughter’s great dream of celebrity and stardom. As for the inheritance, she would find subtle ways to press him toward revelation. Was it still in effect as once revealed? A two-way split?

    Her brother was another matter. She hoped that his weakness and his often-wobbly conscience would not gum up the works. On the drive to the trailhead, following the two big horse trailers in one of their rented cars, with Scott driving, her father beside him, and Courtney in the rear seat, they maintained a protocol of polite chitchat as if they had made a pact with each other to hold back intimacy until they grew more comfortable with their new proximity. Once on the journey, thrown together for hours at a time in the vastness of the wilderness, there would be no way to avoid conversation and, hopefully, intimate exchanges, a prospect she viewed with both anxiety and optimism. Opportunity knocks, she assured herself, and despite all hardships, she was determined to take full advantage of it.

    She noted that her father carried a digital camera on a leather strap that hung on his shoulder, which surprised her. Apparently in the four years since she had seen him, he had become familiar with computers. Noting the camera, it brought back memories of the many slides he had taken of their last trek, which he often showed to visiting friends on their old carousel projector. It was always a highly detailed showing, a soup-to-nuts portrayal of what became the family’s quintessential great once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

    Both at home and in his jewelry salon in Manhattan’s diamond center on Forty-seventh Street, he had blown up pictures of the trip, one of all four of them side by side on their horses, with the jagged peaks of the Absaroka Mountains in the background. The pictures graced one of the walls of the jewelry salon and served as a conversation piece for customers, especially those very rich ones who kept and rode horses. In their spacious Riverside Drive apartment, she recalled one picture prominently hung that showed them around the campfire, arms around each other, smiling at the camera as if, indeed, this was their happiest family moment. It might have been. Certainly their father thought it was. For her and Scott it was a lot more.

    Noting the way her father had greeted them both, she grew even more hopeful that something momentous and wished-for would happen between them, a regeneration of parent-child dynamic, resulting in the genuinely copious gesture of generosity. Show me the money, she begged silently. For her this meant the longed-for freedom from financial stress, her principal objective. She was determined to focus all her energies and persuasive powers on that one goal. Be wary of any high hopes, she cautioned herself, having learned the primary lesson of an actor’s audition: expectations that were too high often made for deepest disappointment.

    Leading the mules and following behind Harry, riding a black horse, was Tomas, a runty deeply tanned bony-faced Mexican of clearly Indian extraction, with a surly look and a rare, joyless smile that displayed three gold-toothed front dentures. His features, shaded by a large, curly brimmed, sweat-stained cowboy hat, seemed expressionless, although his dark eyes betrayed a feral alertness that struck her as a studied attempt to appear deferential. He wore a dirty red bandana knotted around his neck and fancy worn snakeskin cowboy boots. His jeans featured a large shiny silver belt buckle embossed with crossed six-shooters. She figured it was his own Mexican version of a movie cowboy.

    At the trailhead as they unloaded, Harry had introduced Tomas to them as the cook, wrangler, and jack-of-all-trades. Tomas acknowledged the introduction with a tiny indifferent nod.

    Knows his business. Right, amigo? Harry said, nodding toward Tomas.

    "Si, Señor Harry," the Mexican muttered.

    Only one helper? their father asked, his expression skeptical. Last time there were three. I think we talked about this. We had agreed on two.

    Hell, this little Mex can do the work of three, Harry said, brushing off the accusation. Wait’ll you taste his grub.

    But I thought…, their father began, politely protesting. We talked of two people helping. Wasn’t that part of the deal? He was acting true to form, a perpetual questioner, detail-oriented and persistent, a man who needed to know what was behind every action. She speculated that their father was paying top dollar. A consummate businessman, he expected true value for his money.

    I know my business, Harry said with annoyance, his eyes narrowing. We have two less helpers than last time, Temple, because the trip is shorter.

    I know, their father pressed. I thought we had covered this in our conversations. Didn’t we agree on two helpers?

    Trust me, Temple, Harry said, visibly exasperated. Courtney was certain that her father was telling the truth. What I promised was one helluva trek, and I aim to keep that promise. As for this fuckin’ Mex, you’ll grow to really appreciate the sumbitch. He’s one smart spic. When he’s not working, he reads all kinds of book shit. No kidding. Does the work of three. I swear it. You’ll see that I deliver what I promise. Besides, you came to me because I gave you one hell of an adventure a few years back, and by God, I’ll do it again.

    I’m sure you will, Harry, their father said with some hesitation. I just thought— He broke off the argument, glanced at Courtney, and shrugged. Too late, his look suggested. Harry quickly changed the subject.

    You check the weather report, Tomas?

    "Si, Señor Harry. Weather good now. Coupla days maybe rain."

    Nights cool, days comfortable? Harry prompted.

    "Si, Señor Harry."

    Still…, her father began, again showing an attitude of polite deference, his surrender not quite complete. She remembered his persistence when an idea consumed him. It wasn’t quite what we agreed.

    Despite his persistence, she could see he was surrendering reluctantly.

    Trust me, Temple, Harry said again, his face reddening, selling hard now. I’ve been at this for more than thirty-five years.

    His résumé was getting repetitive.

    I know how many people I need to create a great wilderness experience. Believe me, this little fuckin’ Mex is great. Been with me on what?… more than a dozen treks, winter and summer. Knows his stuff. Great cook. Wait’ll you taste his stuff—biscuits, dumplings, corncakes. You ain’t ever tasted better trout than the way he fixes it. And what that sumbitch can do with meat and potatoes! Man’s a natural. Hell, he knows more ways to cook up chili than any man alive. Great wrangler, too. A lot smarter than he looks. Sumbitch obeys orders. Right, Tomas?

    "Si, Señor Harry," Tomas muttered without expression. Harry lowered his voice and chuckled.

    Thinks he’s the Mexican John Wayne. Right, amigo?

    "Si, Señor Harry," Tomas replied with a joyless laugh, as if it were part of their regular routine for the benefit of clients.

    "Show him your Duke

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