Grizzly by Will Collins Page A

Pills? Why won't you accept that this is no ordinary bear?"
    "That remark will go in your file," snapped the Supervisor.
    "Sure, we used to have bear accidents," said Kelly. "But they didn't eat their victims. This one does. And like Scotty said—"
    Dr. Hallit said, "Gentlemen, four people have been killed. Something has to be done, and arguing about who's responsible isn't going to help."
    Kittredge said, "You've got more than enough men to handle this, Kelly. I warn you, if you don't do the job, I will."
    He turned and stalked off without giving time for an answer.
    Kelly gave a low whistle.
    "Hold that expression," said a female voice. It was Allison. She clicked off two exposures, almost shoving the camera lens into Kelly's ear.
    "Come on, Allie," he said. "No games."
    "What games? I'm getting some terrific shots."
    Grimly, he said, "Including what was left of that poor woman?"
    "You bet," she said. "I shot two rolls of high-speed color, and then I went out in the woods and threw up."

CHAPTER NINE
    No war is without its respites, its quiet moments for reflection and renewal, and the war against the mountain beast was no exception.
    Having sent his Toyota down the mountain, Kelly accepted a ride from Allison, and that led to an offer of a drink—in her cabin, since the bar was crowded—and there was a warm and cheerful fire, and more than one drink, and . . .
    Kelly added a log to the glowing embers of the fire which had burned down to the last red coals. The room was dimly lit, with only one shaded lamp on. The radio played quiet music, a waltz by Mantovani.
    He'd slipped back into his jeans, but above the waist he was bare, and the perspiration was still drying, gleaming on his heavily muscled shoulders.
    Near him, stretched out on the big black bearskin rug, Allison stirred under the light blanket. She made contented noises.
    "Just fixing the fire," Kelly said. "Go back to sleep."
    "Who's sleeping?" she mumbled.
    He sipped at a wine glass half filled with brandy, and stirred the fire, which was blazing up again.
    "Share the wealth," Allison said.
    "Are you referring to the brandy?"
    "What else would I be asking for?"
    He smiled in memory of the past hours. "A guy never knows."
    He moved closer to her. The blanket was just above the twin mounds of her breasts. Then, as she moved, it slipped down.
    Kelly let a few drops of the brandy spill onto her skin, all rosy in the firelight. Then he bent down and kissed the brandy away. Allison writhed and whispered, "That tickles. But don't stop."
    "I wouldn't have stopped before. But you fell asleep."
    "Look who's talking. You were snoring five minutes after we—"
    She stopped. It wasn't necessary to use the words. His hand stroked her.
    He held the glass to her lips, and she sipped.
    He said, "It was good. l'd forgotten how good it could be."
    "You?" She laughed. "I've heard about your exploits.''
    "Yeah," he said, "and that's all they were. A few sweaty minutes without meaning and without love."
    "I didn't know you were acquainted with that word," she said softly.
    "What word?"
    "The four letter one that can be either the most wonderful thing a person can say or the most damnable lie ever heard."
    "Love?"
    "See, you do know how to say it."
    "Do you?"
    She reached up and drew him down. The blanket had fallen off all the way now. She kissed him, slowly and deeply.
    Moments passed. When he drew back, he said, "Where did you learn to do that?"
    "With the tongue?"
    "Among other things."
    "I had a liberal education," she said. "I used to practice for this moment, siphoning gas out of parked cars."
    He finished the brandy. "You're crazy," he said, making the words a caress.
    "And you're a chameleon."
    "How so?"
    She traced her finger along its strong bones "Your jaw. Changes. Always changes. It's different in each new light."
    "You should know," he said, lifting an imaginary camera. "Click!"
    She covered her breasts with simulated modesty. "Oh, sir, please. Give me the negatives.