I fought the urge to answer, not knowing if I would be fired for dereliction of duty or not. This is what I was out here for. I needed to answer, but my mind just wouldn’t let go of those rules. The minutes ticked by like hours. Three more times the radio sounded out its plea, each time sounding more desperate.

I watched the time, counting the seconds until three. When the time finally came, I picked up the radio.

“Whoever was calling for help, please state your position so I can relay help to you,” I said.

“Who is this?” came the answer on the radio.

“This is a park ranger manning a fire tower.”

“Well, park ranger, I’ve been on this channel all night and yours is the first voice I&...

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