title: Engine 24: Fire Stories 3 (Volume 3)
author:  Joe Corso 
description: I grew up in Queens, New York and I got into writing late in life with the intention of helping my grandchildren pay for their college education. I found to my surprise that I could tell a good story which resulted in my completing 15 books and 9 short stories including my popular 'ENGINE 24 FIRE STORIES' trilogy. I've just completed LAFITTE'S TREASURE which is presently being edited. I'm currently working on 'THE STARLIGHT CLUB 5: REVENGE. which I shelved about a year ago, When that book is finished I plan on writing a sequel to my western 'THE ADVENTURES OF THE LONE JACK KID', titled 'THE RETURN OF THE LONE JACK KID'. AWARDS THE STARLIGHT CLUB won the silver in the 2012 eLit contest in the 'TRUE CRIME' category'. In 2013 the book won HONORABLE MENTION in the 'HISTORICAL FICTION' category'. THE LONE JACK KID won 'FINALIST' in the 2013 Readers Favorite in the 'WESTERN' category. My short story 'FIRE: BOX 598' won the BRONZE in the 2013 Readers Favorite contest in the 'HISTORICAL NON FICTION category'. Go figure. If I would have known that I could write a good story. I would have started writing a half century ago.
zlib_text: ![](Images/image00186.jpeg)
  
  **Contents**
  
   _Title Page_
  
   _Dedication_
  
   **Part I: “The Spark”**
  
   _ **1**_
  
   _ **2**_
  
   _ **3**_
  
   _ **4**_
  
   _ **5**_
  
   _ **6**_
  
   _ **7**_
  
   _ **8**_
  
   _ **9**_
  
   **Part II: “The Quell”**
  
   _ **10**_
  
   _ **11**_
  
   _ **12**_
  
   _ **13**_
  
   _ **14**_
  
   _ **15**_
  
   _ **16**_
  
   _ **17**_
  
   _ **18**_
  
   **Part III: “The Enemy”**
  
   _ **19**_
  
   _ **20**_
  
   _ **21**_
  
   _ **22**_
  
   _ **23**_
  
   _ **24**_
  
   _ **25**_
  
   _ **26**_
  
   _ **27**_
  
   _About the Author_
  
   _Copyright_
  
  ![](Images/image00198.jpeg)
  
  ![](Images/image00202.jpeg)
  
  I clasp the flask between my hands even though the warmth from the tea has
  long since leached into the frozen air. My muscles are clenched tight against
  the cold. If a pack of wild dogs were to appear at this moment, the odds of
  scaling a tree before they attacked are not in my favor. I should get up, move
  around, and work the stiffness from my limbs. But instead I sit, as motionless
  as the rock beneath me, while the dawn begins to li