“Okay, I’ll help her.” Coach swiped his hand over his bald head. “Are you okay, son?”
The son reference made me remember my dad again and I wondered if he survived. “Yeah, but I think I need to leave now. My dad probably needs me. Are you going to be okay?”
“Don’t you worry about us. Go home to your dad. Thanks for helping us out.”
“No worries.” I walked back to get my shirt and bloody sweatshirt from Shiloh’s dead body. I stood over her stiff frame for a moment, wishing I could bury her before taking off toward my house.
~~ Adela ~~
Max and I sat crouched atop the rubble and I turned to the sound of voices coming from behind us as a small group of people headed in our direction.
“Max, look.” I pointed to the group.
“Oh great.” Max held his hands in the air palms facing the crowd. “Stop! Don’t climb up. There’s no place to go. Nothing but a huge drop; too large to jump over.”
A man in a red jacket carrying a little girl in his arms yelled, “No way else out! The gas station fire is consuming the entire other end of the street. Pretty soon, the fire will reach here unless the fire department comes. We’re trapped.”
I glanced at the areas on both sides of us. They were impossible to get around and impossible to jump over. The quake caused a huge crevice extending indefinitely toward the west. The crumbled buildings on each side were too high with too much broken glass. I believed one of them used to be City Hall. The old brick structure’s huge glass window that once wrapped completely around one corner lay scattered along with the brick. I scanned the area as something caught my eye.
“Max, over there,” I yelled, pointing toward a huge pile of rubble.
Max’s gaze followed my finger. I wasn’t sure if he was irritated or confused by the way his forehead crinkled. “What?”
“Those beams.”
“What would we …” Max paused as his brain registered what I wanted to use the beams for, then he shook his head. “No, Adela. No way in hell.”
“Yeah, we could position them over the road here and walk across.”
He continued to shake his head. “No! Too narrow.”
“Max, it’s our only chance.”
Max looked at the group of people waiting at the bottom of the pile of rubble. “Come on, Adela, let’s get down. We’ll find another way.”
What the hell was Max’s problem? He was acting so irrational.
“No way am I going to walk across a thirty-foot drop on a twelve-inch steel beam. A person would have to be insane to do that,” Max said as he glanced at the depth of the drop again. He shivered as though the chill rose from his spine and settled at the base of his skull. “There has to be another way.”
He helped me take my first step down from the pile of debris when the asphalt under my foot shifted and slipped out from under me. I screamed and Max grabbed my arm tighter to steady me. The asphalt continued to shake as the aftershock got stronger. He tugged me down with him to a crouching position. Losing our balance now would be extremely detrimental to our bodies, not to mention our lives. We were too close to the edge and neither one of us wanted to look down the other side.
“Don’t move or we’ll fall over the ledge,” he said and I braced myself, praying the pile of concrete under us didn’t collapse. A large oak tree snapped in half as the ground beneath it split open, knocking some power lines to the ground. The thick trunk crashed into the middle of the street inches from the man holding the little girl. One of the ladies screamed as the power lines hissed and sizzled close to her feet. Trying to avoid contact with the sparking wires, her arms flared out as if she were struggling to keep her balance while walking a tightrope. The little girl clung to the man, her arms around his neck and her face buried in his jacket. The shaking seemed as powerful as the one earlier, but stopped about fifteen seconds later and the rumbling subsided.
“Quick, give me your hand. Let’s get down while we still can,” Max urged.
As we stepped onto level ground, the man with little girl approached us. “How large is the gap?”
“About fifteen feet. Way too large to get over,” Max said.
“There are a couple of steel beams in a pile of debris we could use to get across,” I pointed to the side of the rubble where the beams lay crisscrossed over each other.
Max glared at me. Why didn’t he want me to mention the beams? They looked plenty wide enough for someone to walk over. He ran his hand through his hair, turned to me and shook his head, again. “No. I already told you, they aren’t big enough.”
“Max, they are. They’re at least twelve inches wide.”
“Twelve inches is nothing. They’d have to be ten times that for me to place one foot on them.” Max seemed completely rattled and I thought I heard him mumble, “At least wide enough so I wouldn’t be able to look down.” Then a little louder, he said, “Even if they were, which they’re not, we could never lift them into position.”
“Well, we have to try. We have enough people here. The fire is heading straight for us.”
“I think the girl is right.” The man glanced back at the approaching flames and set the child down. “Stay here, honey. Come on folks, we need your help. We’re gonna see if we can get these beams across the opening and crawl across.”
Three large men followed him across the street to the beams. An older short woman and a rather skinny tall one stayed back with the little girl. Max and I walked with the men and we all studied the beams for a minute.
“Any suggestions?” Max asked, his voice dripping with grimness and I wanted to shake him out of his obvious state of fear. What happened to the daredevil guy who I thought I knew so well?
“If we pull them back, and lay them up here,” I pointed to the edge of the drop, “maybe we can push them until they are far enough to reach the other side.”
“That idea might work. Name’s Roy, by the way,” said the man who had been holding the little girl.
“I’m Adela,” I gestured toward Max, “and this is Max.”
“Howdy. Okay, you heard the little lady. Everybody grab a spot and on ‘three’ we pull toward the ledge.”
I took my place beside the beam and Max said, “I got this, Adela. No need for you to help.”
“I can help, Max. It’s gonna take all of us.” Why was he suddenly treating me like a weakling? We all placed our hands under the beam and Roy shouted, “One, two, three!” I heard several grunts from everyone except Max. His face didn’t even look strained. Was he really not helping?
As we lifted, the heavy steel rose from the ground and settled down in front of the ledge. We all let go, and I rubbed my palms on my sweater to relieve the sting lifting the steel caused. Max stood watching me.
I glanced at the fire only a block away. Thick smoke saturated the air and visibility around us became almost impossible. I looked back at Max. He gulped as he watched the fire approach.
“Okay, when we do this part, we’re going to need to push up as well as over. Everybody ready? On three. One, two, three!” Roy shouted above the roar of the impending fire.
I pushed so hard I was sure my face scrunched into a gazillion wrinkles. Max’s face turned red as he shoved and I was relieved to know he was helping move those steel monsters. My fingers burned from the pressure against the metal and the beam tilted up.
Someone yelled; Roy, I think. “Keep it steady. Don’t let it slip. Steady, steady. Okay, slowly now, down we go.”
Everybody let out a sigh of relief when the beam touched down on the concrete on the other side.
“Okay, let’s get the other one,” Roy shouted.
The older short woman yelled up to us. “Isn’t one enough?”
“No!” Max shouted back.
“But the fire, it’s too close, we don’t have time.”
“She’s right. Let’s go with the one. Who wants to go first?” Roy asked.
“She should, it was her idea,” the shorter woman said
, pointing at me.
“Come on Max, let’s go.”
“No.”
“Max? What’s wrong?” He shook his head and took a couple of steps back away from everyone.
“Nothing. I think we need both beams, that’s all.” He slumped away and sat on a piece of concrete on the side of the road. I couldn’t believe my eyes. He was supposed to be the tough one here, but he almost seemed like he was about to roll up into a ball and whimper like a baby.
“You guys go on. We’ll come in a minute.” I walked toward Max with the need for an explanation that he didn’t look like he wanted to give.
I heard Roy behind me. “Okay. Come on, baby.” I turned to watch him pick up the little girl and carry her across the beam, one foot in front of the other like he’d been walking a tightrope his whole life. The others followed.
I stood in front of Max, hands on my hips. “Max, it’s our turn. Let’s go.”
“I can’t.” He propped his elbows on his knees and sank his face into his trembling hands, while shaking his head. I kicked his foot and he glared at me. I pressed my lips tightly together, not sure what to say to him. He looked like a scared little girl.
“Move over,” I said and he scooted to the left as I plopped down beside him. “Why not?” I coughed and he glanced back at the flames inching our way. I’d always been in awe of Max. He knew it and always enjoyed reveling in my admiration, up until this point, at least. I always considered him some sort of hero who never backed down from anything. Max was wimping out.
“The beam is too narrow,” he said. “I can’t do it. I’m afraid of heights.”
I blinked and felt my eyes grow huge as I gave him my best oh-come-on-you’ve-got-to-be-kidding expression. “You’re afraid of heights?” I tried hard to hide the sound of incredulous disappointment from my tone but he had to be joking.
He sat up and sighed, keeping his eyes straight ahead as though embarrassed to look me in the eye. I stared at him, waiting for an explanation.
“Remember when we were kids and we ventured into the woods on a pretend camping trip?”
I frowned. “Sure, I remember, but what does that have to do with this? There’s a fire about to consume us and if we don’t …”
“It was the bridge,” he interrupted quickly as though, if he didn’t get out what he wanted to say, he’d chicken out.
“What?”
“The bridge. When we came to the wooden bridge, remember the wooden bridge? It was only this wide?” He extended his hands out about two feet apart in front of him. “You ran ahead and left me on the other side. I stepped onto the bridge and got halfway across when one of the boards broke loose under my foot and my leg slipped through. I hung there calling for you, but you were too far ahead. I thought I would fall into the creek below and die. I finally managed to pull myself up and crawled on my hands and knees the rest of the way across. I had nightmares for months, actually years. I’ve been afraid of heights ever since.”
“That’s why you insisted we head home the long way that day. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because, I thought you would have laughed and called me a sissy or something worse. After that?” He shrugged. “There was never any need to mention it afterwards, until now.”
He peeked at me and I nodded, understanding. “I guess I’m not the strong and confident hero guy you thought I was.”
“I wouldn’t have made fun of you,” I said, unable to hide the hurt in my voice. It crushed me to know he hadn’t trusted me enough to tell me.
“I’m sorry, Adela. I never wanted to hurt you. You’ve been my lifeline. I just couldn’t bring myself to admit my fear.”
“I wish I’d known,” I said softly. Then suddenly, almost like a firecracker had lit from within me, fueling me with emotion, I was on my feet in front of him and in his face. “Max, this beam isn’t wood. It won’t break, I promise. You can do this. Look, everyone else made it across. Please, Max. If we don’t go, we’ll end up like roasted ducks here. You have to try or you’ll burn to death. Just follow me—we’ll go slowly.”
He looked up at the flames barely twenty feet away. We were surrounded by fire, soaring toward us on both sides of the street, consuming everything in its path. Windows burst, creating sounds of explosions and shattering glass. Roofs rumbled as they collapsed and sparks flew in all directions. He knew I was right.
“I’ve always heard that death by burning is one of the most God-awful ways to go. I suppose it would be better to die instantly, plummeting thirty feet or so to my death. Maybe I wouldn’t die; maybe I would just break something, or several things.”
“Come on, Max.” I tugged at his arm.
“Okay. Okay. You’re right. We die here for sure or maybe die there. Let’s go before I change my mind.”
Chapter 7
~~Adela~~
I didn’t know what I would have done if Max hadn’t given in. I couldn’t have left him; I’d even thought of having one of the guys come back and knock him out so they could carry him across the steel plank. What Max revealed hurt—not his fear, but the idea that he thought so little of me that he actually believed I would laugh at him. I guess he didn’t know me as well as I’d assumed. We walked to the beam and I was glad to see that one of the men, I think his name was John, had stayed back to wait for us. I managed to smile at him. “Thanks for waiting.”
“No problem. Couldn’t leave you kids over here.” He nodded at Max. “I was thinking maybe I’d have to knock you out and carry you across, son. Glad you decided to do this on your own. Go on now. I’ll be right behind you.”
Obviously, I wasn’t the only one with that thought. Everyone else stood on the other side, waiting patiently. The group consisted of nice, caring people and a warm feeling ran though me as we stood looking at them across the way. “Um … I’ll go first, take my hand.” I held Max’s hand in mine and stepped onto the beam. He followed behind me. “Don’t look down. Keep your eyes on my back. Don’t look at your feet.”
“How will I know where I’m stepping?”
“We’ll go slowly; feel your way with your feet. Keep your eyes focused on my back. You have my hand.” If you fall, I fall. So please don’t fall.
I took a few steps onto the beam and I felt Max stagger a little behind me. I stopped. “Steady, Max. You can do this. Just focus on my back,” I coaxed, sounding similar to the way I talked to Aaron and Ambie when they got frustrated trying something new.
All of a sudden Max let go of my hand. “Max, what are you doing?” I turned to see him crouched down on his knees, looking down at the bottom of the chasm.
“Go on, Adela. I’m fine. Just keep moving. I’ll do it this way.”
“Okay,” I said. I didn’t want to leave him there, but I didn’t want to stay there arguing, so I finished walking across. When I got to the end, I saw Max and the guy behind him stopped in the middle of the crossing. The man was saying something to Max that I couldn’t hear and then I saw Max nod. He slowly stood up. He looked at me and I kept my eyes on his as he took shaky steps across to me. When he took his last step off the beam in front of me, everybody cheered. Max took a deep breath, his face turned bright red, and he smiled.
“We’re gonna head north up toward Spanish Rock,” Roy said. “I figure it’s better to head northwest, since the quakes originated from the south and the east. Maybe we’ll get lucky and find a shelter with food and water. They should have a radio or something so we can find out how bad this thing is. You’re welcome to come along with us.”
“We need to get home. We live on the other side of the ridge.” Max pointed toward the mountain beyond the trees.
Roy swiped at the sweat on his brow. “I don’t think that’s wise, son. You’d be better off staying with us. A group has better odds of surviving in the wilderness than the two of you alone.”
“We’ll be okay. I’ve walked it before—it’s only about four more miles from here. Besides, our parents are probably worried about us,” Max said w
ith confidence.
“If that’s what you really want, then I s’pose there’s nothing we can do to change your minds. Thanks for your help with the beam and good luck to you. Let’s go, gang.” He picked up the little girl and they all walked away.
I wished that we could have stayed with the group. The support of some grownups felt good for the short while we had it, but I knew we needed to get home.
“Good luck!” I shouted over my shoulder and waved. The fire across the way took hold of the brush where Max and I had been sitting only moments ago, engulfing the entire area in flames as we hurried away toward the mountain.
~~ Courtland ~~
At the sight of all the destruction, I slowed to a jog. I wanted to get home as quickly as possible, but the damage was devastating and shocking. No doubt my dad would be too drunk to figure out what happened. I began running again, hoping he’d been sober enough to take cover when the earthquake struck. My nostrils filled with the stench of smoke and burnt rubber and I slowed down as a man staggered toward me. Blood marred his face and his eyes darted around in confusion.
“Are you okay?”
The man stopped and gave me a dazed and distant stare. “Uh, yeah. I ah … wouldn’t go that way if I were you.” He pointed in the direction behind him. “Fire up the entire street. No way to get through.”
I studied the road behind him. Smoke polluted the sky, changing it into a thick, black mass. “Thanks.” No point in trying to go that way. I headed in the opposite direction, taking off toward the woods. This way was faster anyway. I ran as quickly as I could, not stopping until I got to my driveway and froze. My breath caught in my throat as I watched flames engulf my entire home. Fear swept through me and I prayed my dad wasn’t inside.
I ran closer to the inferno, shouting, “Dad, Dad! Where are you?” The roar of the fire was deafening and muted my shouts. I stepped back unable to stand the intensity of the heat, and then sprinted to the rear of the house. “Dad, please, Dad! Where are you?”
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