“Going somewhere?” Gerald’s voice broke the stillness of the front room.
Robert paused, squinting against the darkness.
His friend stood in the parlor, his face washed in the orange glow from the bay window, a cup in his hand.
“Can’t sleep. I thought I might go out and take another look for—for the Fischers.”
Gerald snorted, turning back to the view and taking a sip of the drink. “For Abby, you mean.”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re being honest. It’s a step in the right direction. Maybe the thump on your head did you some good after all.” Gerald gestured out the window. “It’s an unbelievable sight. I just can’t get my head to believe what my eyes are seeing—what they’ve already seen today.”
Robert joined him. “I know what you mean.”
“So much change in the course of one day. Who’d have thought it possible?”
The night sky crackled with the sound of distant dynamite. Robert pulled his braces up over his shoulders. “And how much more is changing with every passing moment?”
Gerald lowered the cup and met Robert’s eyes. “But one thing hasn’t changed.”
Turning from the window, Robert tipped his head, waiting for his friend to elucidate. “What is it?”
“You. You’re rushing off like a knight into battle.”
Robert yanked the watch fob, drawing the timepiece from his pocket. “Isn’t it what we’re supposed to do?”
“You know you won’t find her in the dark. It’s a fool’s errand. You’re taking action simply to make yourself feel better, and it won’t help Abby one bit. At times like this, we have to trust God to handle things.”
Robert opened the watch and tried to read it by the flickering light. “Doesn’t God help those who help themselves?” The hour hand had just passed the two.
“The world says so. Scripture says God helps the helpless and when we put our trust in Him, He straightens our paths.”
Robert clicked the watch shut and returned it to his trouser pocket. “You’re full of wisdom tonight. So, we just let them wander in the dark and the smoke and hope God is watching over them while we sleep?”
Gerald turned, the glow casting an odd mixture of light and shadow across his face. “We don’t hope, Robert. We pray, and we trust.” He patted Robert’s arm before heading for the stairway.
Silence fell across the room like a woolen blanket. Weariness crept over Robert and he leaned forward, letting his weight rest against the window frame. “You’re out there somewhere, and I can’t do a thing about it.” He took a deep breath. Was Gerald right?
“God, show me what to do.” His breath fogged the glass as he whispered the words. “I don’t want to wait and trust, I want to take action.” He allowed the prayer to roll around in his mind. “If I must wait . . .” He stepped back so the view would clear. “Then I pray You are with Abby tonight.”
He touched the glass. Was the fire growing closer?
Hold her . . . and protect her, Lord. Since I cannot.
2:15 a.m.
Abby stretched out on the pews, the hard wood a welcome cradle to her aching legs. Lying on her stomach, she pushed up on her forearms to look at Kum Yong. The woman’s smooth hair gleamed in the dim light as she lay with knees bent, her head resting on her arm, eyes closed. Warmth crept across Abby’s skin as she gazed at her new friend.
Cecelia had been an expert at gathering friends. People naturally flocked to her.
Abby had known Kum Yong only for a few hours and she already felt closer to her than any school chum. Why?
Kum Yong opened her eyes and pushed up on her elbows, mirroring Abby’s posture. She giggled. “We look like two sea lions on the shore.” Kum rested her chin in her hands. “I’m glad you are staying with us, Abby.”
The warmth spread through Abby. “I appreciate your kindness. Your friendship.”
In the dim light, Kum Yong’s teeth shone bright as a broad smile crossed her face. “I am glad to make a new friend.”
Abby lowered her head onto her arms and closed her eyes. Exhausted though she was, her mind buzzed with activity. She turned over to her back and stared up into the darkness, thinking about Mama and Davy sleeping in the open. Time dragged, each tick of the clock drawing her a step closer to sunrise and morning.
The windows rattled as a distant blast shook the building. Abby tensed. Each detonation seemed closer than the last. Were they really safe here?
She forced her eyes closed, willing her body to relax. If she could just grab a few minutes of sleep, the morning would soon arrive. Her thoughts drifted back home, imagining she walked through the orchard with Cecelia at her side. Her sister’s words rose and fell like notes of music, her face adorned with sunshine-filled smiles. Abby grabbed her sister’s hand and the two ran toward home, feet flying over the dusty earth.
Another rocking blast dragged Abby back to the darkened church, the building vibrating like a tolling bell. The blackness of the room closed in, wrenching her gut. Abby rolled to her stomach and buried her face in her arm. Hot tears stung her eyes.
Kum Yong sat upright. She eased down to the narrow space between the pews, placing a cool hand on Abby’s shoulder. “Abby?”
Choking back the tears, Abby cleared her throat. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you?”
A soft laugh tickled the darkness. “Who can sleep with all the bangs?” Her hand traveled down Abby’s arm until it reached her hand. “Come with me.”
Abby pushed up to a sitting position. “Where?”
With a gentle tug, Kum Yong guided her down the center aisle, slinking like a mouse through the shadows. The young woman pushed through a swinging door at the back of the room.
Abby followed her into an equally dim room beyond. A round, stained glass window on the back wall shone like a beacon in the darkness. Kum Yong’s face reflected the faint light. They settled on a cushioned bench, sitting shoulder to shoulder.
Kum Yong broke the silence. “Why are you crying? Are you scared? Do you miss your family? Your sister?” She reached over, capturing Abby’s hand.
Abby released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. “Yes—well, no.” She shrugged. “It’s just all too much. Everything has gone so wrong.” She pressed fingers against the bridge of her nose. “Yes, I miss my sister. All the time. Not a moment goes by I don’t think of her.”
Kum Yong’s shoulder pressed up against hers. “Tell me about her.”
The lump growing in Abby’s throat made it difficult to speak. She coughed into her sleeve, squeezing her eyes shut. After another press from her friend’s hand, she took a deep breath, the memories flooding her mind. “She was like sunshine. Everyone was special to her. She never said a bad word about anyone.” Abby paused, considering her words. “Well, she teased sometimes, to make people laugh. Never to hurt. Her optimism used to irritate me. I’d be fretting about something and she’d find some way of turning it around. She had a way of making things look better.” A tear slipped onto her cheek and Abby lifted a hand to brush it away.
“And now?”
The words jabbed Abby’s heart. More tears broke free, wandering down to her jaw line. Her voice cracked. “There is no one to turn it to something good.” Abby held her breath, trapping a sob in her throat.
Kum Yong wove her arm behind Abby’s back. “You miss her.”
A painful hiccup made Abby jerk. “I’m angry with her.”
Her friend cocked her head. “Why?”
A rushing current flowed through Abby’s arms and legs. “She didn’t keep fighting. Because she went away and left me here by myself.”
Kum Yong nodded and leaned close, rubbing tiny circles on Abby’s back. For a long time the room sat silent except for distant rumbles and the occasional sniff.
At length, Kum Yong lowered her head. “Jesus, please help my friend, Abby.”
Abby stiffened.
Kum Yong kept a firm grasp on her hand. “You know
her pain, Lord. You understand her anger. Please show her she does not walk this earth alone.”
Silent tears dripped down Abby’s face, landing on their clasped hands.
“Amen,” Kum Yong whispered.
Abby pulled her hand free and pressed both her palms against her eyes.
Kum Yong squeezed her shoulder. “You’re not alone.”
32
2:35 a.m.
Robert plodded up the stairs, his heart heavy. Pray and trust. Pray and wait. Pray and sleep? Somehow, he couldn’t imagine it working, but he might as well make the attempt.
He sprawled on the bed, the room dark except for the faint glow from the window—the distant fires felt like they burned within his head as well. Robert pressed his face into the pillow, trying to bury the ache. He rolled to his side, shadows crawling across the wall as his eyelids drooped.
The shadows followed him into sleep.
In his dreams, Robert staggered down countless streets, scanning faceless crowds and calling Abby’s name until his voice gave way. His heart pounded as he crawled over rubble and searched through burned-out structures. I know she’s out here somewhere.
An electrical wire coiled like a hissing snake, arcing and spitting sparks into the night. Robert reeled backward, stumbling into a dark alley. He pressed his back against a wall, fingers splayed out across the rough bricks. The roar of the fire chased every thought from his mind and he ran in blind panic, the blaze licking at his heels.
A single thought cut through the din like a scalpel.
She’s at the church.
3:00 a.m.
In the dark recesses of the church, Abby dug for her handkerchief. “I wonder what time it is.” She pressed the small square against her eyes, the fabric reeking of smoke, dirt, and sweat. She lifted her arm, burying her nose in her sleeve. The foul odor clung to her clothes and body.
Kum Yong stood by the door, staring into the dark sanctuary.
“What is it?” Abby rose.
“What is Lo Mo doing?” Kum Yong’s soft voice stirred the air. In her soft shoes, she walked in perfect silence, stepping around sleeping forms until she reached the front.
Clutching her high-button shoes, Abby crept after her, careful to place her feet in the same places, lest she step on someone’s fingers.
Light spilled from a small lamp, creating an inviting half-circle on the wood floor near the altar. Miss Cameron pushed her arms into the sleeves of a long coat. Mrs. Ling fastened a cloak about her rounded shoulders.
Kum Yong’s eyes widened as she rushed to the women’s sides. “Where are you going, Lo Mo?”
Miss Cameron pinned a feathered hat over her silver hair with an air of confidence belying the lines etched on her forehead. “Don’t worry, girls. I just need to get a few things from the Mission house before the fire reaches it.”
Kum Yong grasped the edge of Miss Cameron’s sleeve. “Take me with you. I want to help.”
Mrs. Ling frowned at her outburst. “Kum Yong, foolish girl! Go back to sleep.”
“It’s all right, Mrs. Ling.” Miss Cameron smiled and patted Kum Yong’s hand. “I would feel better if you stayed here and helped watch the smaller children.”
Kum Yong straightened to her full height. “Ma-Yi and Yoke Soo can look after the little girls. I can help you carry the things back.”
Miss Cameron and Mrs. Ling exchanged looks. The missionary pulled on a pair of gloves. “We could use the assistance, I imagine.”
Abby stepped out of the doorway. “Then, I will come, too.” Her knees trembled.
Miss Cameron’s brows arched high above her gray-brown eyes.
“If I can’t help my family—at least let me help yours.”
Kum Yong grasped Abby’s arm. “Please, Lo Mo.”
After a long sigh, Miss Cameron nodded. “Very well. You can both join us. But stay close and follow my instructions exactly.”
A new energy coursed through Abby, her skin tingling.
Miss Cameron reached a hand out to Mrs. Ling and another to Abby. “I think this is a good time to pray.”
Mrs. Ling stepped in next to Kum Yong, closing the circle.
The women’s heads bowed. Abby studied their faces as they prayed. Such an unlikely group—the stoop-shouldered Chinese woman, the silvery-haired Christian missionary, and Abby’s new big-hearted friend. Faith seemed to wind through their lives like the grapevines trailing up the trellis at Aunt Mae’s. A bittersweet longing whispered in the stillness of Abby’s heart. She closed her eyes, floating on the words, until Miss Cameron finished the prayer.
Miss Cameron squeezed Abby’s hand, her gaze traveling in a circle. “Let’s go.”
Abby followed the women into the night. The streets were empty now except for a few stragglers still wandering in the dark and others sprawled out, sleeping atop their belongings.
Lifting her gaze, Abby watched as the glowing clouds floated into the night sky, the hairs on her arms rising. Were they really going to march into the firestorm? Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to dash back into the silent church and hide beneath one of the pews.
Mrs. Ling placed hands over her cheeks. “It’s come so close. I pray we are not too late.”
The fire’s glow reflecting in her eyes, Miss Cameron did not glance at the flames, but started up the hill, her skirt flapping as she walked.
Abby hurried to catch up, the two Chinese women on her heels. “What is it you need to save?” What could be so important?
Miss Cameron’s eyes never strayed from the path. “I’m sure Kum Yong has told you what we do at the Mission. Every time we rescue a girl from slavery, I petition for legal, custodial rights. We maintain paperwork for every girl. With City Hall in ruins and the police busy with the disaster, I would hate to see someone take advantage of the crisis and steal a girl from my care.”
Forced to take multiple steps to match the woman’s determined stride, Abby lifted the hem of her skirt to keep it out of the way of her rushing feet. Mrs. Ling and Kum Yong jogged along in their wake.
Miss Cameron reached a gloved hand to straighten her hat, adjusting the pin holding it firmly to her hair. She lowered her chin, eyes darkening. “When we left this morning, my only thought was to get my daughters to safety. Now, I need to make sure they remain safe.”
Kum Yong caught up, breathing heavily, her eyes glittering in the dim light. “What happens if we can’t save the papers?”
“Then we have no proof you girls belong with me. In the time it would take to get the paperwork replaced, the Tongs could make our lives difficult.” Miss Cameron shook her head, face grim. “I will not let our work go up in smoke. God would not bring us so far, only to let us fail.”
Kum Yong laid a hand on Abby’s arm. “Lo Mo,” she paused, taking a deep breath. “Abby asked why God allowed me to be a slave. Why didn’t He prevent it? And why didn’t He save Abby’s sister from dying? Why does He let bad things happen?”
Abby’s face flushed. This seemed like a bad time to be questioning Miss Cameron.
The woman slackened her pace, as if the question gave her reason to pause. “I imagine many people are asking those types of questions tonight. I don’t believe God makes bad things happen, Kum Yong. He is with us every moment of our lives—through the good and the bad. The Bible says when Jesus’ friend Lazarus died, Jesus wept with Lazarus’s sisters. It says His heart was ‘greatly moved.’ He feels our pain, He shares it.”
The words pulled at Abby. She swallowed, her mouth dry. “He could have stopped it. If Lazarus was His friend, why didn’t He intervene?”
Miss Cameron’s chuckle dispelled some of the gloom of the night. “That’s exactly what the sisters said. ‘Lord, if only you had been here, our brother would not have died!’ But Jesus had a plan to show everyone God’s glory and His power. He brought Lazarus back from the dead.”
The smoke stung Abby’s eyes. “Because Lazarus was His friend. He’s not going to do the same for my sister.”
&
nbsp; “I think Jesus wanted people to understand He holds power over death.”
“If He has power over death, why didn’t He keep my sister alive?”
Miss Cameron waited a long moment before speaking. “Abby, may I ask you a question before I answer that?”
Darkness covered Abby’s nod. “Of course.”
“Did your sister believe in Jesus? Did she trust Him?”
“Wholeheartedly. During her last few weeks, it’s practically all she would speak of.” The memory stung.
Miss Cameron turned her head, gazing at Abby with a smile. “Then your sister is not dead in the grave, she is safe in His arms. She is rejoicing in His presence this very moment. She is not wandering frightened through a burning city. She is at peace in a way we cannot fully comprehend.”
Abby’s breath rattled in her chest as she struggled to the top of the steep hill. She imagined Cecelia laughing and smiling with Jesus, running through the fields of heaven. It is what Cecelia had believed—but was it true? Or just wishful thinking?
Apparently unfazed by the climb, Miss Cameron continued. “God is here as well. He is walking with us now, supporting us with His strong hands. God feels your sadness, Abby. He mourns with you. Not for your sister’s death, but for your loss. If you let Him, He will see you through this.”
As the woman finished speaking, Abby slowed her steps, falling back to walk with Kum Yong. After passing the top of the hill, they looked down the steep incline toward the glowing inferno below. A hot smoky wind blasted up to meet them. An explosion shook the ground, echoing through the nearby buildings.
Abby and Kum Yong hurried to keep up with Miss Cameron and Mrs. Ling as they trotted down Sacramento Street, the air growing more sweltering with every step.
“The Mission.” Mrs. Ling breathed the word like a sigh of relief. The five-story brick building stood silhouetted, like a dark fortress, against the glowing sky. Miss Cameron and Mrs. Ling hastened the last few steps as Kum Yong trailed behind.
Abby paused, straining to read the letters etched in the stonework above the front door: “Occidental Board of Foreign Missions.”
Out of the Ruins Page 20
