Her arms ached from the stress of all but carrying the two small figures. They couldn’t have been all that heavy, but Militine struggled nonetheless. Hurrying to keep up, she felt someone or something plow into the back of her. The force sent her and the girls to the ground. She knew she would have to act fast. The ground was the most deadly of places to be in a stampede of panicked people. Without thinking, Militine forced herself upward with a strength she didn’t know she possessed. The girls seemed to sense their death was imminent unless they helped, so they, too, fought to regain their feet. Together they stumbled to the other side of the street, where Wade and the others were waiting.
“Are you all right?” Thane asked, leaving his victims long enough to help Militine to safety.
“I am now.” The smoke choked out her breath. “It’s getting worse, isn’t it?” She met his eyes and could tell it was true without his even needing to answer.
Behind her something exploded, and she couldn’t suppress a cry. The girls began to weep. “Come on,” Thane encouraged. “We’re almost to the wagon.”
“The opera house is on fire!” someone yelled from behind them.
Militine turned to look down the street, but the smoke had thickened, settling lower than it had earlier. Her eyes burned and teared at the constant barrage of soot that moved through the air. Her lungs ached for clean air, and her throat had grown sore and dry. Would they ever manage to get out of this nightmare?
They finally reached the docks, only to see people chalking out sections where their belongings were to be placed. The few ships in Elliott Bay were taking on goods as fast as they could be moved up the gangplank. Wade’s horse and wagon were still there, but the animal, spooked by the commotion, was trying to pull against the brake to escape.
“I need to get back and help with the fire,” Thane said when they finally reached the wagon. He gently lowered the girls to the ground, then went to Militine and helped her with hers. Once free again, he took Militine in his arms. “Stay with Wade and the others and get back to the school. I’ll come as soon as I can.”
“Please come back to me, Thane. I can’t bear the thought of losing you. There is nothing else left.”
He smiled. “We have God. That’s more than we started out with.”
He kissed her firmly but briefly. He tasted of ash, and Militine felt her eyes tear up all the more. He was going to put himself in the thick of it. He might even be killed. She wanted to hold him in place, but he broke her grip and moved away. As he disappeared down the street, Militine had to fight to keep from running after him.
“The wind is picking up,” Wade said. “Let’s get everyone loaded in the wagon. Matt, help Abrianna get the girls in.” The boy nodded and did as he was told.
He lifted one of his girls into the wagon to sit atop the other things already gathered there. The horse whinnied and stamped. A man rushed up to Wade and took hold of his coat. “I’ll pay you a hundred dollars to come with your wagon and help me load up my merchandise.”
“I’m sorry. I’m transporting these ladies.”
The man shook his head. “They’re just a bunch of Chinese. Please help me.”
Wade pushed the man away. “Get out of here.”
Once all the girls were in the wagon, Wade motioned to Abrianna and Militine. “Get up on the seat. Matt, you sit at the back and keep an eye out for anyone who might try to commandeer this wagon. Abrianna, take the reins while I stay down here and try to guide the horse through the crowds.”
She nodded and climbed up to the driver’s seat. Militine followed her, turning once she’d claimed her seat to see if there might be a glimpse of Thane. There wasn’t.
The horse inched forward. It wouldn’t be easy to get him away from the docks and north to safety. Militine held her breath as Wade fought the people to maneuver even a few feet. Curses were hurled at them, as well as a few threats. Even more people begged Wade to come help them. The crowd was getting ugly in fear. Militine took hold of Abrianna’s arm for comfort. Her friend turned and gave her a weak smile.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” she said above the din. Militine wasn’t as sure, but she nodded nevertheless.
What little progress they made was soon halted by a collection of firemen who were hustling another pump to the bay. Militine could see the tide was still out. She had no idea if the men could reach water with their hoses or not, but it looked to be an awfully far distance.
“You won’t get far this way,” one of the firemen called out to them. “Everything in that direction is on fire.”
Militine looked at Abrianna. “What are we going to do? We’re trapped.”
Priam Welby hadn’t expected to be so long at his meeting. As he emerged from the Third Street offices, he could finally see what all the commotion was about. A runner had come to tell them that there was a large fire near Front Street, but there were always fires, and usually no one seemed overly concerned.
He stopped a policeman who seemed to be in a rush to join the fracas. “How bad is it?”
The man shook his head. “Everything is going up from Marion to Union. It’s coming this way, thanks to the winds. I fear we’re all doomed.” He said nothing more and ran off in the direction of the fire.
Welby looked in the direction of the Madison Building. A moment of panic washed over him. He had thousands of dollars of merchandise housed in the basement. Would his men have taken the time to get that stuff out and to safety? Then there were the girls. Pity that. There would be no way to get them out and keep them from being seen. Carl would no doubt try, but most likely they would have to remain where they were.
He thought for a moment, wondering if he should attempt to lend his assistance. If the fire was as bad as the officer claimed, it would spread fast and out of control. There was probably nothing any of them could do. He gave a shrug. Perhaps it would be best to go back to his home on Denny Hill. The fire would never spread that far, and from that vantage point he could watch the affair in comfort.
Abrianna gripped the reins tighter. Her hands ached and pain shot up her forearms. She gasped for breath but found little air in the black smoke. Getting the girls out of the basement and moving them this far had taken a toll on her energy. Fear ran through her like the flames that rushed from building to building. Everything around them was now burning, and the intense heat made it impossible to move away from the bay. At least the tide was starting to come back in. That would give the firemen some much needed water.
“We’re going to set off some dynamite,” a man told them, coming to where Wade stood. “You’re going to have to stay right where you are for the moment. Hopefully this will stop the fire’s spread. It shouldn’t take long and then you should be able to move on up and past the worst of it.”
Abrianna couldn’t imagine that dynamite would help. It seemed foolish to start another fire to put out a fire. She looked to her left and watched as frantic men scurried up and down the gangplanks of a ship called the Alameda. A man was fighting to pull a pump organ up the gangplank even as the ship was leaving the dock. He quickly lost control and the organ plunged into the bay, while the man barely managed to jump back to the dock. People were losing their minds in this madness.
Time seemed to stand still. There was no way of telling whether an hour had passed or if it had been two. She looked around for something to give her an idea, but even the sun overhead was darkened out by the thick billows of smoke.
An explosion shook the ground around them. “They’ve dynamited the White Building across from the Reinig Building,” Wade told her. “They’re hoping it will slow things down, if not stop it all together.”
The girls behind her were growing hysterical. “Wade, we have to do something. I don’t know what, but we have to get these girls out. Wait, what about Thane’s shop? Might there be a boat there? There are usually several tied off around there and even some in storage. We could load everyone up and push off into the bay. That way at least we won’t catch fi
re.” She didn’t want to tell him, but the scorching air and flying embers terrified her to the bone. It wouldn’t take much to set the wagon on fire.
“That’s worth a shot. I think I can maneuver the wagon down that far. Let off the brake.” He went back to the horse and took hold. “Come on, horse.” He pulled the straps, and the horse danced a bit but turned.
It seemed to take forever to reach Thane’s, and even there, Abrianna could see they weren’t much better off. Flames reached as high as the tallest buildings. Walls of orange, yellow, and red devoured everything in their path. The roar intensified, like a horrible hungry beast. She handed the reins to Militine and jumped to the ground.
“Wait with the girls, Militine. I’m going to help Wade find us a boat—or something.” She ran to catch up with him, but her legs felt like heavy weights, and it was a struggle just to move.
“I think other folks had the same idea.” Wade looked over the rail of the high dock. “There’s not a single boat tied up below.”
She looked around, assessing the situation. “There’s a small rower over here,” Abrianna declared. They both went to inspect. “It looks seaworthy.” But she could immediately tell that it wasn’t big enough for all of them.
Wade nodded. “I’ll lower it down to the water. Make sure the oars are inside.”
She did as he instructed and waited while he cranked the craft inch by inch to the water. Next they went back for the girls. One by one they managed to get them down the weathered steps to the water’s edge. Wade helped each of them into the boat. Thankfully they were small. To Abrianna’s amazement he managed to fit all ten of the girls into the vessel, with two of them sitting on Militine’s lap. Abrianna was waiting for him to say what she already knew. There wasn’t room for another three people. They’d be lucky if they could squeeze in one.
“Matt, you’re going to have to row. Between you and Militine you should be able to at least get out far enough to be safe.” Wade’s voice was calm and strong.
“What are you and Miss Abrianna going to do?” the brave young man asked, his voice cracking.
“Don’t worry about us. We’ll swim for it, if we have to. Just get going.”
The teen was in no way put off. “I don’t want to leave her here. You neither. We can just squeeze you in.”
“Look at the boat. You’re already overloaded and may start taking on water if you’re not careful. Now go.” He untied the vessel and gave it a push. “When you are able to get to safety, arrange to get everyone back to the school.”
Matt nodded and began to work the oars. Abrianna saw the concern in his expression, but it was certainly no more than her own. For all her bravery over the years, she had never faced a moment quite like this. Exhaustion and the feeling of being trapped didn’t suit her well at all.
“What are we going to do, Wade?”
He shook his head. “I’m not exactly sure. We can take up some of the planks off the dock and use them for keeping us afloat. The fire brigade did that down by my place to make fire breaks.”
“It’s getting closer, so we’ll have to do something soon.” She tried hard not to let her emotions get the best of her. Goodness, but a woman had to keep her head at times like this, even if she was scared down to her stockings. She wasn’t going to let Wade see her as a weak little mouse.
They climbed back up to the wharf only to realize that while they’d been below, the fire had spread to their location. Wade pushed her back toward the stairs. “Go. We’re not getting out this way.”
All of the ships, schooners, sailboats, rowers, and liners had pulled far out into the bay. For a moment Abrianna could make out the bigger vessels through the smoke, and then they too were swallowed up. She and Wade were completely alone.
“Good thing I taught you to swim,” Wade said, pulling off his boots.
“We’re really going to try to swim to safety?” She tried to show her bravery by untying her own high-top boots. Even that took a colossal effort.
“It appears to be our only choice.”
She paused and looked at him. Gone was all of her bravado. “Wade, I’m scared.”
He stopped unbuttoning his shirt and pulled her into his arms. “I know, but we’re gonna be all right. I already promised you I wouldn’t let harm come to you. Do you trust me?”
She pulled back and nodded. “I do, but I don’t trust these circumstances.”
The roar of the fire seemed to grow, and Wade released her. “Get rid of that skirt.”
Abrianna looked at him and then to the serge skirt blackened by the coal and soot. She supposed there was nothing else to do. She unfastened the button at the waist and let it drop. Her single petticoat left her feeling bare to his gaze.
“You’ll have to take off the petticoat, too. It’ll just get tangled around your legs in the water.”
“That would be highly inappropriate. I’m already in a state of undress, and to lose my petticoat would leave only my . . . drawers. Goodness, but my aunts would faint dead away from shame if they or anyone else found out. I’d be forever known as a . . . foolish ninny.”
“Better than being known as dead. I think even the old ladies will allow for it, since it’s probably going to save your life.” He threw his shirt aside and turned his back. “Hurry up. I won’t pay a lick of attention.”
Feeling completely ill at ease, Abrianna slowly untied the string that held her petticoat in place. Just then something crashed up above, sending a rain of sparks and embers down upon them. She kicked out of the petticoat and, without waiting for Wade’s instructions, jumped into the water.
He followed into the bay and motioned to move further out. “That’s all going to collapse behind us, and we need to be well away from it before it does.”
The water was cold, much colder than she’d figured, what with the warm days they’d been having. It wasn’t worth worrying about. She prided herself on being able to swim. Wade had taught her when she’d been a young girl. If only her muscles weren’t already so overstressed.
Behind her, Abrianna could hear the fire and destruction of the pier. She tried not to think of what might have happened to the horse or to Wade’s wagon. She hadn’t reset the brake and didn’t know if Militine had thought to do so. Maybe the animal would manage to get to safety. It was doubtful, but she prayed it might be so. And what was one horse compared to hundreds of people who might perish.
Oh, Father, please save the people of Seattle from death. The prayer gave her marginal comfort as she continued to stretch out her arms and stroke the water. Her feet felt like lead weights as the cold permeated her legs. She was grateful Wade had forced her to disrobe, knowing she’d have been pulled under by now from the weight of her skirt and petticoat.
She couldn’t feel her hands, and her arms were growing heavier by the minute. Apparently one needed to practice swimming a great deal to be very good at it for very long. She felt herself slowing, her strength giving out. She stopped and rolled onto her back to let her body float for a moment. Wade had taught her this, as well, as a way to rest should she get a stitch in her side.
“Abrianna, come on. I see a schooner not far.”
She shook her head, gasping as a wave of water washed over her. “Ca . . . can’t.”
Wade swam back to where she was floating and treaded water. “I’m not going to let you give up, you little hoyden. You’re always pushing everyone else to their limits, and now I’m demanding the same of you.”
“I . . . can’t. My arms wo . . . won’t move. I’m t-too cold.”
“Quitter.”
She gave a weak laugh. “Yes.”
“I won’t let you.” He grabbed hold of her arm. “I suppose I shall have to drag you to safety, like usual.”
She tried to think of something witty to say but was unable to think of anything. She opened her eyes, and Wade began to pull her through the icy water.
Behind them, Seattle burned.
22
Ahoy there!”
came a voice. It was like being in a dream. Who was it? Captain Jack? Hairless Mike? Maybe old Charlie. No, he was dead. Murdered last year and they never discovered his killer. Abrianna tried to speak, but only a moan escaped from her mouth.
“Permission to come aboard,” Wade said in a jovial tone. “Look, Abrianna, the navy has come to rescue us.”
She could hardly make sense of his words. With no strength left to her, Abrianna allowed herself to be dragged and pulled out of the water. She heard one of the men order another to get a blanket. The next thing she knew she was wrapped into a scratchy wool blanket and nestled down between Wade and Hairless Mike.
“Where are we?”
“Captain Jack took . . . borrowed this here boat,” Hairless Mike told her. “We thought to do our part and help them what couldn’t escape the fire.”
“Like us,” Wade declared. “We were trapped and had to swim for it. God was looking down on us when he sent you boys.”
“Ain’t nothin’ we wouldn’t do for Miss Abrianna. She’s cared for us like nobody else. She was never uppity to us, always offered us her kindness.”
Abrianna smiled. Her eyelids felt so heavy. She had once read an account of someone freezing and how they started to fall asleep. Was that happening now? Could someone freeze when a fire was burning down the town on a warm June day?
“Don’t go to sleep,” Wade ordered. He reached over and shook her hard. “You have caused me far too much trouble to let you get off scot-free.” He began to rub her arms. “I’ve spent a lifetime getting you out of one predicament and then another. The least you can do is be grateful and obedient.”
“You’re . . . so . . . bossy.” Despite the pain of his massage, Abrianna wanted nothing more than to sleep.
“Give her this,” Captain Jack said.
Refining Fire Page 22
