jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第15章

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　of　thunder；　and　Ron　realized　the　clouds　were　racing　away　from　the　island　in　their　direction。　More　lightning　traced　constant　jagged　patterns　and　lit　up　the　clouds　while　overlapping　peals　of　thunder　sounded　nearly　deafening。
　〃Mant　almost　as　good　as　a　laser　show！〃　Chris　yejled　above　the　thunder。
　〃It's　too　close；〃　Carmen　shouted　into　Ron's　ear。　〃Can　we　move　away…〃
　A　stiff　breeze　suddenly　hit　them；　interrupting　Carmen。　It　was　then　Ron　realized　the　danger。
　〃Carmen！　Get　life　jackets　on　Rosa　and　Chris　and　one　on　yourself；　and　get　below！　Secure　everything。　Quickly！〃
　〃What's　wrong？〃
　Ron　hesitated。　Rosa　and　Chris　were　staring　at　him　with　frightened　eyes；　but　there　was　no　hiding　what　was　ing；
　〃I　think　we're　going　to　be　hit　by　a　tidal　wave。〃
　Rosa　and　Chris　looked　stunned；　but　Carmen　immediately　took　action；　herding　the　kids　into　the　cabin。　The　breeze　was　getting　stronger　and　waves　were　rolling　the　Entrepreneur　to　starboard。　Ron　hit　the　Start　button　and　listened　to　it　crank；　his　eyes　never　leaving　the　sinking　island。　After　a　few　seconds　of　eternity　the　little　engine　chugged　to　life；　but　it　wasn't　designed　for　outrunning　a　tidal　wave　and　could　manage　only　a　few　knots。　Ron　hesitated；anguished。　Rationally　he　knew　his　best　chance　was　to　head　into　the　wave；　but　every　cell　in　his　body　was　programmed　to　run　from　danger；　not　toward　it。　But　the　lives　of　his　son　and　his　new　family　depended　on　his　decision。　Finally；　he　put　the　Entrepreneur　in　gear　and　spun　the　wheel　to　starboard；　and　toward　the　island。
　Carmen　reappeared　on　deck　with　two　life　jackets。　Chris　and　Rosa　were　peeking　out　of　the　cabin　behind　her；　worried…but　Ron　was　reassured　that　they　didn't　reflect　his　own　mortal　terror。　Carmen　looked　around　briefly　and　then　turned　to　Ron。
　〃Aren't　you　going　the　wrong　way？〃
　〃If　there　is　a　tidal　wave；　we　need　to　head　into　it。　If　we　run；　it　will　catch　us　and　swamp　us。　If　it　hits　us　broadside　we'll　be　capsized。〃
　〃Won't　it　swamp　us　if　we　run　into　it？〃
　〃There's　a　better　chance　this　way。〃
　Ron　wanted　to　say　more；　but　there　was　no　conviction　in　his　words。　If　he　tried　to　explain　more　his　voice　would　quiver。
　〃Really；　this　is　the　best　chance。〃
　Carmen　took　the　helm　while　Ron　put　on　his　life　jacket；　cinching　it　tight。　He　stepped　below　to　double…check　the　kids'　jackets　and　weakly　attempted　reassurance。
　When　Ron　took　the　helm　again　Carmen　gripped　the　railing；　her　knuckles　white；　as　if　she　expected　the　wave　at　any　second。　The　wind　was　picking　up　and　the　clouds　from　the　island　were　beginning　to　block　out　the　stars。　The　lightning　was　only　intermittent　now。　Ron　found　the　occasional　peals　of　thunder　more　disturbing　than　the　constant　booming；　as　he　reflexively　used　the　pauses　to　prepare　for　the　next　boom。　The　starry　calm　night　of　a　few　minutes　ago　was　now　a　stormy　nightmare。
　Ron　looked　for　the　island　just　as　a　wave　broke　over　the　bow；　showering　Carmen　and　Ron　with　spray。　As　the　Entrepreneur　crested　still　another　wave；　Ron　searched　ahead。
　〃Carmen；　do　you　see　the　island？〃
　〃There；　I　think　there。〃　　　　　　　'　　。
　Ron　looked　but　saw　nothing　but　waves　and　spray。　At　least　Carmen　confirmed　that　they　were　probably　heading　in　the　right　direction。　More　waves　broke　over　the　bow　and　Ron　began　to　think　they　might　drown　even　before　the　tidal　wave　sank　the　Entrepreneur。　Then　Carmen　shouted　again。　〃Oh　my　god！　Ron；　look　at　that！〃
　Ron　could　see　nothing　but　gray。　Then　he　realized　he　was　looking　too　low。　He　tilted　his　head　to　see　an　edge。　The　tidal　wave　was　nearly　on　them。
　〃This　is　it；　everyone。　Hang　on　to　something。〃　The　Entrepreneur　started　dow〃　into　the　trough；　sliding　into　the　smoother　waters　before　the　wave。　The　dip　made　their　stomachs　lurch；　and　Ron　and　Carmen　gasped　as　the　towering　wave　rose　even　higher　with　each　foot　of　drop　into　the　trough。　Then　their　craft　started　up　the　wave。　Once　more　their　stomachs　churned　as　they　were　carried　up　by　bination　of　wave　and　engine。　The　Entrepreneur's　bow　tilted　higher　and　higher；　until　Ron　feared　they　would　flip　over　backward。　He　fought　to　keep　them　headed　directly　into　the　wave；　but　the　Entrepreneur；　buffeted　by　wave　and　wind；　wouldn't　stay　nose　on。　For　a　minute　he　thought　they　might　make　it　to　the　top　but　then　he　saw　the　curl。　It　wouldn't　even…be　close。
　The　curl　broke　over　them；　twisting　the　Entrepreneur　to　port　and　pushing　her　under　the　wave。　Ron　was　torn　from　his　place　at　the　helm　and　thrust　deep　into　the　sea；　pitched　and　tossed；　and　then　he　heard　the　screaming。　In　his　panic　it　took　him　seconds　to　realize　it　was　the　scream　of　metal。　Entrepreneur　was　losing　her　mast。
　Ron　let　the　currents　buffet　him　beneath　the　waves。　He　knew　if　he　started　swimming　while　still　disoriented　he　could　swim　himself　deeper；　so　instead　he　let　the　buoyancy　of　his　life　jacket　carry　him　to　the　surface。　As　the　buffeting　died　down；　he　regained　a　clear　sense　of　up　and　down。　He　kicked　his　legs　and　pulled　upward。　His　lungs　soon　screamed　and　he　blew　bubbles　trying　to　fight　off　the　urge　to　open　his　mouth　and　suck　in　the　sea。　He　kicked　harder　and　harder　as　lights　flashed　before　his　eyes。　He　had　only　seconds　of　consciousness　left　now；　and　he　dreaded　the　moment　when　his　breathing　reflexes　would　take　over；　filling　his　lungs　with　water。　Suddenly　he　broke　through　the　surface；　shooting　out　of　the　sea　and　breaching　like　a　whale。　He　gasped　for　air；　breathing　in　sea　spray　and　oxygen　all　at　the　same　time；　when　a　wave　hit　him　in　the　face　and　he　inhaled　a　mouthful　of　saltwater。　He　kicked　higher　out　of　the　water；　coughing　and　sputtering　up　the　brine；　his　lungs　and　nose　burn…ing。
　Searching　for　the　others；　he　bobbed　in　the　waves　which　towered　over　him；　but　nothing　like　the　tidal　wave。　He　rode　up　one　side　and　down　the　other。　He　knew　his　family　could　he　only　a　short　distance　away　and　yet　not　be　seen；　but　he　still　felt　desperate。　To　his　left　he　spotted　something　white　in　the　water。　He　kicked　up　the　next　wave　and　popped　up　again　for　another　look。　The　hull　of　the　Entrepreneur　was　bobbing　a　few　waves　away。　He　stroked　toward　the　hull；　kicking　up　at　the　top　of　each　wave　to　make　sure　of　his　heading；　but　he　saw　only　the　hull：　no　Chris；　no　Carmen；　and　no　Rosa。
　Ron　finally　swam　down　the　last　wave；　riding　it　right　to　the　hull…inverted；　but　it　looked　to　be　intact。　Still　he　found　no　sign　of　his　family…they　had　to　be　somewhere；　they　had　to　be！　He'd　lost　one　wife；　and　he　couldn't　stand　losing　another；　let　alone　a　child。　Ron　pulled　himself　to　the　stem　and　used　the　rudder　to　clatter　up　on　the　hull。　Then　he　heard　pounding。　The　kids　were　still　inside。
　Ron　slid　back　down　into　the　water　and　tried　to　dive；　but　his　life　jacket　pulled　him　back　to　the　surface。　He　unsnapped　the　catches　and　shrugged　it　off。　Now　he　could　feel　the　weight　of　his　shoes　and　clothes。　He　kicked　off　his　shoes　and　pulled　his　shirt　over　his　head；　and　then　he　dipped　below　the　surface；　stroking　down　to　the　inverted　deck。　In　the　murky　green　he　could　see　the　cabin　door　was　open。　He　swam　to　it　and　used　the　frame　to　propel　himself　through　the　opening。　He　could　see　legs　ahead　of　him　and　he　curved　up；　searching　for　the　air　pocket。　He　burst　through　the　surface　tension　to　find　a　foot　of　warm；　foul　air；　but　also　light；　someone　had　turned　on　a　floating　lantern。　Ron　turned　to　find　Rosa　staring　at　him；　her　eyes　wide　with　fear。　Even　soaking　wet　he　could　tell　she　had　been　crying。　〃Thank　God。　Oh；　Ron；　Chris　is　hurt。　I　can't　wake　him　up　and　I　don't　know　what　to　do。　I　couldn't　get　him　out　of　here。〃　Ron　looked　past　Rosa　to　Chris。　He　was　unconscious；　and　Rosa　was　supporting　his　head；　keeping　it　out　of　the　water。　Ron　pushed　through　the　water。　There　was　a　nasty　gash　high　on　Chris's　forehead　and　water　dribbled　from　his　hair　through　the　wound；　emerging　pinkish　on　the　other　side。　Ron　gripped　the　boy's　wrist　but　couldn't　tell　if　the　pounding　he　felt　was　Chris's　pulse　or　his　own。　Ron　shook　Chris；　talking；　urging　him　to　wake　up。　He　knew　the　longer　Chris　was　unconscious　the　more　serious　the　damage。　To　keep　him　alive　they　had　to　get　him　out　of　the　hull　and　into　the　fresh　air；　even　if　that　air　was　a　storm。　Tears　in　his　eyes；　Ron　fully　realized　Rosa's　dilemma。　She　could　have　saved　herself　by　swimming　under　the　water　and　out　to　the　surface；　but　she　had　to　leave　Chris　behind　to　do　that。　If　she　tried　to　take　him　with　her　he　would　drown　on　the　way。
　The　air　was　getting　worse。　Ron　knew　they　still　had　oxygen；　but　he　and　Rosa　were　beginning　to　gasp。　The　only　chance　was　pulling　Chris　under　and　letting　him　inhale　the　water。　He　knew　from　the　baby　swim　class　his　wife　had　taken　with　Chris　that　newborns　reflexively　stop　breathing　when　placed　under　water。　Would　that　reflex　still　exist　in　some　form？　Would　a　lower　part　of　Chris's　brain　take　over　and　protect　him　for　the　underwater　trip？　If　only　Chris　could　keep　from　breathing　for　even　thirty　seconds；　Ron　could；　have　him　out　by　then。　Then　a　solution　occurred　to　him。
　〃Rosa；　feel　around　in　the　water　there。　Find　some　tape；　wide　tape。　It's　in　the　everything　drawer。〃
　The　〃everything　drawer〃　was　the　place　where　they　put　everything　that　had　no　other　place。　Ron　kept　two　or　three　kinds　of　tape　in　the　drawer；　most　of　them　useful　even　if　wet。　Rosa　felt　around　briefly　and　then　took　off　her　life　jacket　and　ducked　under　the　water。　While　she　swam；　Ron　pulled　Chris　to　the　rear　of　the　cabin；　where　a　rack　for　drying　clothes　was　attached　to　the　wall。　He　felt　around　until　he　found　a　clothespin；　and　then　started　back　to　Rosa。　Rosa　was　still　ducking　under　the　water；　occasionally　ing　up　with　something　in　her　hand；　holding　it　to　the　light；　and　then　tossing　it　aside。　She　popped　up　again；　this　time　with　a　big　roll　of　silver　tape　in　her　hand。
　〃I　got　some；〃　she　said　and　held　it　up　for　Ron　to　see。　She　was　smiling；　happy　to　be　doing　anything　that　might　save　Chris。
　Ron　supported　Chris　while　Rosa　unsnapped　the　catches　on　his　life　jacket；　then　they　wrestled　it　off　the　limp　boy。　The　inert　weight　of　his　son　unnerved　Ron；　who　struggled　to　support　Chris's　head。　When　the　life　jacket　was　off；　Ron　peeled　up　a　length　of　tape；　then　struggled　to　tear　it。　It　finally　tore　but　folded　up　against　itself。　At　least；　Ron　reflected；　it　was　still　sticky　when　wet。　Futilely；　Ron　tried　again。　The　air　was　much　worse　and　Ron　realized　they　were　running　out　of　oxygen。　He　was　about　to　tell　Rosa　to　swim　out　when　she　ducked　under　the　water。　Disappointed；　he　still　knew　she　made　the　right　decision。　Now　the　oxygen　would　last　a　little　longer。　Ron　was　struggling　with　still　another　length　of　tape　when　Rosa's　hand　suddenly　appeared　out　of　the　water　holding　an　Exacto　knife。　Her　face　followed；　smiling　broadly。
　Ron　smiled　back；　grabbed　the　knife；　and　sliced　off　tape；　pressing　it　down　firmly　over　Chris's　mouth。　Chris　began　to　breathe　deeply　through　his　nose；　with　an　alarming　liquid　sound　to　it。
　〃Okay；　Rosa；　time　to　go。〃
　Rosa　hesitated；　her　eyes　reflecting　her　concern。　〃I　can　help　with　Chris；〃　she　offered。　
　〃You　wait　on　the　other　side　for　him　and　help　pull　him　up。〃
　Rosa　nodded；　sucked　in　a　deep　breath；　and　disappeared　into　the　liquid　gloom。　Ron　gave　her　time　to　swim　out；　then　moved　Chris　to　the　opening。　He　had　to　push　him　under　a　couple　of　feet　of　water；　through　the　cabin　door；　and　then　out　past　the　helm　to　the　surface。　A　short　swim；　but　it　would　be　difficult　with　a　dead　weight。　Ron　determined　to　do　it　the　first　time；　took　several　deep　breaths；