jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第16章

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　be　difficult　with　a　dead　weight。　Ron　determined　to　do　it　the　first　time；　took　several　deep　breaths；　then　clamped　the　clothespin　on　Chris's　nose。　Chris　immediately　began　puffing　against　the　tape　and　Ron　saw　it　wouldn't　hold　long。　He　shoved　his　son　down　into　the　water　and　tried　to　follow　him；　but　Chris　kept　bobbing　upward。　After　a　couple　of　attempts　he　grabbed　a　fistful　of　Chris's　shirt　with　one　hand；　the　edge　of　the　door　with　the　other；　and　pulled　Chris　toward　the　opening；　like　propelling　a　slow…motion　torpedo；　Ron　strained；　trying　to　push　Chris　lower　with　one　arm　so　he　would　clear　the　opening　and　not　bang　his　injured　head　on　the　door　frame。　Chris　moved　toward　the　opening　slowly　at　first；　and　then　more　quickly。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
　Now　Ron　let　go　of　the　frame　and　pushed　Chris　down　with　both　hands。　As　the　boy　filled　the　opening　Ron　realized　he　had　overpensated。　Chris　was　going　to　clear　the　top　and　right　door　frame　easily；　but　not　the　left　frame。　Ron　didn't　want　to　slow　Chris's　momentum　so　he　tried　to　change　his　course。　He　managed　to　keep　the　child's　head　from　hitting　the　side；　but　the　frame　scraped　down　his　forehead　and　then　along　his　nose。　When　the　clothespin　scraped　off；　the　convulsions　started。
　Chris　began　twitching　and　jerking；　and　clawing　frantically。　Ron　tried　to　steady　the　boy；　but　one　flailing　leg　caught　Ron　in　the　solar　plexus　and　the　air　exploded　from　his　lungs。　He　tried　to　stay　under；　but　the　breathing　reflex　drove　him　to　the　surface。　He　broke　into　the　air　pocket　again；　filling　his　lungs　with　the　oxygen…poor　air　as　the　water　churned　with　Chris's　struggles。　Although　he　needed　more　oxygen；　he　forced　his　mouth　closed　and　his　head　back　in　the　water；　still；　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　stay　down　long。　To　his　horror；　he　saw　Chris's　body　still　flailing　violently；　but　slower。
　Suddenly　Chris　shot　forward　through　the　opening。　Surprised；　Ron　returned　to　the　air　pocket；　gasping　in　the　nearly　spent　air；　and　then　dove；　following　Chris。
　Ron　came　up　gasping；　the　sea　air　quickly　flushing　his　system　of　the　excess　carbon　dioxide；　and　was　surprised　and　relieved　to　see　Carmen　helping　Rosa　shove　Chris　up　onto　the　hull　of　the　Entrepreneur。　Ron　pushed　the　boy　from　below　and　then　climbed　up　carefully。　The　boat　was　still　pitching　from　the　aftermath　of　the　tidal　wave；　although　the　breeze　had　died　down。　Ron　looked　at　the　sky：　black；　not　a　star　in　sight。
　On　the　hull　Rosa　was　pulling　Chris　along　behind　her　while　Carmen　pushed。　It　took　Ron　a　minute　to　see　that　Chris　was　moving　his　legs；　trying　to　help　himself　along。　Relief　spread　through　Ron；　his　son　was　conscious…not　the　same　as　okay；　but　in　the　right　direction。　He　watched　helplessly　as　Carmen　took　off　her　life　jacket　and　helped　Chris　into　it。　The　thought　of　diving　back　under　the　hull　sent　shivers　through　Ron；　but　they　needed　supplies　if　they　were　going　to　survive。
　Ron　relaxed；　let　gravity　pull　him　into　the　wet　blackness；　and　then　dove　under　the　hull。　Once　inside　he　didn't　bother　trying　to　breathe　the　stale　air；　instead　he　held　his　breath　and　pulled　open　the　bunk　exposing　the　storage　chest。　Survival　food　and　bottled　water　tumbled　out。　He　grabbed　two　water　jugs　and　headed　back　to　the　surface。　He　left　one　jug　just　inside　the　door　and　pulled　the　other　to　the　surface。　His　lungs　ached　when　he　reached　the　surface　again。
　〃Carmen！　Reach　this。　I'm　going　back　for　more。〃
　Ron　found　the　second　jug　easily　and　passed　it　up　to　Carmen。
　〃Ron；　what　about　the　life　raft？　Can　you　get　that？〃
　The。　inflatable　life　raft　was　strapped　to　the　bow　just　in　front　of　the　cabin。　It　was　packed　with　survival　gear　and　a　canopy。　Ron　hesitated。　He　couldn't　be　sure　it　was　still　strapped　to　the　deck。
　The　Entrepreneur　had　taken　quite　a　beating。　His　family　was　temporarily　safe　on　the　hull；　and　he　was　retrieving　food　and　water　they　would　need。　If　he　tried　to　unstrap　the　raft；　he　would　have　to　do　it　upside　down；　underwater；　and　it　might　take　several　dives。　He　decided　on　another　trip　for　the　gear　in　the　cabin　first　and　was　about　to　dive　again　when　Carmen　called　down　to　him。
　〃Ron；　is　there　a　life　jacket　for　Rosa？〃
　Suddenly；　Ron　was　mortified。　In　his　worry　about　Chris；　he　had　forgotten　about　Carmen's　child。　Ron　dove　again；　and　found　a　life　jacket　floating　in　the　cabin　and　wrestled　it　down　and　through　the　opening。　It　snagged　on　something　on　the　way　out　and　he　had　to　get　another　breath　before　he　could　free　it。　Carmen's　smile　when　he　tossed　her　the　life　jacket　meant　he　could　forgive　himself。
　Nearly　exhausted；　Ron　decided　it　was　time　to　get　the　raft。　Ron　paddled　forward　to　the　bow；　took　several　deep　breaths；　and　then　dove。　He　found　the　raft　almost　immediately　and　felt　for　the　straps　that　held　it　to　the　deck。　The　strap　catches　were　still　holding　but　one　of　the　straps　was　loose；　its　cleat　torn　away。
　The　raft　had　a　length　of　cord　with　a　loop　on　the　end；　for　looping　around　the　arm　or　leg。　Then；　when　you　tossed　the　raft　overboard；　you　pulled　the　inflation　ring；　and　the　rope　would　keep　the　inflated　raft　from　drifting　out　of　reach。
　Confident　he　could　locate　all　the　raft's　features；　Ron　returned　to　the　surface　to　replenish　his　air　supply。　On　the　swim　back；　he　ran　into　the　railing。　Now　he　was　getting　tired　and　making　mistakes。　He　wouldn't　be　able　to　do　many　more　trips　without　resting。　As　soon　as　he　broke　the　surface　he　heard　Carmen's　warning。
　〃Ron！　There's　something　ing；　another　wave！〃
　Ron　used　most　of　his　remaining　energy　to　sprint　to　the　stern　and　climb　up　the　rudder。　Chris　was　sitting　with　his　head　down；　but　Carmen　and　Rosa　were　staring　into　the　night。　Ron　turned　to　their　direction　and　spotted　the　wave。　It　was　almost　on　them。　Although　much　smaller　than　the　first　wave；　it　would　be　even　more　dangerous。　Even　in　the　dark　the　wave　was　a　chocolate　brown　color；　and　full　of　debris…even　whole　trees…from　the　island。　The　Entrepreneur　dipped　into　the　trough　before　the　wave；　nearly　rocking　them　off　the　hull；　then　started　to　rise　as　it　climbed　the　wave。　As　it　climbed　it　started　to　roll。　Then　something　hit　the　Entrepreneur　hard；　shaking　the　hull　and　tilting　it　even　farther。　Chris　slid　off　first；　but　Carmen　and　Rosa　went　with　him；　their　hands　gripping　his　life　jacket。　As　Ron　went　over　he　heard　pounding　and　tearing　as　the　Entrepreneur's　hull　took　the　beating　of　the　debris。　Some　swept　over　the　hull；　pounding　down　mud；　leaves；　and　limbs　on　Ron　and　his　family。　Something　huge　hit　the　Entrepreneur；　and　Ron　felt　himself　being　pulled　under　the　hull　by　an　undertow　and　fought　to　stay　on　top。
　Suddenly　the　wave　smashed　a　tree　trunk　into　the　hull　of　the　Entrepreneur；　nearly　splitting　it　in　two。　Splinters　from　the　hull　showered　the　family；　and　everyone　tried　to　kick　away　from　it　as　the　muddy　wave　finished　halving　the　boat。
　Ron　swam　toward　the　piece　of　the　hull　that　still　held　the　raft；　but　it　was　sinking　rapidly。　The　tree　trunk　that　had　shattered　it　was　between　Ron　and　the　raft；　and　he　dove　to　go　under　them。　As　he　swam　under　he　realized　it　still　had　many　branches　attached；　and　he　dove　deeper。　As　the　hull　sank　it　rolled　and　Ron　easily　reached　the　bow；　but　it　was　sinking　quickly　and　pulling　him　down　with　it。　He　hung　on　to　the　loose　strap　and　released　the　catch　of　the　other　strap；　and　the　raft　began　to　drift　out。　The　raft　was　sinking　fast。　Deftly；　Ron　pulled　the　inflation　ring　and　heard　the　pressed　air　flood　the　cells。　Ballooning；　the　raft　squirted　out　from　under　the　remaining　strap。　He　grabbed　for　it；　but　it　shot　out　of　his　reach。　His　lungs　burning　again；　he　kicked　for　the　surface　pulling　with　his　arms。
　He　was　farther　down　than　he　realized；　much　farther。　His　lungs　screamed　for　oxygen　and　he　was　flailing　like　a　drowning　man。　But　he　surfaced。
　When　his　panic　died　he　looked　around。　To　his　relief　he　saw　Carmen　had　the　children　organized　and　was　moving　them　toward　the　raft。　Exhausted；　Ron　rolled　over　to　his　back　to　float。　The　sea　was　too　rough；　however；　and　the　debris…laden　waves　kept　washing　over　his　face。　He　gave　up　and　rolled　into　a　breast　stroke；　reaching　the　raft　at　the　same　time　as　the　others。
　〃Rosa's　hurt；　Ron；〃　Carmen　said。　〃Help　her　into　the　raft。〃
　Ron　swam　around　Carmen　to　Rosa　and　found　her　grimacing　from　pain。
　〃What's　wrong？　Where　are　you　hurt？〃
　〃It's　my　side。　Something　hit　me。　I　think　it　was　a　tree。〃
　The　raft　was　octagonal；　with　four　inflated　pillars　that　held　the　canopy　four　feet　above。　The　sides　were　a　double　row　of　inflated　cells。　Ron　tried　to　help　Rosa　up　gently；　while　Carmen　did　the　same　thing　with　Chris。　Finally；　Ron　gave　up　on　gentle　and　shoved　hard。　With　a　gasp；　she　flopped　into　the　raft　and　lay　on　the　floor　shuddering。　Ron　hung　on　to　the　edge　of　the　raft；　exhausted；　then　felt　Carmen　pulling　him　up。　His　weight　pushed　the　raft　down　and　a　muddy　wave　washed　in　and　over　Rosa。　Then　he　felt　Carmen's　hands　on　his　bottom　and　she　pulled　him　up　and　over。　He　ended　up　on　his　back　in　the　soup　on　the　bottom　with　Rosa；　his　head　in　Carmen's　lap。
　The　raft　was　rocking　and　pitching；　but　still　it　seemed　restful。　Occasional　waves　broke　over　the　raft；　but　the　family　was　oblivious　to　them。　They　stayed　like　that　for　a　long　time。
　
　15。　　COOP
　
　There　were　thunders　and　lightnings；　and　a　thick　cloud　upon　the　mount；　and　the　voice　of　the　trumpet　exceedingly　loud；　so　that　all　the　people　that　was　in　the　camp　trembled。
　…Exodus　19：16
　
　Carlton；　Oregon
　TIME　QUILT：　SUNDAY；　12：13　A。M。　PST
　
　　Police　Chief　Vincent　Peters　was　eating　a　Mount　Vesuvius　in　the　Copper　Skillet　restaurant。　The　omelette　filled　his　plate　and　was　covered　with　chili　and　sour　cream。　He　knew　eating　it　this　time　of　night　meant　he　would　pay　in　a　couple　of　hours；　but　that　was　then　and　this　was　now；　and　he　was　going　to　enjoy　every　bite。　That　is；　if　Coop　would　let　him。　Reserve　Officer　Stanley　Cooper　was　across　the　table　working　on　a　Godfather's　Special；　his　eggs　covered　with　spaghetti　sauce；　olives；　and　sausage。　〃Coop；〃　as　he　liked　to　be　called；　was　temporarily　distracted　by　the　waitress　across　the　aisle；　who　bent　over　arranging　forks　and　knives。　Then　she　finished　arranging　the　table；　scooped　a　small　pile　of　change　into　her　palm；　and　left；　Coop's　eyes　trailing　after　her。
　〃As　I　was　saying；　Chief；　before　I　got　distracted〃…Coop　wiggled　his　eyebrows　up　and　down　and　then　continued…〃at　the　rate　we're　growing；　it　won't　be　long　before　you're　going　to　have　to　expand　the　force。　I　mean　we　already　got　a　fair　amount　of　fiscal　underachievers　for　a　city　our　size；　and　I　don't　have　to　tell　you　what　that　means。　We　also　got　ourselves　a　problem　with　transients　and　non…goal…oriented　members　of　society。　Just　last　weekend　we　ran　six　of　them　out　of　City　Park。〃
　Peters　was　listening　to　Coop　as　well　as　anyone　could；　but　wishing　he　wasn't。　A　city　the　size　of　Carlton　couldn't　afford　a　large　permanent　force　of　officers；　so　they　used　part…time　reserve　officers；　like　Coop；　to　fill　in。　Peters　needed　the　reserves；　so　he　took　them　to　lunch　occasionally；　had　them　out　to　his　house　for　barbecues；　and　was　generally　nice　to　them。　It　wasn't　always　easy；　especially　with　Coop。　More　than　any　of　the　other　reserve　officers；　Coop　wanted　to　work　full…time；　but　it　would　never　happen　as　long　as　Peters　was　chief。
　Nearly　everything　Coop　did　irritated　Chief　Peters。　For　example；　the　way　Coop　talked。　〃Fiscal　underachievers〃　were　poor　people；　〃non…goal…oriented　members　of　society〃　were　str