22
The Boys were gone maybe five minutes when John and George came running up to the kitchen.
"Mom. Dad. Paul and Pete were sucked down to the bottom of the pool." We ran down to the pool. They was no where to be found I dove into the pool. The current was very strong. I managed to surface.
"The current is very strong. Go to the island I will follow the passageway."
Paddy, Colleen and Lizzy went back up the stairs. Liam and Beverly stayed with John and George.
I did not have to swim down the passageway. The current was pushing me along. I surfaced in the middle of the river. The island was further away then it was in the Fall. The water was quite high. I swam to the island.
Paddy, Colleen and I reached it at the same time. The Boys were crying amongst the trees. "Paul. Pete. Are you all right?" I said coming out of the water.
"Momma!" They looked up.
Paddy shifted and was standing beside me.
"Boys are you all right?"
"Papa!" We both held on to one. Colleen flew around us.
"I was so scared. It felt like something grabbed me."
"Sh! It is all right. You are safe now." Paddy and I carried the Boys around our island. It had shrunk quite a bit.
Colleen swooped down behind some trees.
"Paddy. Kylie from what I can tell the water is coming from the North."
"All right Mom."
She shifted and flew back above us.
"How are we going to get them back to shore?" I asked.
"The water is moving very fast. I will be a dolphin and bring one across at a time."
Paddy gave me Pete. He ran then dove into the water. He popped his head up as a dolphin.
I put the Boys down.
"All right wait here. I am going to bring Pete to your father."
I picked up Pete and carried him into the water.
"Now you hold onto the top fin. Your father will bring you back to shore." Pete nodded.
I placed him in the water and put his hand on Paddy's top fin.
I watched as Paddy swam to the shore. Colleen and Shaun were waiting for them on the other side. I went back for Paul.
Paddy was back a few minutes later.
"All right Paul. Your turn."
I followed them, halfway across a tree floating in the river crashed into Paddy. It knocked Paul off. He was drifting downstream. Paddy and I went after him.
I held on to Paddy's fin as we followed our son down the river.
We reached the rapids. We were tossed around like rag dolls.
When we entered the calmer water. Paul was laying face down in the water.
We finally reached him. I turned Paul over his face had cuts all over it. I could feel all the broken bones in his young body.
Paddy and I took turns blowing air into his lungs.
Nothing.
Over the sound of the rapids we could hear a heart wrenching cry. We knew it was Pete.
