Racing to Their Deaths (ONC 2024)

🌪️ 9. Holy Grail

In the 21st century, the holy grail of tornado research is tornado genesis and tornado dynamics. —Tim Samaras. Tornado Researcher 1957-2013

"Don't move." Halle's right arm ached as she clutched the rope. The boards under her feet creaked as she tried to evenly distribute her weight and her knees trembled as she struggled to hold her crouched position.

"You're bleeding!" James eyes widened as he pointed to her left cheek. With her free hand, Halle gingerly felt her face. She winced as she removed a glass shard that was embedded near her eye.

"I'm fine, "she said, dabbing the rivulet of blood that poured down her cheek with her sleeve, "but we have to work fast." Throwing a coil of rope over an exposed support beam, she tossed the other end to James. "Have them tie this around the load bearing beam that's trapping Maria."

"It won't hold," said James dubiously.

"It better, or we'll all be dead." She narrowed her eyes and willed him to hurry.

"This is dangerous." He slid a few inches forward. "We can't do this." Gritting his teeth, he adjusted his stance on the wobbly piano top.

"The winch only has to hold for a few seconds. Give me your hand." She reached out to him. "On three, jump over to me." His racing heart stilled and he nodded. Her absolute calm made him trust her. Made him believe he could do the impossible.

Halle glanced down at her best friend. "Amy, get ready. James is going to drop the other end of the rope down to you." Blond hair flying, the pretty auto mechanic scrambled into position.

"Got it!" Amy snagged the rope out of the air and expertly secured the heavy beam.

"Naseem, as soon as that beam moves, get Zane out of there. Amy, you're going to have to grab Maria." She willed the tremor out of her voice and closed her eyes as her mother's voice echoed in her mind.

Halle. You need to be strong.

She took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and focused on the the problem at hand. "We'll only have a minute to get clear of this structure before it collapses.

Naseem tensed. "Be careful, Halle."

"You've got this, girl!" Amy shoved her hair under a beaten up Em and Em baseball cap she had found on the ground and leaned forward like a swimmer on a racing podium.

Halle looked at James. "Ready?"

He swallowed nervously as he nodded. "Yeah-no."

"Don't think. On three. One..two..three.." Halle pulled James toward her. The pieces of debris they had been standing on started to fall and the piano plunged to the ground and exploded. Together, they grabbed the rope. The coil bit into her hand, and she struggled to keep her grip as their combined weight shifted the heavy load-bearing beam. Her heart leapt as the opening where Maria was trapped was cleared.

Naseem dragged Zane backwards while Amy plunged feet first into the hole. Swinging wildly, James and Halle released the rope and rolled on the grass with loud grunts of pain.

"Get off of me." Tangled in a heap of arms and legs with James on top of her, she stared up at his startled face that was inches from her own.

Embarrassed, he rolled off of her and groaned. "Are you ok, Halle?" His voice was tight with concern.

Without answering, she hauled herself up and raced towards the hole that was surrounded by debris where Maria's muddy face had appeared. Halle grabbed her hand and pulled the child away from the structure.

"It's coming down!" Naseem shouted.

The hairs on the back of her neck tingled as one of the shivering walls crumbled. "Amy!" Halle, yelled.

The shredded wall toppled onto the hole Amy had entered. Splintered wood and debris filled the opening as a cloud of dust exploded in the air.

"No!" Her heart clenched until she couldn't breathe.

She trusted me and I killed her. Why did I tell her to risk her life?

Time stood still as she remembered the one story ramshackle house she and Magenta had lived in that was lifted high in the air with a freight train roar, and then dropped back down onto its foundation.

She gasped with relief when a small, dirt-covered, ringed hand pushed a large chunk of plaster aside. A matted Barbie doll puff off blonde hair appeared ten feet from the debris-filled hole in the flooring. "I'm over here!" Amy sputtered. Her face was covered with chalky dust. "There was a well I jumped into." She coughed as she struggled to pull herself free. "Damn, my foot's caught!"

James reached her first and moved enough debris to peer into the opening. "You're pinned by a stud. I'll move it. He grabbed a long board and shoved it between the pieces of timber. Halle helped him leverage the stud a few inches until Amy's boot was freed.

James carefully hauled her out of the hole. "Is anything broken?"

"No, just my pride." She gave him a lopsided smile.

Naseem ran over and hugged her. "Thank God, you're alright."

"Do I look like a squished insect?" She dusted herself off and tried not to show how much she enjoyed his concern.

"No." His eyes shone with admiration. You're beautiful."