Authors: Kara Karnatzki
Chapter Six
It was
n’
t long before the focus turned to Curti
s’
s car.
‘
The water in that bit of the car park is
n’
t too deep yet
,’
said Leon optimistically.
‘
If we can get to your car, Cur
t’
, we might be able to drive through the flood, get to higher ground, then find our way onto one of the back roads
.
’
Curtis was the only one who could drive. H
e’
d passed his test a month ago, as soon as h
e’
d turned seventeen. (Hard to believe, but technically, he was a whole year older than the rest of us. H
e’
d been kept down a school year
–
not because he was stupid, but because he was so easily distracted.)
‘
I do
n’
t want the Shaggi
n’
Wagon getting wrecked
,’
he protested.
‘
Sh
e’
s my pride and joy
.
’
‘
So, yo
u’
d rather drown
?
’
‘
Okay. I hear you. But how do we get across the car park
?
’
By now, everyone had gathered at the window. Everyone except Byron.
‘
The water looks shallow enough to wade in
,’
said Leon
.‘
If we all hold hands and support each other, and if Curtis goes first with his keys and opens the doors, we can all jump in. Then he revs the engine, releases the hand-break, pumpshar
d…
andwe head for the hills
.
’
‘
What if we skid
?’
said Curtis.
‘
I thought you were like some super-skilled stunt driver
?
’
‘
Kind of
,’
said Curtis sheepishly.
‘
Well, it's worth a try
,’
said Leon
,‘
I think Curtis should go first, then Kate, then me, then Gemma. And Greg can make sure everyone's safe from behind. Agreed
?
’
‘
And Byron
,’
I said.
‘
Oh, yeah, and Byron. So - i
t’
s a plan, then? I mean, unless anyone has a better idea
?
’
‘
A better idea
,’
said Byron, from the background.
‘
Is that we pay attention to what
I’
ve already said and stay here. The water may look shallow, but the force, I guarantee, will knock you off your feet
.
’
‘
Hooray for Mr Physics
!’
said Curtis.
Byron scowled, adjusted his glasses and ran a hand through his hair.
‘
Sometimes
Curtis
,’
he said
,‘
knowledge is king
.
’
‘
But in a survival situation
,’
Leon followed.
‘
Action
is king
.
’
He turned and made for the door. Everyone bundled after him.
'Smart words,' said Curtis, nudging him in the ribs. 'Good come back. Action is king. I like it. Where did you get it from?'
'My brother,' said Leon.
'Oh, yeah. How cool would it be if
he
was here now? Your brother would sort us out. He'd, like, pull trees apart and suck up the flood water with a straw and stuff - '
I'd heard Leon's older brother was some kind of fitness champion, but right now, I was happy enough with Leon. We followed him towards the stairwell, like his mafia, while Byron lingered back.
‘
Please
,’
I said, beckoning him.
‘
Come with us
.
’
‘
No thank you
,’
he replied.
‘
But why not
?
’
‘
Ther
e’
s no point
.
’
‘
Of
course
there is. Come on,
I’
ll walk with you an
d
– ’
Byron shook his head.
‘
Really
,
’
he said
,‘
ther
e’
s no point
.
’
‘
But you ca
n’
t stay here. We ca
n’
t leave you on your own
.
’
‘
I wo
n’
t be alone
.
’
I looked at him.
‘
What do you mean
?
’
‘
I mean yo
u’
ll all be back in five minutes, with your tails between your legs
.
’
Chapter Seven
We gathered in the stairwell. One of the double doors had come off its hinges. The force of the initial wave must have smashed it. Floodwater had pooled at the bottom, covering the lower steps. It looked murky and cold.
‘
I
t’
s not that far
,’
said Leon.
‘
We can do this
!
’
We could see Curti
s’
s car from where we were. And it did
n’
t look far. I used to paddle through the River Slode when I was little, with my dad and my sister, Ella. W
e’
d take a fishing net, try to catch sticklebacks. In the autumn we wore wellies. In the summer we went barefoot. Tha
t’
s what it would feel like, I told myself. Paddling.
‘
Got your keys ready, Curt
?’
said Leon.
Curtis dangled them.
‘
Everyone know the drill
?’
We all nodded, although truthfully, I do
n’
t think any of us quite knew what we were going to do, even Leon. I liked the way he was taking control of the situation though, stepping up. It certainly made a change. Me, falling for a good guy, someone who wanted to help people, rather than mess them about.
‘
Ready, then
?
’
We all looked at each other.
‘
Straight to the car, single file. Curtis first, followed by Kate
-
’
We edged down the steps. Curtis hovered his foot above the water.
‘
Should we take our shoes and socks off
?’
he asked.
Greg groaned
.‘
This is
n’
t a day at the seaside, moron.'
‘I’
ve got my best trainers on, man. I do
n’
t want them getting trashed. That water looks smelly
.
’
‘
You do
n’
t know what yo
u’
ll be treading on
,’
said Leon.
‘
Keep them on
.
’
Curtis huffed, then plunged his foot.
‘
Waaah! I
t’
s cold
!
’
‘
Do
n’
t drop the keys
,’
said Gemma.
She turned to me and muttered
,‘
Why has Curtis been given the most important job
?
’
‘
Because i
t’
s his car
?’
I replied.
Curtis stepped down. The water came up to his thighs.
‘
Someone film this
,’
he said.
‘
I
t’
ll get loads of hits
.
’
He started laughing. In a way Iwas glad. It made me feel more relaxed about what we were about to do. I could
n’
t help thinking about Byron, though, and why h
e’
d chosen to stay behind, whether he'd be okay. Leon leant towards me.
‘
You next
,’
he whispered.
He gave my hand a squeeze. The feeling thrilled me.
‘
Ready
?
’
‘
Yeah
.
’
‘
Stay close to Curtis.
I’
m right behind you
.
’
I put my feet in the water and was shocked by the cold. I was wearing flimsy pumps, no socks. The squelchy feeling was horrible. I placed my hands around Curti
s’
s waist. Leon put his hands on mine and we proceeded in a train. The rain was so fierce it was hard to look ahead. It drenched us, dripped off our brows, our noses, our chins. Curtis waded forward and I followed, but as soon we were away from the shelter of the doorway, the force of the torrent took control. Suddenly, it was up to our hips and we could
n’
t stop ourselves from staggering sideways. I managed to widen my feet, which held me solid for a moment, but Leon lost grip of my waist and was forced back inside the doorway with the others, leaving Curtis and I in the water.
‘
Hold on
!’
Curtis yelled.
The rush was so loud. My stance started to slip.
‘
I ca
n’
t hold for much longer
!’
I cried.
I could hear everyone screaming our names, shouting
:‘
Come back! Turn around
!
’
But we could
n’
t.
It was enough of a struggle to stay standing, let alone turn.
‘
Throw us something
!’
said Curtis.
‘
A rope or something
!
’
They did
n’
t have a rope, of course.
I caught Leo
n’
s eye for a second, then the next thing I knew, he was diving forward heroically. He grabbed us both, yanked us towards him. We all fell. I do
n’
t know what happened to him and Curtis, but I slipped under. The dirty water rushed in my face, filled my nose and mouth. I spluttered and gasped. I could feel my back scraping along the ground. Was this it? Was I about to drown?
Just in time, a pair of hands were upon me. Not Leo
n’
s, butGre
g’
s. Gre
g’
s giant hands. He hoisted me up, then Leon, then Curtis. He dragged us into the doorway and we all collapsed in a heap on the stairs.