Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16 The beam came down like a flaming sword. Hugo fell back and rolled onto his side, bracing for the deadly crack of metal on his head. But the beam just missed him. It had missed Mr. Singer, too. But Colonel Kohl wasn't so lucky. The beam had landed across his neck. He lay there with his

eyes open, motionless, his hand still gripping his gun. Hugo could see that Colonel Kohl wouldn't ever be getting up again. But there was no time for Hugo to think about this. The airship was falling and breaking apart. His lungs felt as though they would explode. He and Mr. Singer both jumped up. They joined hands and lunged for the windows. Mr. Singer heaved Hugo out first. The zeppelin was so close to the ground that Hugo barely felt the impact. He landed on his stomach. Seconds later, Mr. Singer landed a few feet away. Hugo got up and turned to run. But something hit his back — hard. And he suddenly realized it was too late. Chunks of the flaming Hindenburg were now crashing down around Hugo and Mr. Singer — the white-hot metal beams. The slabs of burning walls.

Men shouted to them. "Hurry! Get up! Get up!" There was fire everywhere now — raining from the sky, rising from the ground, burning his clothes, his shoes, his hair. Hugo dropped to the ground and curled into a ball. There was no hope. His body erupted in scorching pain as the fire raked his flesh. And then Hugo couldn't feel anything. His mind went dark, his breathing stopped. But suddenly his brain flickered back to life, and Hugo felt sure that somehow he'd been dropped out of the burning Hindenburg and into the Thika River. Cool water rushed all around him. The next thing he knew he was lying on a soft blanket, with bright lights all around. Was he back in Kenya, under the golden sun? He heard voices calling for him:

"Hugo!" "Hugo!" "Oogo!" And the loudest of all, "Garooo, garooo, garooo!"