Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14 And then Jackson heard voices. Familiar voices, calling his name. "Jackson!" Leonor? "Jackson, where are you?" Chris? No. Jackson must be hearing things.

But the voices got louder. Closer. "Jackson!" Mary? Nora? Jackson slid out from the doorway. His heart rose up at the sight of the four kids. They were just down the street, peering into buildings. Looking for something. Looking for… Jackson? "I'm right here!" he shouted. In a flash they were all around him, crouching down, hovering close. Jackson stared at their faces, which were streaked with dirt and tears. He knew he must look the same. "We were looking for you!" Leonor said in a ragged voice. Her hair was matted with dirt. "We saw you fall into that crack!" said Chris. Blood oozed from a deep cut on his cheek. "We were so scared…" Nora said. "We were praying you got out and you did!" said Mary. Jackson just stared at them, amazed.

But his relief quickly faded when he saw the look of fear on Leonor's face. "We have to get out of here," she said breathlessly. "People are saying there's going to be a tsunami." Tsunamis—massive waves that often happened after earthquakes. Jackson looked around at the shattered ground, at the collapsed buildings. This was nothing compared to what a powerful tsunami could do. A tsunami could swallow up everything—and everyone—that was left in Valdez. "Come on," Leonor said, holding out her hand. But Jackson shook his head. "I can't walk," he said. "My ankle's broken." He swallowed hard. "You should go." Each person needed to take care of themselves… right? Chris turned around so that his back was to Jackson. He was ready to run away from here. Of course he is, Jackson thought.

But he didn't take off. He lowered himself down right in front of Jackson. "You can ride on my back," he said. The next thing Jackson knew, Leonor and Mary had taken hold of his arms. They gently pulled him up. Nora held his back so he wouldn't fall. Keeping his weight off his crushed ankle, Jackson managed to stand long enough to get himself up onto Chris's back.

"Hold on tight," Leonor said, looping her arm around Jackson's to help hold him up. As they headed away from the harbor, Jackson turned and saw his backpack lying on the ground. "Wait—" he started to say. But he stopped himself. There wasn't time to go back. And besides, what he needed right now wasn't in that backpack.

He tightened his grip on Chris. He looked at Leonor. He felt Mary's and Nora's hands on his back. And together they ran for their lives.