In The Falling Light by John L. Campbell Read Free Book Online Page A

rain-washed roof to where it dropped off
at the end, turbulent waves spinning only a few feet below,
smashing against the side of the house before flowing around it. He
stared down at the turning current and wondered about whirlpools.
Ahead, out over the stormy flats, all manner of debris was floating
their direction, mostly trees, but also something big and flat and
dark. He watched, entranced by the sight as it slowly rolled over
in the water, wheels up.
    A boxcar.
    Dear Jesus. If that thing hit the house it
would take it right out from under them.
    He stood, one foot on either side of the
peak, arms outstretched as he balanced against the wind,
straightening slowly. A forceful gust drove him back into a crouch,
but when it passed he straightened again. He didn’t dare look back
at his family, knowing that if he did he would lose his nerve and
crawl back to them. He took several quick breaths and dove.
    The sea welcomed him like an expectant
killer.
    The water was cold, faster than he had
anticipated, and no sooner did his head break the surface that he
slammed back against the wall of his house, instantly losing
whatever distance the dive had given him. He heard a hollow,
sucking gurgle and felt it carrying him to the corner, where it
would pull him under and around, sending him speeding past his
family in seconds.
    Dell kicked out against the house and
started swimming, pulling hard against the current, straight into
it. The draft at the corner tore at him from behind, dragging, and
he kicked to get away, to get distance from the suction before he
tried turning towards the boat.
    Rain and wind beat at his eyes, and he
sputtered in the brown water. It was so damn strong, and he felt
like he was swimming in place, going nowhere, like he was in one of
those fancy motorized lap pools rich folks installed in their
houses. Only here there was no switch to shut off the current. This
was nothing like swimming in still Texas lakes or slow moving
rivers. He tried to remember the lessons of his youth, swimming in
the heavily chlorinated pool at the ‘Y’ in Brownsville. Face down,
stroke, turn to the side and breathe, stroke, face down, stroke,
breathe, kicking, kicking all the time, never stop kicking. Fight
the urge to dog paddle.
    He had moved only a few yards from the
house, and still it sucked him back.
    Dell began angling to get away from that
deadly corner of the house, still into the current, stroke, stroke,
kick, breathe. Something caught at his pants leg and tugged hard, a
branch maybe, please, God, not more fencing, he would be like a
fish in a net. The object pulled free. Stroke, stroke, kick,
breathe, stroke STROKE SWIM LIKE A MAN GODDAMIT!
    He lost track of where he was, didn’t dare
look. Had he already been carried past the house? Was he struggling
towards nothing while his family watched him flailing away into the
distance? Stroke, stroke, pulling harder, kick, kick, muscles
burning, oh my God why didn’t I take off my boots? Stupid!
Kicking harder still, turning his face to the right for a breath.
The long dark shape of the boxcar was closer, tall white letters
down one rusting side reading SOO LINE. It was heading for the
house. Couldn’t think about that, swimming, pulling hard, hard,
HARDER!
    His shirt caught on debris, jerking him
back, and Dell cried out, thrashing at the surface, coughing as
water and leaves tried to choke him. He kicked and pulled, but it
had him and his rhythm was broken. He curled up and reached back to
free himself, knowing he was going to drown now, his head smacking
against something, more debris.
    He hoped Arlene and the kids wouldn’t see
him die.
    Dell’s knuckles rapped against metal and he
tried to keep his head above the surface, shaking to clear his
eyes. A big black shape was inches away.
    A tire.
    His shirt was hooked on the bumper of his
submerged pickup.
    Dell let out a thankful cry and ripped the
shirt away, scrambling up onto the undercarriage, feeling the
capsized