Gladioli in August (15 page)

“Then, I guess we sleep on the beach.” He waved to Wilhelm to come over to them.

“Is it safe?” She glanced at the volcano.

“We don't have a choice. If that's where they want us, then that's where we go.”

“But...”

“Jael, the people of Pompeii died in their houses.”

She scowled. “And those in Herculaneum died on the beaches. There is no shelter there, Micah. If Gunung Berapi blows again…”

“We'll die wherever we are, honey.” He beckoned Wilhelm over and rapidly filled him in.

“How far away is this beach?” Jael asked.

“On a good day about twenty minutes by truck.” Micah winked. “But this isn't exactly a good day, is it?”

“I've had better days,” Jael quipped. “But I'm still changing dressings.”

“We should eat first and then go,” Wilhelm added. “We all need the food and a short rest. And we found a truck. That will make the journey faster.”

Micah nodded. “Agreed.” He looked at Jael. “And don't you dare argue, honey. You can patch up the injured before we eat.”

****

Once they'd eaten, Jael sat next to Micah in the truck bed as they slowly made their way to the shore. The eruption was showing no signs of slowing and the constant tremors were beginning to grow in intensity again. The ash cloud rose high into the sky, and lightning intermingled with the smoke.

Every little jolt of the truck caused her intense pain, but that was nothing compared to the burns she'd treated while Micah and the men had organized dinner.

A massive explosion jerked her head upright. The sides of the erupting column began to collapse as they had before. Her heart stopped then pounded in terror. “Micah…”

He held her tightly against him. “It's going the other way. Look.”

Jael pulled out her phone and recorded the surge sweeping down the other side of the mountain. “I just hope there is no one in its path.”

The truck jolted over another bump in the road, and Jael hissed in agony, trying to hide just how much pain she was in.

Micah frowned. “Honey? Take the pain meds.”

She shook her head. “There are too many others that need them, and what little I have has to last until the navy arrives.”

“Rot.” He tilted her face towards his and looked at her. She'd never seen his eyes glint that way, or heard severity in his tone like that. “You are the only medic here. These people need you until outside help arrives. If you can't think or function because of the pain you are in, then you'll be no good to them.”

“OK.” She had to admit, if only to herself, that he was right. Telling him that, however, wouldn't be a good idea. The bloke was arrogant enough as it was, but she also had to admit that she loved that about him. But she did as he requested and took something for the pain.

It took about two hours to reach the shore. Lava flows meant detours and fallen trees weren't helping much either. Jael climbed down from the truck and helped Micah down. She shivered as she stood on the exposed beach. In front of them, the rolling sea. Behind them a wall, open fields, and the volcano.

He glanced around. “I suggest we sit on the beach and use the wall for shelter.”

Wilhelm nodded. “Sounds like a good idea.”

Micah wrapped an arm around Jael and limped down onto the sand. He slowly lowered himself to the sand and closed his eyes.

“You OK?” she asked. Concern filled her. He really didn't look at all well now. His pallor was as grey as the murk surrounding them.

“Sore,” he said quietly.

“Then let me give you something stronger than the ibuprofen.”

He shook his head. “I might doze for a little.”

“Use my lap as a pillow,” she said. “You can't lean back against the rocks.”

“And I don't want sand in my burns…”

“You won't.” She pulled a blanket from her pack and spread it next to her. “See? If you lie on your side, both your back and leg will be clear of the sand.”

“You need to sleep too. Lie next to me. I can use a rock or something as a pillow.”

Jael frowned. “OK, but you use the pack. I'm fine without one.”

Micah shuffled across and lay down, pain etched on his face.

Jael waited until he was comfortable before lying beside him, making sure she was facing him. She ran a hand down his face. “Sleep, Micah. Wilhelm will see to the others and make a fire.”

Once he'd drifted off with the help of the meds she gave him, she leaned on her elbow, watching the sea for any sign of the rescue boats. As she lay down, her eyes closed. The words of Psalm 23 ran through her mind. As much as she prayed this wasn't the valley of the shadow of death, she was glad she was here with Micah and not on her own.

She woke some hours later in dawn's early light, not sure what had disturbed her. Then the earth moved again. A colossal explosion split the air and everyone jerked upright. Terror clutched her stomach as once again the eruptive column towering several thousand feet began to collapse. This time all of it, and not just some of it.

Micah pulled her close, praying aloud. She clung to him tightly, barely breathing as they waited for the burning cloud to cover them.

14

As the rumbling died away, Micah sat up and drew Jael close to him. “How did that miss us?”

“I don't know. But it did.”

He nodded, prayers of amazement and gratitude rising heavenward. He glanced around in the murky pre-dawn light. “We need to make a fire, so that the navy knows we're still here.”

Wilhelm rose. “I will see to it.”

“I'll help,” Micah said.

Jael shook her head. “You're in no condition to do any such thing.”

“I ought to help.” Micah tried to rise, but pain shot through him and he eased back down. “OK, you're right. I'll stay here and watch the kids and women-folk,” he muttered in defeat.

Jael hugged him as the other men dispersed into the grey murk surrounding them. “Is it over?”

“I honestly don't know. Perhaps once some of this dust and ash settle and we can see Gunung Berapi again we'll know. For now we just have to pray it is.”

“I haven't stopped.” She sucked in a deep breath and whimpered. “OK, note to self. Still don't take deep breaths.”

Before long, a huge fire roared and crackled on the beach. Micah gazed past the flames, watching the horizon. Around them the grey began to disperse, very slowly, as if reluctant to reveal the desolation and destruction it covered.

Jael nudged him. “What's that?”

He squinted. “Looks like a light out on the water.” As he watched, the lights grew closer. “Help me up. I have to get down there.”

Once standing, it took a long moment to adjust to being upright.

“Wait.” Jael rummaged in her pack and pulled out the flashlight. “Do you know Morse code? I never managed to even learn the distress call.”

“Yes.” Micah took the flashlight and began signaling S-O-S. He repeated it several times and then sighed with relief as a reply came. “They're coming. Help's coming.”

He sagged against the wall, his body numbing and shaking, whether with pain or relief he didn't know. His eyes closed for a moment.

“Are you all right?” Jael's voice came from a distance.

He fought to open his eyes. He couldn't go south on her now. Not when she needed him to be strong. Even though all he wanted to do was give up for a little while. He slowly pushed himself upright, biting his lip so as not to cry out. “I'm here.”

Jael frowned. “'I'm here' isn't an answer.”

“It's the only one you're getting, honey. We should all get down to the edge of the water. Make it easier for the navy blokes.”

The sand gave way under each step, his feet sliding out from under him. Not even having Jael on one side of him helped. Combined with the ash, it was a combination he never wished to see again. Simply walking, something he took for granted and did without thinking, turned out to be nigh on impossible. As they reached the sea, five rigid landing craft zoomed from the water onto the beach. Men and women in uniform, each armed, jumped ashore.

One of the officers, a tall man with dark hair, strode up the sand, his booted feet making short work of it. He ran his dark gaze over the two of them. Even though Micah knew he had nothing to fear, the officer's gaze filled him with an absurd apprehension, and he kept tight hold of Jael's hand. OK, he couldn't run, but he could still protect her.

The officer nodded. “Commander Wilson, XO of HMS Intrepid.”

“Micah Norris and this is Jael Stevens.”

“Is this all of you?”

He shook his head. “There are about twenty more making their way down the beach.”

Commander Wilson barked orders and the other officers ran up the sand. Then he looked back at Micah. “Let's get the both of you onto the RHIB. The chief medical officer is preparing our infirmary for injured survivors.”

“Just be gentle with him,” Jael said. “Aside from the obvious leg injury, he has a mixture of first and second degree burns on his back.”

Micah rolled his eyes. “Hush, woman. Are you never off duty?”

“Nope, never.” She placed a chaste kiss on his lips, lingering as if reluctant to break the contact. “Now stop being stubborn, honey, and let a couple of the navy blokes help you into one of the RHIBs. Then we can get out of here.”

Micah looked back at the island and its volcano still smoking behind them.

Jael followed his gaze. “I can cross volcanic eruption off my bucket list now.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Are you being serious, woman? That was on your bucket list?”

“Actually, no.”

“Good. Otherwise I'd insist on you having your head examined once we get on the ship.” Micah leaned in and kissed her earlobe, grinning as his touch made her shiver. “It's all your fault, honey.”

“My fault? And just how do you figure that one?”

“She'd been quiet for centuries, then you arrive, and boom!”

“Maybe she was just lulling you into a false sense of security. Maybe she didn't like the way you looked at her one morning and boom!”

“Maybe.” He wrapped an arm around her, ignoring the pain that shot through him. He'd bear it because the pain meant he was alive and with Jael. Things could have turned out so differently. “I do know one thing for certain; I can cross one item off my list.”

“What's that?”

“Falling in love.”

The words warmed her and she tried to cover the flood of emotion as she tilted her head. “Methinks you're high on the drugs.”

He cupped her face in his hand, gently caressing her. “Nope. I fell for you the day you tried climbing over that tree in a dress, stockings, and high heels and failed miserably.”

Color tinged her cheeks, making her appear vulnerable and beautiful at the same time. “Oh…you noticed the stockings.”

“A little hard not to.” He winked.

“Well, they've gone now. Along with the heels and everything else.”

“And good riddance.” Micah paused. “Well, the heels that is. I'll replace the stockings for you. But I do love you. And let me show you how much.” He leaned in and kissed her, gently at first. Feather kisses over her cheek, jaw line, earlobe before finally catching her lips. He slid his other hand around her back, pulling her against him, and deepened the kiss as she responded to him. Her hands gripped his arms.

Breathless, he broke off and rested his forehead against hers. He was dimly aware of the smiles and nudges from the others in the boat.

“I still think you're stubborn and arrogant,” she whispered.

“Is there a
but
there?”

She nodded. “I can't imagine life without you.”

Hope bubbled within him, along with trepidation as he heard three people talking in Tiampian behind him. “Then come home with me? Have dinner, marriage?”

She tilted her head. “Have marriage? That isn't grammatically correct, you do realize that?”

“I don't care, honey. Will you marry me?”

Her smile lit her face. “Yes.”

She leaned forward, instigating a kiss that would have knocked his socks off had he been wearing any. When the kiss ended, she leaned against his chest.

“Just as well,” he whispered, moving his hand through her hair. “Because according to local custom we're already married.”

Her head jerked up and her dark eyes met his. “I'm sorry?”

He winked. “They don't even kiss until the wedding night.”

Color filled her cheeks again. “Oh…Then maybe we better speak nicely to the ship's captain and have you make an honest woman out of me. If you want, that is.”

In reply, he crushed his lips against hers. He wanted nothing more. He'd found someone who accepted him for who he was and loved him the same way he loved her.

****

Jael stood in the small radio room of HMS Intrepid, waiting for her turn to call home. The commanding officer, Captain McGregor, had given her and the others permission to call their relatives and tell them they were alive and safe.

Micah was sleeping. The CMO had redressed his burns and was pumping fluids into him to replace the ones he'd lost. The ship was heading at best speed towards East Timor. Jael had Micah's father's contact details and would either ring him herself or ask Kyle to do so. Micah wanted to see his father, and Oxford would be the best place to do that, rather than an airport where other people would demand their attention.

Finally it was her turn. She gave the radio operator the phone number and waited on tenterhooks while he put the call through. After what seemed like an eternity, she took the receiver. “Kyle?”

“Jael, thank the Lord you're all right.” She'd never heard her brother's voice so full of relief. “Where are you?”