Page 40 of South of Nowhere

Starr said, “Hm. That’d be illegal. And thereisthat pistol thing…”

Motion from the levee caught Colter’s eye.

The streaming water had done what he’d suspected it would, knocked several sandbags off the crest and sent them tumbling toward the spillway.

Then his eyes took in some of the garbage and rubble at the base, sitting in front of a wide retaining pond.

He felt a blow, as if Bear had landed a gut punch.

Colter turned to Tolifson. “The man in the pickup, Louis Bell? He said the family’s SUV went into the river, right?”

His voice was urgent and the mayor frowned. “That’s right.”

“Did he see it happen through the rear window, looking back, or in the mirror?”

“Mirror, he said.”

“So it seemed to him like the SUV went to the left, but it might’ve goneright.” He nodded to the base of the levee. “I think they’re trapped in the retaining pond, not the river.”

17.

Colter Shaw surveyed the mud- and water-filled pond, which resembled a huge murky swimming pool, twenty-five by forty feet.

He then scanned the town and noted a fire department pumper moving through the streets of Hinowah, slowly, making the PA announcement about the evacuation.

“Get him on the radio for me,” he called to Tolifson.

“Who?”

“The fire truck!”

The mayor looked around. Starr handed him the Motorola, and he hit a button.

“Buddy, you there?”

A moment later came a clattering response. “Han. Yeah. Go ahead. I’m prying ’em out. Just, a lot aren’t leaving.”

Colter reached his hand out and took the unit.

“Buddy, this is Colter Shaw. Your tank full?”

“My—?”

“The water in your fire truck,” Colter snapped.

“Oh, yessir. Who exactly are—”

“Get over to the base of the levee. Now! The retaining pond.”

“Well, the thing is, the levee…the pond’s right underneath and it’s looking worse. I—”

“If you’re not going to drive it, I will.”

A beat of a moment: “Who are you, sir?”

A bellow from Tolifson, “For God’s sake, Buddy, get the fucking pumper where he says.”

“Well, Han…never heard you talk like—”

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