Safe As Houses by Eric Walters

Author:Eric Walters [Walters Eric]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tundra Book Group
Published: 2010-05-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

SEVEN

David suddenly stood up. He had to hunch his back to avoid hitting his head against the roof. He stepped off the platform and onto one of the beams, holding the flashlight in one hand and placing the other against the roof for balance. He took another step, stretching out to reach the next rafter.

“What are you doing?” I asked, as I carefully stood up too.

“Thought I’d go for a walk. You should join me.”

“I think I’ll stay right here, thank you.”

“Actually, that wasn’t just an invitation. I really need you to come along too. I can’t do it without you.”

He had made his way over until he was standing over top of the bathroom. He was moving effortlessly, quickly, and stopped when he reached his parents’ bedroom.

“I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what you’re doing.”

He tapped the roof. “We’re getting out this way.”

I rapped it with my own knuckles. “Wood. How are we going to get through solid wood?”

“That’s why I’m over here.”

“Is there a way out over there?” I asked hopefully, although the question itself made no sense. The roof might have been leaky, but of course there was no way there was a hole big enough for us to fit through.

He pointed the flashlight down into the water. “Matter of fact, I think it’s right about here. Come on, I need your help.”

I reached up to the roof, using it for support and balance, and stretched my foot out over the gap between the beams until it was securely resting on the next one.

“Be careful, Elizabeth,” Suzie warned me.

“I’ll try.” I drew over my other leg so I was standing, balanced on the beam. It wasn’t very wide-only two or three inches—but it was wide enough to stand on. Slowly, carefully, I repeated the action to move to the next support.

“You planning on getting here anytime soon?” David asked.

“I’m just trying to avoid falling in.”

Step by step, gap by gap, beam by beam I moved. Each time I looked down to make sure my footing was right and then moved my eyes upward. Looking down wasn’t good. It wasn’t the height as much as the water. It was moving, swirling, dark, and impenetrable. This was much worse than crossing the footbridge. In the light from David’s flashlight I could make out the images of objects beneath the surface; the toilet and bathtub gleamed an eerie white, but I couldn’t see the floor beneath them.

Finally I stood beside David. “What now?”

“I need you to hold the flashlight for me. Aim it straight down, right there.”

I took the flashlight. “What good will that do? It’s just water.”

“It’s what’s below the water. We’re standing right overtop of my father’s tool chest.”

I looked harder, following the light down and then into the water. It only penetrated a foot or two at best. Below that was darkness.

“I don’t see it,” I said.

“Me neither, but I’m pretty sure it’s right down there.”

“So close, but so far.”

“Not so close, but not so far.

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