Beacon Of Love by Darlene Franklin

Author:Darlene Franklin
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-08-30T00:00:00+00:00

Eleven

Water hit Judith’s face before she reached the top step. The familiar lantern room had disappeared. Rain poured in through a gaping space in the roof. Planks and shattered glass lay scattered across the floor. Wind buzzed as if a swarm of a million bees drove the water from sea to land. On the opposite side, part of the roof remained intact and four of the lamps continued burning.

Judith spotted her father lying still beneath a section of the broken roof. With a cry, she darted forward.

“Don’t come any closer. Glass. . .everywhere.”

Judith ignored his command. Sturdy shoes protected her feet. A thousand shards of glass, some no bigger than a needle, others as sharp and wide as a meat cleaver, coated the floor. She could not kneel to help him without cutting herself. She could not help Father if she injured herself. She pulled on heavy gloves and grabbed a broom, then swept rain and glass aside to make a space large enough to take a place beside her father.

“Are you injured?” Judith could not see anything below her father’s waist. “Can you move?” Removing the gloves, she ran her hands over his face. The flying glass had nicked him here and there, but she didn’t notice any bad cuts.

Father shook his head. “The roof is pinning my legs down. I can’t get out. And I think my arm may be broken. I can’t move my fingers.”

“Let me help.” Judith tried to heave the plank nearest to his waist, but she could no more move it than she could carry the world on her shoulders like Atlas. Too many other boards lay on top. She studied the configuration, seeking the top piece. There it was, at an angle from one of the extinguished lamps to his feet. She began to shift it and cried when glass pricked her thumb.

“Be careful!”

“I will.” She pulled the gloves back on and moved one plank, then another. When it fell to the floor beside Father, it knocked more debris loose on to her father’s chest. If only Sam were here.

I can’t do this by myself, not without risking further injury to Father. Almighty God, who is there to help me?

As in answer to her prayer, the wind took a breath, quieting enough to hear the church bells ringing. The people of Capernaum were gathering at the church. Sam was there with them. Her heart relaxed.

Did she dare leave Father alone while she went for help? What if more of the roof caved in, or the wind blew debris in? She gnawed on a knuckle. Think, Judith.

“I must go for help. But first let me try something.” She nailed a tarp to the remaining roof beams in an effort to protect the remaining lanterns. That was all she could think of to do.

“Check the lamps.”

Judith wanted to forget about the lighthouse, about his job, but she knew he would not rest if she ignored his plea. She added fresh oil to the wicks.

“I feel so helpless,” Father said.

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