Escaping the Giant Wave by Peg Kehret

Author:Peg Kehret
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aladdin

8

The celebration on board the Elegant Empress was in full swing. Cotton ball clouds drifted across the sky, and the hum of the ship’s engine accompanied a string quartet that played soft music in the background.

The Davidsons filled their plates at the buffet table.

“You can win salesman of the year anytime,” Mrs. Davidson told her husband, “if it means an evening like this.”

“It is special,” he agreed, “but don’t expect me to win every year. Enjoy it while you can.”

“I feel guilty being on a yacht eating grilled vegetables and salmon and chocolate mousse while the kids have pizza in that dumpy hotel room.”

“Now don’t start worrying about the kids,” Mr. Davidson said. “BeeBee seems to like having Kyle be the sitter, and I don’t think he minds too much. Besides, they’d rather eat pizza than grilled veggies any day.” He helped himself to some garlic bread.

Just then Mr. Wray, the president of the real estate company, signaled to the quartet to stop playing. He went to the microphone and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to interrupt your dinner, but the captain has received a radio message that the town of Fisher and Fisher Beach were hit by an earthquake a short time ago.”

Mrs. Davidson gasped and reached for her husband’s hand.

“There wasn’t any major damage, and as far as we know there were no injuries, but the power is out in the entire area and we have reports of a few fires that started when the earthquake broke a natural gas line.”

Mrs. Davidson opened her purse and removed the cell phone. Mr. Davidson took a piece of paper out of his pocket and handed it to her. On it was the phone number of the Totem Pole Inn.

She punched in the number and waited. “Nothing happens,” she said. “It doesn’t ring.”

“If the power is out, the hotel’s telephone line is probably out too.”

“I’ll keep you posted on any further developments,” Mr. Wray said. “Now please enjoy the rest of your dinner. We’ll be presenting the awards soon.”

Instead of returning to their table, the Davidsons approached Mr. Wray.

“Shouldn’t the Elegant Empress head back to shore?” Mr. Davidson asked.

“The earthquake is over,” Mr. Wray said. “There’s no reason to go back early.”

“We left our children at the hotel,” Mr. Davidson said, “and the phone isn’t working. Is there any way we can contact the hotel by radio?”

“I’ll ask the captain,” Mr. Wray said, but he looked annoyed.

“You stay here and finish your dinner,” Mr. Davidson said. “I’ll find the captain.”

“I’ll come with you,” Mrs. Davidson said.

They left their food at their places, then found the captain and asked about radio contact with people on shore. “We left our children by themselves,” Mrs. Davidson explained. “Our son’s thirteen and he’s stayed with his sister many times before, but never in an earthquake. We’ll enjoy the rest of the cruise more if we know they’re okay.”

“Which hotel?” the captain asked.

“The Totem Pole Inn.”

A strange expression flickered across the captain’s face.

“What is it?” Mr.

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