Part 30 (2/2)

”Honest.”

”I have no idea. Are you?”

”I have no idea either.” Henry turned to look behind him. ”Now wheres Brae?”

Zavion cupped his hands around his eyes so he could see a little better through the rain. ”I see him. Hes over there. Under that ledge.” He wiped his eyes with the palms of his hands. ”Smart dog.”

”Yeah, lets get under there too.”

They ran.

Zavion felt, for a moment, like he was running a cross-country race.

Henry felt, for a moment, like he was racing Wayne.

They ran to where Brae lay huddled under a flat, protruding rock ledge. Henry unwrapped Ospreys leash from his wrist and clipped it to Braes collar. ”I dont want you to get lost, Brae. I know youre afraid.”

”Hes afraid?” said Zavion. He sank down onto the backs of his heels.

”He hates thunder and lightning. They terrify him.” Henry buried his face into the wet fur behind Braes ear. ”Sorry I called you stupid,” he whispered.

The boys peered out into the pouring, pounding rain.

Henry pushed his hand into the back of Braes neck. ”Its okay, buddy,” he said.

”How do you know its okay?” said Zavion.

Henry stared at Zavion for a full minute. ”I guess I know because of you,” he said.

”Me?”

”Yeah. Check you out. Braes not the only one terrified of this storm. You want to turn around?” Zavion shook his head. ”I didnt think so. See? Youre facing it. And if you can, well...well...so can I.”

”But you already are. Youre already facing it, climbing this mountain,” Zavion said. ”Thats why I can.”

”Nah, you are,” said Henry.

”No,” said Zavion.

”Yes,” said Henry.

”No. No, you are,” said Zavion.

”No.”

”Yes.”

The two boys threw their Nos and Yeses into the thick, dark air, and the words. .h.i.t the rain like stones, making circles that grew bigger and bigger and bigger, cutting through the sheets of water. And in the s.p.a.ces inside those circles, Henry saw himself tugging on Waynes shoulder as he lay on the ground and Wayne opening his eyes. Zavion saw himself diving into the water and pulling up wood and s.h.i.+ngles and gla.s.s.

The circles dissolved into the air one after another. No dissolved into Yes dissolved into No dissolved into Yes. No, Henry couldnt save Wayne. No, Zavion couldnt save his home.

But Yes-maybe Yes-they could help save each other.

From under the ledge, the boys stared out into the storm.

It was kind of awesome. The storm on the mountain-yeah, it was kind of awesome.

- ”Are you okay now?” said Henry.

”I think so.” Zavion put his hand onto the back of Braes neck. ”Hes not shaking anymore. I guess hes okay too.”

And then- The thunder and lightning stopped.

The rain and wind slowed down too.

They took a good look at themselves. Zavion and Henry were covered with mud. Brae was too. Three brown bodies breathing hard as the rain turned from daggers to drops, as the wind died to a breeze, and as the sky became up and the earth became down once again.

chapter 79.

ZAVION AND HENRY.

”What was that?” said Zavion.

He and Henry were back on the trail. The ground was muddy and full of puddles. They had to keep their heads down to watch where they stepped.

”Just a flash storm,” said Henry.

Silent steam rose from the ground, like the earth was recalibrating itself, letting go of some of the water that had just thundered down into it.

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