by Nowick Gray
With
a good head of steam, and the high clearance of the heavy-duty frame, I thought we just might make it. I got in
the truck, trying to radiate confidence. Matt hesitated only a second and then got in beside me to add his confidence,
or the semblance of it, and I gunned the truck for all it was worth. The rear wheels churned and bucked over the
river rock as we swayed halfway through the two-foot deep, rushing water. Then the engine sputtered, gasped, and
died.
I looked at Matt, both our faces fallen. The truck, already unbalanced, tipped in a surge of current, then rolled over on its side. I pushed my door up into the air and clambered out, with Matt, all arms and legs, on my heels. We would have to jump into the middle of the stream. I had no footing when I hit bottom, and my legs were swept out from under me by the current rushing under the submerged side of the truck.
One leg got stuck under the truck and I struggled to keep my head out of the water. Matt crouched halfway out the upended driver's side, holding the door open with one hand and reaching for me with the other. Our fingertips stretched inches apart.
He had to come farther out of the truck to reach me; so he propped the dor open on its stiff hinge, and while holding onto the floor of the cab, extended his long legs down into the water. When he got his footing he reached down again to help me up, still holding onto the truck for support. As his firm right hand closed around my upraised elbow and pulled, the truck rocked slightly with the weight. The door gave out a sickening crack and swung down before I could say "LOOK OUT!" It smacked down shut on Matt's left hand. He screamed and let go of me. The current knocked me over again. I gulped water, realized my ankle had come free, got back to my knees, finally to my feet. I grasped the handle of the truck door and opened it so Matt could pull out his hand. It showed only a small spot of blood as he plunged it into cold water to ease the pain and swelling.
He stood leaning over, forlornly moaning; I stood soaked and shivering beside him. His hand was battered but intact. I put weight on my ankle testily. We stood there for a moment like that, and then, uncontrollably, we both started laughing, and crying, and laughing louder.
DREAMBOX--To return to roadway Press 