Higher Ground by Becky Black (most read books of all time .txt) 📕

you two back okay.” He leaned past Adam to offer his hand to Simon, who reached around his wife to shake.

The uniformed man watched the scene with some bemusement until Zach got control and let Adam go. “Ah, Captain Hammond, Adam Gray, Simon Frane. They were out looking for water.”

“How many people can the ship take, then?” Adam asked. “Were you right that it’s too small?”

“Yes. At least forty of us will have to stay behind.”

Forty. He’d feared worse. But his first question hadn’t been answered yet. “Barbara’s group?” he prompted Zach.

“Yes,” Zach said, turning to Hammond. “There’s another group, farther down the slope. They need to be picked up before you come back for us.”

“How many in that group?”

“Around the same as this one.”

Hammond nodded. “So we’ll have to leave some of them behind too. Did they leave later than you?”

“No,” Zach explained. “We were all one group at the start, but there was some…disagreement after a few days. We split up, and they went back downhill.”

“Then the earthquakes started, and they turned around again,” Adam said.

“Bad choice there, then,” Hammond said. “You think they’re far enough ahead of the water to wait another thirty-six hours?”

“If they keep moving at the same pace and the sinking doesn’t accelerate drastically, then yes,” Zach said.

“And will your people manage if it’s another three days before we get back to you? What about food?”

“If you have enough food aboard for the people you’re transporting, then they can leave what food they’re carrying with us.”

“Yeah, we have enough supplies along.” Hammond looked around at the crowd. “What about your animals?”

Adam grimaced. They couldn’t ask people to stay behind while cats and dogs were taken off, could they? But could the reduced group get the left-behind pets to the top of the mountain? Nobody would want to abandon them to drown.

Zach looked around, thoughtful, then turned back to Hammond. “Take the cats and small dogs. The larger dogs can keep up with us, so they might as well stay. But tell people they’ll have to leave more of their belongings behind if they want to take their pets.”

“Sounds good to me,” Hammond said. “So you just have to decide who’s going to stay behind.”

Adam hated the thought of making that choice. People had become more subdued after the triumph of the ship’s arrival and there were some intense discussions going on. They knew some of them would have to stay.

“I guess it’s gotta be people like us,” he said. “Young and healthy only.” He’d never realized he could hold two fervent yet contradictory wishes in his mind at once. He wanted Zach by his side, because being parted from him had become unthinkable. At the same time, he wanted Zach on the ship, flying away to safety. But the second one wouldn’t happen, however hard he wished for it.

Zach moved away and climbed onto a rock, high enough to address the crowd. They went silent as he called for their attention.

“You can all see this ship isn’t large enough for everyone. We need forty volunteers to stay behind until it returns.” He waited out the stirring and murmuring. “Obviously, all the children will leave and at least one parent with them. All the older people, pregnant women, and anyone who’s hurt or ill. Please remember the climb can only get harder, and it may be several more days before we’re picked up. If you’re not absolutely sure you can manage it, don’t volunteer. You’ll only slow the group down. Don’t try to be a hero. I’ll let you think about it, and then we have to decide.”

“He’s a bit young for a council member, isn’t he?” Hammond said quietly to Adam.

“Zach’s not on the council.”

“Oh. Sounded like he’s used to making speeches. So why’s he in charge?”

“He predicted the disaster.”

“Ah, so he’s your prophet.”

Adam laughed. “Yes. Reluctantly.”

Zach climbed down from the rock, and Adam offered his hand to help him. “Good speech. I volunteer, by the way.”

“Thank you. I wish you wouldn’t. On the other hand…” Adam understood. Zach had the exact same torn feelings as Adam himself.

“You and me against the mountain,” Adam said. “Unbeatable.”

The captain went back to the ship to supervise the embarkation. As he left, Korrie came up to Adam and Zach. She’d discarded her backpack and had Tuzo draped around her shoulders like a stole. Whatever she felt she couldn’t leave behind must be in her pockets, as she only carried her hiking pole.

“Here.” She handed the pole to Zach. “Since I’m leaving it behind, I’d be honored if you took it.”

“Thank you, Professor. Ann, I’m glad you’re going to safety, but I’m sorry to lose you. You’ve been an essential part of the team.” He offered her his hand, and she shook it.

“I won’t even try to argue about going. Part of me still feels like I’m twenty-five, but that part of me isn’t my knees.”

She turned to Adam, who didn’t mess about with handshakes. He hugged her, lifting her off her feet and making Tuzo hiss in protest.

“See you soon, you mad old rock witch.” Her ideas about him and Zach hadn’t been so silly after all when she’d talked about love. “Look after your daft cat.”

“I will. And you two look after each other.”

They accompanied her to the ship in time to see Visha and Amina getting aboard, Amina waving to her father.

“Simon’s staying,” Zach said, and his voice choked off. Adam understood the emotion. He saw Simon turn away when his wife and child were out of sight inside and stride away to the edge of the crowd. How many other families were splitting up? Fathers staying here while the women and children went first? Such a horrible choice to make even when they should see each other again in a few days.

Dr. Howie walked up to them, and Zach offered his hand to say good-bye. “Doctor, you’ve been such an asset, I’m sorry to lose you.”

“You’re not losing me,” Howie said. “I’m staying.”

“What? But,