“One of the main routes to the hospital.”
“Yep.” Craig folded his map and shoved it under his arm. “We’ll take mine, since I’ve got the winch.”
“We got the chainsaws and PPE?”
“Just need the PPE.”
“Got it,” I said, heading to his truck so we could go and grab the gear we needed. Once inside and navigating our way to the station, I angled a glance at Craig. “Where’s your mum?”
“In town helping out at the rec centre.”
“That’s good.” I wished Ross had done the same and gone into school rather than been stuck out at his place.
Craig took a moment to radio out to our crew leader, letting him know we were en route. As he spoke, I focussed on the passing buildings and the seemingly hundreds of people milling around in town. Most were armed with bags or containers, all seemingly on a mission—I expected helping those impacted and assisting however they could.
Despite the loss I knew so many were experiencing, I smiled, pleased I was here to help. Small-town living called to me. In the past six weeks or so, I’d never felt that so acutely.
The ringing of my phone startled me. I tugged it out, seeing Mum was calling. I frowned as I answered. “All okay?”
“Uhm… so we may have misjudged how quickly the water was rising.”
Concern slammed into me, quickly followed by guilt that I hadn’t spared them a passing thought since being woken by the phone this morning. My folks had called me yesterday afternoon, letting me know they’d arrived back in town safely, and I’d therefore assumed it meant they’d hunkered down until the water had dropped.
“Where are you?”
“Your dad,” Mum started—completely throwing my dad to the wolves. I would have rolled my eyes if I wasn’t so worried, “thought we’d have enough time to go and grab some more fuel.”
I breathed a little easier at that. “Okay, so you’re in town? That’s okay, you can—”
“He also thought we should get some eggs from Thomas.”
I pulled my phone away and stared at it in disbelief, sure my dad wouldn’t do something so idiotic. Not having enough time to count to ten, I gritted out, “Where are you now?” There’d be time enough to grouse at my dad after this crisis. “Are you safe?”
“We’re okay. Over on the Bathurst Road, at the Shortskip Creek.” Mum sounded pissed. I could only imagine the tension between my parents right now.
“Where’s the car?”
“Stuck in the creek.”
I slammed my mouth shut.
“What’s wrong?” Craig asked from my side.
I huffed out a breath and glanced over at him, shaking my head. “Mum, I’m going to see who I can get out to you, okay? I’m en route to sort out a damn tree, so it’d take me at least a couple hours, maybe more, before I can get there. Just promise me you’ll stay away from the creek, okay? I’ll call you as soon as I can.”
“Thanks, Dan. Love you.”
“Love you too, Mum.” I ended the call. “For fuck’s sake.”
“What’s going on?”
“Dad’s got the car stuck at the bridge at Shortskip Creek, over on Bathurst Road.”
“The rest of that road doesn’t flood, so that’s something.”
I nodded in relief, knowing Craig was right. And as far as I was aware, that creek had never been high enough to catch someone out, so it was likely it wouldn’t get much higher. Christ knew how Dad managed to get it stuck.
“Get on the radio and see who’s around.”
