Catastrophe at Castaway Cove (Kristi Cameron Book 8) Page 11

  “Daddy!” she wept. A few seconds later the rest of the family was gathered in his arms, as well. Rachel cried, and even the boys shed unembarrassed tears at the reunion of their family. Their friends gathered around, laughing in relief and cheering, and reaching out to touch or pat him on the back.

  “Oh, Steve! We’ve been so worried!” Rachel cried. “What happened? How did you escape? Did everyone make it?”

  Steve had tears in his own eyes as he hugged his wife and children. He didn’t answer their questions immediately. “You’re all okay?” he asked instead.

  “Yes, yes! “We’re fine! Oh, we have to thank God for this!” Rachel began to pray, “Oh, Lord, thank You for Your mercy and grace in saving us all! Thank You for bringing us all back together so quickly! How we thank and praise You for Your love and protection! We ask now that You show us how we can help those around us who are in need, and that soon more help will come for us all. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.”

  Steve prayed after her, and then their children prayed, as well, with their hearts overflowing with gratitude, love and praise for the Lord. All those in the clearing heard them, and many of them added their own thanks and praise, as well as requests for God’s help for those injured and now destitute after the disaster.

  Steve turned back to the child at his feet and his parents and said a few more words to them, until finally he was able to turn back to his own family and friends and pull them aside. “Now, I want to hear what happened to you all,” he said.

  “Oh, no Daddy! You first! The last we saw, you were on the beach with that wave coming straight at you!”

  “Alright, then.” He took a deep breath. “I started yelling for everyone to get off the beach. You probably heard me. Anyway, people started running, so I knew they had heard and understood. I was about to turn around and follow you all when I saw this little kid—oh, maybe three years old—out there picking up seashells. I didn’t see any grown-ups close enough to get to him in time so I just ran out there and scooped him up. That’s when I saw the wave coming at us. Believe me, I thought it was all over then! I thought there was no way I could outrun it. I started praying right then that God would reach down and hold it back or slow it down, or something.” Steve paused for a moment and then cleared his throat. “Anyway,” he finally said, “I could see everyone else disappearing into the trees, but I was furthest out on the beach—furthest from the trees. Trying to hang onto the child and run in sand at the same time slowed me down, too. I couldn’t hear a thing, but I glanced over my shoulder and it was right there, towering over me. I was scared to death, but I just cried out to the Lord to give me wings, and somehow, someway a few seconds later I found myself and little Kai up in one of those palm trees! I don’t remember climbing it, but if I did, I must have suddenly turned into a monkey, with Kai clinging to my neck like a baby monkey! Either that, or the Lord really did send me wings—the wings of an angel who lifted us up out of the path of the tsunami! However He did it, it was a miracle!”

  Steve stopped and wiped tears from his eyes. He went on, “We were up in that tree through most of the night while the water below us swirled just a few feet away. I could hear others in the trees around us, too. Those people closest to the trees made it further into the forest than we did, and away from the water. The rest of us were trapped. We kept calling to one another and eventually Kai’s daddy realized I had his son. He had been running toward Kai when he heard me call out the alarm, and saw me pick up the little guy, but then he couldn’t see what had happened to us. He thought we had both been washed out to sea. You can imagine his joy at hearing his son was alive and well in a tree not far from his own!”

  Steve got choked up again and had to pause once more before going on. “Well anyway, it took most of the night, but eventually the water began to go down and we were able to climb out of the trees. There were a dozen of us or so. We found most everyone else here by the waterfall. Kai’s mommy and sister were here already and you can imagine the reunion they had when they discovered they were all alive! A lot like our reunion, I guess.”

  Skeeter grinned. “I think I believe the monkey version of how you got in the tree, Dad. I mean, monkey arms and legs—yeah, that sounds like you!”

  Steve laughed, “Well, all I can say is—like father, like son!” The rest of them laughed, too, then. It felt great to laugh. The tension of the last eight or nine hours melted away.

  “Did everyone else make it off the beach, Steve? I mean…have they accounted for everyone?” Rachel asked hesitantly.

  “It’s hard to say, honey. We think so, but there were a lot of tourists here for the festival. I don’t think we’ll know for sure until everyone makes it back into town and reconnects with their family and friends, and they can make a tally. Even then, it may be a while if they find out if any day-visitors are missing.”

  “Was that little boy you were kneeling by when we found you Kai, Dad?” Skeeter asked.

  “No, Kai is sleeping with his sister over on the other side of the pool. Kai is fine. This other child was injured in the earthquake when he got caught under the branches of a palm tree. I think he’ll be fine, too, but his arm is probably broken. There are quite a few people with injuries, either from the earthquake or from running through the trees in the dark.”

  “May I make a suggestion?” Mrs. Manoa asked. “Now that we’re all back together again, why don’t we head back to Castaway Cove? We’re part way there already from here at the waterfall if we’re going to cut across the island. At least we know there is food, water and shelter there—or at least I hope so. I don’t know if the earthquake did any damage, but being on the other side of the island from the tsunami and up on a cliff from the beach, I’m pretty sure we won’t find any flooding.”

  Steve hesitated. “That’s a good idea, Mrs. Manoa. I would be so relieved to know that my family and friends are safe and cared for. If you don’t mind, though, I feel that I need to stay here and help these people, at least until we can get everyone into town and we know help is on its way from the big island.” He was speaking to Mrs. Manoa, but he was looking at his wife, hoping she would understand. It would not be easy to be separated again so quickly after nearly losing one another.

  Rachel spoke up. “Mr. Manoa, is the walk back difficult? Could you and the kids make it back on your own if I stayed behind and helped Steve?”

  “No, Rachel—you need to go with the kids,” Steve said. “I want to know that you are comfortable, too.”

  “Daddy, we’ll all be just fine. We’ll just think of it as a hike through the woods,” Kristi said. “And if there is any damage at Castaway Cove, we kids will pitch right in and start cleaning up. Mom needs to be with you right now,” she added softly.

  Rachel looked at her daughter gratefully and squeezed her hand. “Steve Cameron, since when have I been such a lady of leisure that you would think I need to be comfortable?” she said, half-joking and half-scolding. “These people are going to need a lot of help. God has been so good to us in letting us all come through totally unscathed, not even a scratch on us! We need to give back now in whatever ways we can.”

  Steve nodded. “Alright then. Let’s get moving. Kids, we’ll get back to Castaway Cove as quickly as we can. In the meantime, do whatever you can to help Mrs. Manoa.”

  “We will, Dad. Sure, Mr. Cameron.” They all agreed.

  “Oh, and Steve—I have three empty cottages sitting there waiting to be filled. If you hear of some families who are in dire need of shelter, send them up to Castaway Cove and we’ll provide a place for them. Actually, I could take another family into the house with Leilani and me.”

  “Oh, Mrs. Manoa, that is so generous of you! We’ll pass the message along. Steve, I’ll move in with the girls and you could bunk with the boys in their cottages, and that will free up Hibiscus Hideaway for another family, too. Is that alright with you, Mrs. Manoa?” Rachel asked.

  “Of course. We’ll take care of everything. I’m sure th
ere will be others who live far enough away from the flood zone who will open their homes as well if they can. Now, we’d better get going. Don’t worry about the kids. We’ll all be fine.”

  Kristi hugged and kissed her parents, and the rest of them waved goodbye as they set off through the forest behind Leilani and her grandmother. “We walked this trail once before,” Leilani said, “shortly after we moved here. It’s only a couple miles and not hard at all. It’s really pretty, too.”

  She was right. It was hard to believe they had gone through a terrible natural disaster and seen such awesome devastation in Palekaiko just a few hours before. The rain forest was peaceful and pretty with its lush vegetation, brilliant tropical flowers and the flash of colorful birds and butterflies as they flitted through the trees. They heard the sound of running water now and then and were delighted to find two or three little waterfalls—much smaller than the one they had just left, but still picturesque.

  Less than an hour later they came out of the trees just behind Castaway Cove. The young people cheered! It felt wonderful to be “home” after all they had been through. The day before when they had sat around the breakfast table in the yard seemed to be an eternity ago.

  At first glance, all seemed to be well with the small resort. The buildings were all standing and in good repair, much to Mrs. Manoa’s relief. They rushed for the house, eager to see if the inside was in as good shape as the outside.

  There was no electricity, but enough light came through the windows that they could see the things that had fallen from shelves and the pictures that had fallen from the walls onto the floor. That was it! A few broken dishes and jars and picture frames, but Castaway Cove had been spared! Mrs. Manoa began to cry, and Leilani hugged her, crying right along with her.

  “Okay, Let’s get this stuff cleaned up and then I am starved!” Skeeter said. “Do you think we could get something to eat pretty soon, Mrs. Manoa? All we’ve had since the luau last night was a half a candy bar, and that was almost twelve whole hours ago!”

  Mrs. Manoa laughed, “Poor boy! Yes, I’ll start making some breakfast right away. We’re going to have to cook up most of the food in the refrigerator and freezer soon if the electricity doesn’t come back on anyway.”

  They all got to work and by the time they had the mess cleaned up Mrs. Manoa had breakfast ready for them. She had made eggs and bacon and as she set it before them she commented, “I’m so glad to be cooking with propane! If we had an electric stove we wouldn’t be enjoying a good warm breakfast, and I think this is just what we all need right now, don’t you?”

  “Ummm, you bet!” Skeeter said. “It looks great! Thanks, Mrs. Manoa!”

  “That reminds me,” Pete said just then. “We’d probably better check the lines to the propane tank and make sure there are no leaks after the earthquake. I’ll do that after breakfast, Mrs. Manoa.”

  “That’s great, Pete. Thanks. Maybe you guys could take a walk around the property and see if there is any other damage. I’m going to get some housework done here in the house, but would you girls mind checking the cottages and make sure they’re okay and ready for guests? We may have others joining us by tonight. Kristi, let’s hold off on moving your parents’ things. If we don’t need to move them out of Hibiscus House, we won’t, but if it turns out we need it, well, it won’t take us long to get it ready.”

  They finished breakfast. The girls offered to do the dishes and clean the kitchen while Mrs. Manoa made an inventory of the food she had in the house. If they were going to have more people staying with them at Castaway Cove she needed to make a plan for stretching the food to last as long as possible. Who knew when they would be able to get more supplies during this emergency?

  Dan and Skeeter went out to the backyard with Pete. They walked over to the propane tank first. The tank itself looked fine, and the line running into the house showed no visible cracks, either. “I think it’s okay,” Pete said, “although when your dad gets back it would probably be a good idea to have him take a look at it, too.” He sniffed the air. “I don’t smell any propane, either. It would smell like rotten eggs, if there was a leak.” He sniffed again. “Huh, that’s strange. I don’t smell propane, but it kind of smells like gasoline back here. Do you guys smell that?”

  Dan and Skeeter sniffed the air. “Yeah—kind of faint. I smell gas,” Dan confirmed.

  “Me, too.” Skeeter said. They looked around the yard. They couldn’t see anything that should smell like gasoline.

  “What’s this?” Pete finally muttered as he knelt down next to the propane tank. The grass was wilted there, and they noticed a path of wilted grass that led from the tank to the house, as well. Pete ran his hand over the grass and then lifted his hand to his nose. “Phew!” he said. “I think someone poured gasoline on the ground over here!” He stood up and followed the path of wilted grass to the house. “Look! It goes all along the foundation of the house, too!’ He knelt down and smelled the ground there, as well. “Dan, I think someone was trying to start a fire here! Why else would someone pour gasoline around a house and even over to the propane tank? Man! What is going on here?”

  Dan and Skeeter rushed to his side. They, too, smelled the ground and then looked at Pete. For a second they couldn’t even speak as the awful truth sunk in. “We have to tell Mrs. Manoa,” Dan finally said. “And get the police out here. This is really serious.”

  “How are we going to get the police here?” Skeeter asked. “Dad told us they have to come all the way over from the big island, and with this emergency disaster thing going on, it will be a long time before they’ll be able to send anyone!”

  Dan stood up and wiped his hands on his pants. “Well, first things first. Mrs. Manoa, could you come out here, please?” he called through the back door.

  She came to the door. “What’s the matter, boys? Did you find a leak?” She looked worried.

  Pete shook his head. “No, no propane leak—but it might be worse than that, I’m afraid. Could you come out here, please?”

  The older woman looked really worried now. “What? What is it?” she asked. She stepped outside, and a moment later the girls followed her out. They had heard the worry in her voice and they came to see what was going on.

  Pete showed her what they had discovered and told her their suspicions. “What?” she cried out in disbelief. “Who would do such a thing? And why? Why?”

  “That’s terrible!” Leilani and the other girls cried.

  “It’s gotta be the same person who broke in and set the first fire,” Dan said. I wonder why he stopped before actually setting this one, though?”

  “Maybe his conscience got this best of him,” Skeeter suggested.

  “I doubt it. He doesn’t have a conscience if he got this far in his plan!” Dan said grimly. “What do you want to do, Mrs. Manoa?”

  “I don’t know what we can do. There’s no phone service right now. I just checked a few minutes ago. And who would we call even if we could? There are a lot more worse problems going on right now on Palekaiko.”

  “Well, maybe we should—” Pete started to say when suddenly they heard a noise coming from the trees behind the house. “What was that?” he asked.

  They all stood still and listened. There was nothing. A few bird calls. And then the sound of someone groaning. “There’s someone back there!” Skeeter exclaimed. He dashed off into the trees.

  “Skeeter!” Dan and Kristi both yelled after him. “Come back here! That kid!” Dan shook his head in disgust and took off after his brother. The others followed.

  Skeeter was straining at a palm tree that had fallen. Trapped beneath the trunk was Kimo. A few feet away a gas can lay on its side. The smell of gasoline was strong in the air.

  “Kimo!” Mrs. Manoa cried in dismay.

  He lay there unmoving. His face was waxen and a gash in his forehead was clotted with blood. The tree lay across his chest, and at first glance it appeared he wasn’t breathing. He slowly opened his eyes, though, at
the sound of Mrs. Manoa’s voice and glared at her, a glitter of hatred in them as he hissed at her, “You should… not have come… Castaway Cove…should have…been mine… Paulo promised.” His words dripped with venom.

  Mrs. Manoa drew back in shock at the bitterness and hatred in his voice. “I—I don’t understand…” she faltered.

  “Mine… If I can’t have it… no one can… Fire! Fire! Mine…” Kimo’s voice faded to a whisper and his eyes closed again.

  They stared at the hateful man for a moment and then Dan said, “Quick! We have to get the tree off of him! I don’t think he’s breathing!” He felt for a pulse on Kimo’s neck and then on his wrist. He shook his head and then jumped up. He grabbed the tree trunk and started pushing. Pete and Skeeter shoved with him, and finally when the girls put everything they had into it as well, the palm slid off of the old handyman.

  Dan and Pete started CPR immediately. They had both been trained in it several years before and took a refresher course every year. They did not hesitate but did all they could for more than fifteen minutes while the others stood by, watching and praying for the wicked old man.

  At last they sat back on their heels and shook their heads. “Without 911, there’s nothing more we can do,” Dan panted, trying to catch his breath. “He’s gone. I don’t know if it was the tree that killed him, or if his heart just gave out.” He wiped away the tears that suddenly sprang to his eyes. Kimo might have been a hateful, evil man, but he was still a life and a soul, and as far as they knew, he had died without knowing the Lord.

  Mrs. Manoa rubbed his back. “You did your best—both of you. Please don’t think that you failed. God is in control.” She began to cry as well. “I feel terribly sorry for Kimo. I had no idea he felt that way or that Uncle Paulo had promised Castaway Cove to him. No wonder he hated me.”

  Skeeter snorted. “Just because he said it, doesn’t make it so. He may have thought Paulo promised it to him, but in the end Uncle Paulo left it to you. So don’t feel bad for him! There is no excuse for what he did, Mrs. Manoa! No excuse at all! He might have killed someone! He might have killed you or Leilani!”