Higher Ground by Becky Black (notion reading list txt) 📗

lead all these people out of Arius and climb the mountains, Benesh?” Johnson said. “There are elders here. Children and infants. What about if anyone is hurt or falls ill?”

“Then that’s where I come in.”

They all turned at the voice. It came from Dr. Howie, the senior medical doctor of the colony, a man around Korrie’s age. He carried a large and bulging backpack—filled with medical supplies, Zach hoped—and a hiking pole. Despite his age, he looked fit and lean. Zach sighed with relief. A doctor.

“He’s a founder,” Adam said, close to Zach’s ear. “And a council member. If he’s prepared to leave…”

“Gene, you can’t be serious,” Johnson shouted. “You’ve fallen for this nonsense?”

“You’ve lived here for forty years, man,” Morrison said. “You can’t just leave.”

“Watch me,” Howie said. “Anyway, whether Dr. Benesh here is right or wrong, they are going to need a doctor. I could use a few days in the country.” He smiled and donned a pair of sunglasses.

“Good to have you aboard, sir,” Zach said, offering him a handshake.

“I’ll tell you what else you can’t go without,” Statham said. “A cop.”

Did he mean himself? Though Zach wanted everyone to come, he didn’t much relish the company of the sheriff. But then he spotted the deputy he’d talked at for hours the night before, Barbara Torres, dressed for hiking. She sat on her backpack, leaning against a police car, apparently half asleep. Resting while others argued—a smart move.

“Barbara!” Adam exclaimed, sounding delighted. She smiled at him.

“Hi, Adam.”

“I’m sending her with you,” Statham said. “To keep order.”

Zach couldn’t argue, didn’t want to. “Good,” he said, which seemed to annoy the sheriff. Did the man expect him to argue? Zach wanted everyone to come. Deputy Torres might be assigned to go with them, but the assignment would save her life. He glanced at Adam, who seemed to know her well. He’d have to ask him about her later. He wouldn’t like to think she’d be doing anything to sabotage their efforts.

He glanced at his watch. Well after eight. Right. These arguments could go on all day, but they had to move. He spotted a flatbed truck similar to Adam’s nearby and turned away from the still-arguing group to climb up into the bed.

“Can I get everyone’s attention, please,” he called. His voice didn’t carry the way it had in the dome. The morning breeze whipped it away. He raised it to a shout. “Can I get your attention?”

The crowd faltered into silence and looked up at him expectantly. Zach’s mouth went dry as hundreds of people stared at him, some of them hostile. He took off the broad-brimmed hat he’d brought to keep the sun off and wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

“Um, good morning, everyone.”

“Louder.” Adam’s voice from below. Not a shout. He was standing right by the truck, and only people close by would have heard him. Zack coughed and spoke louder.

“Thank you for coming here. Thank you for believing me. I know this is difficult and frightening, but you have made the right choice. We’re leaving now. Not everyone has vehicles, so please, make all the room you can for your neighbors.”

He hoped there were enough vehicles. If not, he’d find some more. Or they’d take some people to the foothills, start them climbing, and come back to town for the rest. They could do this.

“You’ll be pleased to know we have Dr. Howie and Deputy Torres traveling with us. I know they’ll help to keep us all safe.”

“Is there any word about evacuation?” someone called. “Rescue ships?”

“Not yet. But the distress signal is still transmitting.”

“Illegally!” Johnson shouted. Zach ignored her. Such technicalities no longer mattered.

A ripple went through the crowd of people, who perhaps hoped they weren’t going to have to climb right to the top of the mountains. That they were only buying the time to stay ahead of any floodwater before rescue showed up. Zach scanned the crowd, assessing them. Most of the people in the colony were under the age of fifty, something reflected in the crowd. But there were older people too, those from the early years who’d stayed here even after they retired. Most looked pretty fit, but they might still struggle when the climb got steep.

“There’s been no new seismic activity,” Morrison called out in an authoritative, carrying voice, more used to public speaking than Zach. “Benesh is wrong. You’re putting yourself in more danger in the mountains than you are staying here. Don’t be fools. Don’t take your children into danger.”

“You’re the fool, Roy.” That was Korrie. She had her cat, as predicted, but not in a carrier. Instead, it sat in her backpack with its head poking out, looking massively unimpressed by the whole situation. “And you’re going to die if you stay here and the sea comes through those vents before rescue arrives.”

“We are leaving,” Zach called, loud, over their argument. “Get organized. Get into the vehicles. We’re heading for Shusara.”

It was one of the least difficult climbs, according to Adam, and it also had plenty of water available from streams. At the top lay a long ridge. If they made it that far, they’d have enough flat ground to await rescue. The situation could be pretty desperate by then, but it was the best plan they had.

“If there are no more questions…”

About fifty questions came Zach’s way in a babble of voices.

* * * *

“I guess I lost my bet,” Adam said as they prepared to leave shortly after nine.

“Good,” Zach said, earning a grin and a playful punch on the arm.

There’d been more arguments, more questions, and plenty of chaos as they distributed people into the vehicles. But it was done. The vehicles were all loaded. A half dozen people sat in the bed of Adam’s truck, and Professor Korrie got into the cab. Zach did some last-minute rushing about, having final words with people. Johnson, Morrison, and Statham were arguing with each other. Johnson had demanded that Statham stop the