Wonder woman mar 2014

Laura Capello Wonder Woman

Jeff Glazier

Š Jeff Glazier 2014 www.jeffglazier.co.za

ISBN 978-1-920584-26-9 First published in 2014 by B K Press

Edited by Ginny Porter

Cover by Jenny Glazier

All characters in this work are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, translated or transmitted in any form by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of the author.

By the same author: Tales From Three Chameleons (Short stories) Regret (Young Adult Novella) Not Everything Is Quite As It Seems (Novel) Seeming Isn’t Believing (Novel) The Wreck of Christian van Riebeeck (Novella) Sugar Cane Killer (Novella) Solomon King (Novella) The Girl by the Side of the Road (Novella)

Part One Finding Wonder Woman ust around the tight bend of the narrow Toldrif they were met by a wall of water – no introduction or greeting – just a now here I am. Nigel stopped the car, they were both speechless, then fear set in. It seemed impossible – something out of a movie, a tsunami on dry land, well what was normally dry land. Nigel began to panic, he fumbled to put the car in reverse and frantically grated the gears as he turned round. A truck loomed, its lights full on and its air-horn bellowing. They could see the driver battle with his controls, it skidded and shuddered to a halt, 10 metres away. Suddenly they felt themselves being lifted up by the water. Nigel had frozen with fright. Laura grabbed the wheel as the vehicle swung round in the current. She found the wheels acted like a rudder and she fought to control the car, heading it away from the truck. A sudden torrent turned it broadside as she lost control and they slammed into it. Laura looked up at the frightened face of the black driver. He was staring over her and pointing.

Laura looked ahead, a car was coming towards her at great speed, out of control, riding high on another wave of water as if on a huge surfboard.

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“We’ve got to get out Nigel!” Nigel was numbed with shock. Laura kicked open her door, it was flung back by water which then rushed into the car. She climbed out onto the bonnet and then reached back to grab Nigel’s arm.

“Come, quick!” She helped him struggle out, then they scrambled onto the roof of the car. It was difficult to balance, the car was jolting against the front of the truck and water was splashing up over them. Nigel clung on to her.

“Now jump,” Laura shouted. He mistimed, and was left standing holding her thin blouse like a stunned statue. Laura clawed up onto the front of the lorry and the huge chrome bumpers. “Grab my hand, now!” she shouted. She hauled him over just a second before the drifting car torpedoed into theirs, the sound of the crunch of impact deadened by the water. She caught the look of fear in the passengers’ faces, fear and helplessness; a horrible mix. The car bounced, then bobbed, before being taken around the side of the lorry, smashing through the retaining wall it tipped into the river, which accepted its gift greedily and took it along its relentless way. Laura saw her blouse follow. Fortunately she’d had her sports running top on underneath. The driver of the lorry had stepped out and helped them both into the safety of his high cab. Nigel was breathing heavily, almost hyperventilating.

Laura Capello and Nigel Brockhurst were returning from their trip to George. Laura had just spent the day being flattered and spoilt by Nigel, a man who was attentive,

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intelligent and so well-informed – not a bit like her own husband. They were about to enter the Meiringspoort Pass as the rain fell again, literally another cloudburst, one of many that had taken place in the last few days throughout the Karoo, especially on the other side of the Pass towards Prince Albert where they lived. They were all glad to see the rain, but no one predicted how quickly the rivers would rise and no one perceived the danger. The trip, however illdesigned, was going to change her life.

They all stared out in front and the next thing they saw was a huge boulder, tossed in the water, it was like a cannonball as it hit the front of the lorry with such force. The river, now short of other playthings, had sent in the heavy artillery. The impact threw them all against the windscreen. Dazed, Laura glanced in the lorry’s mirror – she saw two more cars come up behind them. The road behind must still be clear. The driver, Methuli, said he’d called the police, but they must have already driven into the gorge.

“Not clear for long.” Nigel told them. “The water’s running faster down the river and it will reach a point when it will soon back up.” It was clear that they were trapped.

The cars behind were protected by the lorry, shielded as the water was deflected around it. But soon the backing-up water would lift the cars. Laura knew there wasn’t much time.

“Got a rope?” She was looking at the driver. He nodded and fished one out of the box behind the seat. “Come on,”

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she pushed Nigel, “let’s get on the roof.” And she slung the rope over her shoulder. Nigel was close to whimpering.

“Heights, I’m afraid of heights.” The diminutive driver also looked stunned and helpless, with an open head wound.

The rain had let up for a moment and Laura hauled herself onto the gap between the trailer and the tractor. A torrent of water and debris shot underneath her. Kicking off her heels she started to climb – her skirt was restrictive, she tore it off. Pity, she thought, she’d rather liked it. She was quickly on the roof, she heard the distinctive whop-whop of a helicopter above her. It was high above, the gorge was almost at its deepest there. The sky was darkening again, about to release another deluge. The helicopter hovered. She ran across the top of the lorry and stood at the edge. It was a terrifying scene; all the trees along the riverbank were flattened, retaining walls were washed away and bits and pieces of smashed structures were scattered and floating everywhere. The two cars were still behind the lorry, the one furthest away was beginning to rock like a boat. The windows were open and the passengers were screaming and waving. Laura could see the water backing up swiftly now.

She feared for the worst and watched helplessly as the swollen water picked the last car up, swirled it around just for show, then took it off behind the next bend in the road to do its worst.

Over the noise of the torrent Laura shouted at the remaining car. “Do as I say – get on the roof of your car.”

They were young and agile, the car beneath them began to

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sway. “Catch this!” She threw the rope. “Tie the rope around both of you, there’s not much time, and just hang on!” Laura secured the other end of the rope to the refrigeration vent on the roof of the lorry. “Now jump and swim towards the trailer.” They didn’t have to jump, their car disappeared from beneath them. They swam desperately towards the back of the trailer as Laura hauled on the rope, leaning back as if in a desperate tug of war. They fought their way and finally managed to cling on to the bumper and with just a moment to draw breath, they climbed up the rope to the safety of the trailer’s roof. The rain started again. The hovering helicopter made an abrupt turn and headed away.

“It’s okay, you’re safe, I don’t think that the river can pick up the fifty tons that’s under us.” Laura pacified the terrified couple.

“Thank you so much,” the young woman was still shaking and now overwhelmed. She said her name was Esme.

“I’m Jaco,” he was a little more composed now, “that was the most frightening thing . . .”

“And they told us it was such a pretty gorge.” Esme began to weep.

They were returning from their Christmas break. “Are you on your own, are you the lorry driver?” Jaco asked.

“No, he’s in the cab, I’d better get them out, I hope the chopper will be back soon.” Laura climbed back down and coaxed Nigel and Methuli onto the roof, the rain had begun to ease.

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It was probably only ten minutes later, when the storm had passed, that the helicopter returned and dropped as low as it dared into the dangerous narrow gorge. One of the winch men dropped down on a rope. Nigel was first into the harness, then the couple in the stranded car were picked up next. It was a small chopper and they indicated they would return soon.

“Some woman that,” the winch man enthused, as he helped them all out of their harnesses. Nigel, with safety in sight, had regained some of his composure.

“Yes, I was . . . er . . . looking after the driver, he was badly injured.”

“We’ll just set you down.” And the helicopter turned to fly towards De Rust.

“I don’t suppose you could drop me at the other side? I need to get to Prince Albert, . . . my wife, explain something to my wife . . .”

“Sorry, always take the quickest route to safety.”

Laura was last to be picked up, once inside the cockpit the winch man gave her a rug. “We’ve got the footage of all that, quite a rescue!”

“Have you got everybody?”

“Everyone but the occupants of one car. We left you at one point to try and save them.” He looked and smiled at her. “You seemed to be coping okay on your own.” He put a space blanket around her shoulders and handed her a cup.

“Here, drink this, shock will set in soon, you must be exhausted.”

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