"BB, anybody come to help you off that cliff yet? Over."
"A7BB, not yet. Hope it rains soon, I'm starting to get a little thirsty."
Sarah nervously giggled, deepening the dimples in her cheeks. She was getting tired and her southern drawl was becoming more pronounced, "BB, Rain in Seattle? Be serious. Can you tell what blew up?"
"I'm too far away. It's about as far south as that other big fire only farther toward the west. A7BB, over."
"BB, copy."
"AY7MMO."
Sarah winced when she heard the call sign. She paused, rolled her eyes, and then answered, "MMO, go ahead Mister Mayor."
"This is AY7MMO. Sarah, you tell your people I'm sending plows down Highway 99 to clear it for emergency vehicles. I catch anybody else on it, I'll have them arrested. You hear me?"
"Nice to know you're unharmed, Mister Mayor. I hear you. By the way, did you know we're on the air…the commercial airwaves? Tell me, you ever take the time to review Seattle's disaster plan, or are you still too new on the job? Over." Sarah waited, but AY7MMO did not answer. "Okay, KG7SD, you're next."
"KG7SD, this is University Hospital. We're in fairly good shape. Damage is only moderately heavy, generators are working so far and we have two operating rooms functional. We need more personnel, supplies and as much morphine as we can get. We have fifty-six dead, 123 critical and more than 200 serious so far. The Red Cross is understaffed, but setting up in the Hester Carson Building as soon as our engineer says it's safe. Meanwhile they're using a park across the street. People are walking in, some carrying injured and some injured themselves. Roads are impassable until we can get some of these uprooted trees and downed power poles out of the way, over."
"Copy that SD. Can you see the fissure from there?"
"Negative net control. But I took a walk that direction a little while ago. It's still wide open. Scariest thing I've ever seen. KG7SD, out."
"NP7WS."
"WS, net control, go ahead."
"NP7WS, Sarah, the Navy wishes to pass along a message, how do you read?"
"Loud and clear WS, go ahead."
"NP7WS, Navy has your man on the cliff in sight. They will attempt a rescue when they can, over."
"Thanks Navy. A7BB says he saw Navy launch choppers. Can they give us a report? Over."
"NP7WS, stand by, I'll ask." For several seconds, a soft static filled the Ham frequency air waves while NP7WS talked to someone on the USS Carl Vincent Aircraft Carrier. Then NP7WS came back on, "Net control, we have one ferry missing on Elliott Bay. Navy has divers in the water now. A tsunami hit shortly after the first quake and another after the second. All hospitals and government services have gone to disaster mode. Stand by." Again Sarah waited until finally, he returned, "Navy says the death toll reached seven hundred about ten minutes ago. They're getting ready to take injured aboard ship. Red Cross is mobilizing all across the country and the Canadian's are sending all the help they can, over."
Sarah heaved a big sigh of relief, "God bless Canada, over."
"One more thing, Sarah. Tell Max his little station just went nationwide. The whole country is listening in. NP7WS, over."
Sarah's lip began to quiver and her eyes suddenly filled with unexpected tears, "God bless America." She paused, breathed deeply and cleared her throat, "This is Net Control, thanks. Navy, can you tell us about the fire down south?"
"WP7WS, stand by. ...Navy doesn't know what just blew up, but they report several fires South of Seattle. They are Sherwood Library, SeaTac Community Center, Air Traffic control, one city block in Thorndyke, South Center has been burning since the quake, a warehouse in Tukwila, gas explosion in West Seattle, half a block..."
*
Collin grabbed a cigarette, a lighter and walked to the window. His hands were shaking when he struck the flint and he couldn't hold the flame. Again he struck the flint, again the flame went out. When it finally lit, he struggled to bring the flame closer to the end of his cigarette. Suddenly, Max was beside him, steadying his hand. He took a long drag, blew the smoke out and allowed the tears to stream down his cheeks. "I can't go on without her, there is no point. Beth is all I have."
"We don't know they're dead. They were gone a long time. Maybe they headed back before the quake."
"You think so?"
"Yes. I've thought about it a lot. The boys are a handful in a shopping center and Candy shops quickly. For all we know, they're sitting at the bottom of the hill trying to figure out how to get up the counterbalance. It's pretty steep, you know."
"I need to talk to Beth. I've gotta tell her something."
"Okay, go for it. We're on the air, talk to her."
Collin stared at Max for a moment, and then wiped the tears off his cheeks. He walked back to his stool, sat down, grabbed his mike, and then watched Max turn down the volume on the Ham Radio. "This is Collin Slater at KMPR in Seattle. As you know, we've had an earthquake. Max and I said good-bye to our wives this morning, just like we do every morning. We climbed the stairs to this attic studio and went on the air. How could we have known we might never see them again? Beth and Candy took Max Taylor's three little boys to South Center and as you just heard, South Center has been on fire since the Quake.
And if I had known I might not ever see Beth again, I would have told her this. My love…there are no words eloquent enough to tell you how much I adore you. I love your laughter. I love candlelight flickering in your eyes. And when you are asleep in my arms, I know I'm home…really home. Come back to me Beth. Please be alive."
Max bit his lip hard and turned the volume back up on the Amateur Radio. The Amateur airwaves were quiet.
*
In the front yard of a house belonging to people he didn't know, Sam Taylor slumped to his knees. Traffic had not moved on Greenwood Avenue North since the quake and the cars were deserted. The air was crisp and fresh. Birds flew into the tops of trees and landed, the wind managed to cool the temperature and people were helping each other. But Sam noticed none of it.
He eased his headphones off his ears, placed his hands together and bowed his head. "For Thou art my candle in the darkness, my strength when my heart is heavy, the forgiver of my grievous sins, and the Savior of my soul. If it be Thy will, Lord, please let Beth, Candy and my grandsons be alive." Sam lifted his head and started to get up. Then he quickly retook his position, "Oh yes, and these cigarettes are not for me, they're for Collin. Amen."
In the parking lot of the Cleveland Department Store, twenty-seven year old Mattie Campbell was fresh out of tears when she pushed the speak button on her hand-held and brought it to her mouth, "WJ7V."
"WJ, go ahead."
"Sarah, we've found a little girl. She's four years old and buried just inside the wall. She says her leg hurts, but she's alive. We need better equipment. There's a cement slab just above her and the building keeps settling, over.
"WJ, do you have any help there yet?"
"Not much, but people are doing what they can. Even injured people are digging. We need equipment, but there's not much chance of that. The parking lot is a mess and the streets are jammed with cars. Trees are slanted every which way and some are uprooted. We had a live power line to worry about, but one of the guys got it shut down. WJ7V, over."
"N7ORM."
"ORM, go ahead."
"Sarah, John Snider is with me. He owns a construction company and wants to help. Can you give us Mattie's location again? N7ORM, over."
"ORM, she's at the Cleveland Department Store on North 97th, just off Wallingford Avenue, over."
"Roger Sarah. Traffic is jammed, but we'll try our best to get there. N7ORM, out."
Collin thought for a moment, and then lifted the mike, "This is Collin Slater at KMPR, 760 AM in Seattle. Folks, I know a lot of you are trying to find loved ones, but please, if you've deserted your cars, go back. Pull them to the side as far as you can. Park on sidewalks or in yards if you have to, but clear the streets. It's the only way we're going to get help to that little girl and the hundreds of others trapped in buildings." Gently, he laid the mike back down near the Ham Radio speaker.
A few minutes later, he was standing at the window watching the pitiful scene across the street again. Unlike the department store, none of the floors remained high enough off the ground to allow people to crawl out. A new body had been added to the dead and a woman sat nearby, holding her bleeding head in both hands. Collin turned and walked into the control room. Keeping his voice down, he leaned toward Max, "I'm going down there."
"And do what?"
"I don't know, take a closer look, count the dead and see about the injured. Maybe Sarah can get them some help."
Max turned to look at the sincerity in his friend's eyes, and then lowered his gaze. "Collin, there's something you need to understand. Help is a long way off. You've been listening, we've got reports of damage, deaths and injuries, but the only good news is about an Aircraft Carrier and four choppers. We don't even know if they're medical units. Real help takes 24 to 48 hours after a disaster. All we've got is ourselves."
"I'm going anyway. The least I can do is let them know somebody cares. Besides, I'll go nuts if I don't do something."
Max mulled it over, and then reluctantly nodded. "Don't take too long, I can't handle this place by myself."
"Great."
As soon as he was gone, Max got up, hobbled into the studio and made sure the mike was close enough to the Ham Radio. Next, he turned the volume up a little, and then went back to the control room.
"A7BB."
"BB, go ahead."
"A7BB, good news! We've got more choppers coming in. I count six, maybe seven all coming from the east. And the Navy choppers are starting to come back. Guys in yellow jackets with sticks are telling them where to land and they've brought tons of equipment topside. Would you look at that, some guy is waving a white flag at me! Hello Navy, over."
Sarah smiled. Next to Max, A7BB was her favorite and she was relieved to hear him in a good mood. "BB, maybe they want to surrender."
"Ah Sarah, we ain't got no place to keep prisoners. I say we let 'em go. A7BB, over."
"BB, hasn't anybody come to help you?"
"Well, one guy peeked over the side of the cliff and looked down. But the truth is, the edge isn't safe. He nearly fell just getting close enough to lean over. Sure wish he'd come back with a jug of water though. A7BB, over."
"Copy, BB."
"N7JDX emergency."
Sarah immediately turned her attention to the new caller, "JDX, go ahead."
"We've got looters in downtown Ballard. The earthquake broke all the windows so people are just taking whatever they want out of stores. What should I do? Over."
"JDX, stay clear. You'll only get hurt if you try to interfere."
"Okay. I'm just sick about this. Looters? I never thought this would happen in Ballard. Haven't we got enough trouble? N7JDX, over."
"JDX, it’s just stuff. We need to concentrate on getting help to the injured. Walk away JDX, let it go for now. You been to St. Luke's Church yet? They're a designated Red Cross center, aren't they? Over."
"This is N7JDX, I'll head that way now. Thanks Sarah. Out."
*
On the forty-third floor of the Winningham Blue building, Seely cautiously opened the door to the supply room. Flashlight in hand, she allowed the beam of light to shine first on Bob's hand, and then she slowly moved the light toward his torso. Obscured behind an industrial copier, his body lay crushed between it and the mail machine. His face obscured, Seely let out a relieved breath and knelt down. She brought out two more gallons of water, a smaller duffel bag and then stood back up and started in.
"Wait," Tim said. "Suppose we can't get up the stairs. You'll have gone in there for nothing. I say we try to get to the roof first. Besides, maybe we can find paper in one of the offices."
Seely quickly pulled the door closed and sighed, "Sounds good to me."
"Okay." Tim picked up both jugs, made his way through the debris in the hallway and set them on the floor near the ladies room. "Jenna, help me move these filing cabinets. No use having to climb over them several times."
"Coming." With Tim's help the cabinets were easy to lift, even with the drawers falling out. One by one, they shoved the lower drawers back inside the cabinet, set them upright and moved on. Finally, the path was clear all the way to the steel door leading to the stairs.
Tim turned the knob and pulled, but the door didn't budge. He stood back, viewed the frame, and then tried again. This time he pulled harder. Finally, it screeched open. He held it while Jenna pulled a full drawer out of a filing cabinet and shoved it against the door to keep it from closing. Then he let go. "Well, best I go see."
Jenna hesitated. The stairwell was pitch-black and clammy cold. "I'll get a flashlight."
"Good idea." Cautiously, he stepped out onto the cluttered, concrete landing. "Hello? Anybody there?" He waited for the echo to subside, but no one answered. "Looks like we're the only ones dumb enough to work on Saturday." When Jenna and Seely came with two flashlights, he turned an inquisitive eye on Seely, "You're not going, are you?"
"What, and miss the best radio show I've heard in months? Not a chance."
"Good. You need to rest, you know, your heart?"
Seely grinned, "Yes, I do know."
Tim took one of the flashlights, flipped it on and shined it against the cracked and broken concrete walls. The north and south walls showed the most damage with cracks wide enough for his entire hand. All the walls were missing large areas of concrete exposing steel mesh reinforcements and the missing chunks lay in heaps on the stairs.
Attempting to boost his own morale, he winked at Jenna, "And there you have it, an elevator shaft with stairs...hopefully." Timmy took another careful step, and then another until he reached the handrail. "I saw a movie once where even the stairs were gone. Think they used a fire hose and a chair to get down. Yep, that's what they used. Might be a handy thing to know…should we have an earthquake."
Jenna eased out onto the landing and watched him try the first step, "It's cold in here."
"Take a memo, Jenna. From now on, all death traps are to have heat in the stairwells. And another thing, put in for my vacation. I'm feeling a little burned out." He lifted his eyes upward and again shined his light on cracked and broken walls. "I'm going up now, Jenna. Stay here, okay? No use both of us getting killed." Ever so gingerly, Tim put one foot at a time on the concrete steps and eased upward.
*
"A7BB"
"BB, go ahead," Sarah answered.
"A7BB. Things are really look'n up now. I can see a second Coast Guard fire ship sailing around Alki Point. Must be coming from Tacoma. And I think…yes, I see two fire choppers. Yee haw!!! And guess what? There's a kitty cat perched on a piece of wood out on the water. Poor thing just sits there looking up at me, like I should be doing something to help. Poor dumb cat, over."
"Copy that, BB. You okay?"
"Yep. The tree slipped another few inches, but I'm still okay. A7BB, over."
"A7FLC emergency."
"FLC, go ahead."
"A7FLC, we've got houses and a ton of earth that slid down First Hill onto the I-5 freeway. And the East St. Johns overpass collapsed trapping cars under it, over."
"FLC, where are you? Over."
"A7FLC, I'm about four blocks from the Convention Center tunnel. It fell too. I'm up on St. John's Street looking down. There's a forty-foot drop to the freeway and I can't get down there to help. People are hurt bad. Sarah, there's a metro bus crushed by the overpass and a major pile up on the other side of the landslide. If we could get a fire truck up here with a long ladder, we maybe could get people out, over."
"NJ7Q."
"NJ, go ahead."
"NJ7Q, Fire station three reports heavy damage in that area. Many injuries and no way to get a fire truck through this mess. Suggest you try getting a cherry picker down on the freeway, over."
The man standing above the freeway instantly flared, "You idiot, we've got no phones. If we can't get a fire truck up here, how do you expect us to find a cherry…"
Sarah instantly interrupted, "This is net Control, all stations stand by. We are all overwhelmed here, try to calm down guys." She intentionally paused, allowing only dead air, and then moved her mouth closer to the mike. "Okay, A7FLC needs ladders at St. John's Street. Who's next?
*
Getting from the two-story radio station to the collapsed building across the street wasn't as easy as Collin expected. The narrow yard filled with daisies and pansy plants, now held the remnants of KMPR's northern roof. Glass littered the sidewalk along with bits of shingles, wood, brick and plaster. An antique weathervane from the roof next door lay in the middle. Power lines sagged, trees slanted and the declining sun made elongated shadows, pointing out the lateness of the hour.
*
Undaunted, Collin slipped around the side of the house, made his way across the street and walked through the small park to the collapsed building. He was greeted by stunned, cut and bruised faces, exchanged a few words and paused to take an accurate count of the dead. He looked over the wounds of the injured, placed a comforting hand on several shoulders, and then headed back.
When he came back upstairs, he walked straight to his can of soda and downed all that was left. Visibly upset, he opened the refrigerator, pulled out another and popped the pull-tab before he noticed Max was watching him.
Max slowly mouthed the words, "You okay?"
Collin nodded and then quickly turned away.
*
When two Hams tried to call in at the same time, Sarah started taping her pencil, "That was a complete double. Let me have the one that starts with WC, over."
"This is WC7NJT, I have a message to pass on from the Mayor, over."
Sarah's green eyes instantly sparkled, "WC, is that the same Mayor who said most Ham Radio Operators were 'looky loos' just trying to get a cheap thrill by loitering around fire stations?"
"WC7NJT. No, this is his overworked and underappreciated executive assistant. You know, the one with the actual Ham license? May I continue? Over."
"Oh okay, might as well let him get it out of his system or he'll pester us till we do. WC, go ahead."
"WC7NJT. My fellow citizens of Seattle, the Mayor wishes to assure you he is doing everything in his power to help. He wants the voters to know..."
*
At the station, Collin narrowed his eyes and hurried back to his stool. In a flash, he turned the volume down on the Amateur Radio and grabbed his Mike, "This is KMPR in Seattle, 760 AM Radio. Here's what we know so far. We have an open fissure north of the University of Washington with several people still trapped at the bottom. Hillsides slid in several areas and overpasses collapsed. We have a child trapped in a department store and fires burning out of control. Homes and apartment buildings have fallen and reports from downtown, where the quake was centered, are still nonexistent. And the ugly truth is, there isn't going to be enough help to go around for quite some time.
Folks, we're on our own. Darkness is only a few hours away and we need to think ahead. Try to find flashlights, batteries, blankets, and water. We can all live for a few days without food and like the book says, most of us have water stored in our water heaters, if we can get to them. What we don't need is more fires. Make sure the gas is turned off in your neighborhood. Watch for live power lines and find a safe place to sleep where nothing can fall on you. And most of all, expect more aftershocks. This is far from over."