I wiped my face. It was sore, like I had a sunburn. My throat hurt it was so dry.
"God, I'd kill for drinkable water," Shane croaked.
"I got some." Pops rummaged around in his duffel bag and pulled out two plastic bottles of water. He passed them to me and Shane.
"Oh my God, you're the best!" Shane took the bottle but hesitated. "You take this one, Pops. Mike and I can share."
"So polite! Don't worry, I've got another." Pops rummaged some more and came up with a third bottle.
We cracked those puppies open, and I swear to God, that water in my mouth and throat was one of the best things I'd ever felt in my life. Almost as good as kissing Shane. I should have saved some, but I couldn't help it. Every cell in my body was dying for water. I drank the entire thing in one go.
I wiped my mouth, and even that much dampness on my skin felt so good, I scooped water from the lake and soaked my face and hands. Shane copied me, groaning at the feeling.
"The water's still cold. That's amazing!" he said.
"Not everything in the world burned," Pops said in a gravelly voice. "Only Crest Lake." He was looking to the east, his expression resigned. "S'pose the town's completely gone."
"Oh, Pops. I'm sorry." Shane's face fell. He looked truly devastated as it sank in. "Wow. The school. The bookstore. The ice cream shop…. How awful."
I figured they were probably right about the town. I hoped no one had been hurt.
"Are you okay, Mr. Bower?" I asked Pops. "Are you burnt anywhere? How's your throat?"
"I'm fine." He looked at me sharply. "What's your name, young man? I think I have a right to know since you were sharing spit with my grandson."
I smiled. "Mike Canali, Sir."
"Well, Fireman Mike, I have one thing to say to you…."
He paused and I waited, trying not to cringe. I expected a lecture about kissing Shane, and maybe some mild homophobia. He hadn't seemed the type, but I wasn't used to making out with a guy in front of someone.
"You saved all these people." He waved a hand around. "And you, too, Shane. You boys risked a lot going back there to warn the others. I hope your fire department appreciates you, Mike, 'cause you're the real deal. As for you." He looked at Shane. "You about gave me a heart attack a few times, but you done good. Proud of you, kid."
"Aw. Thanks, Pops." Shane got misty-eyed.
"It was your idea to come to the lake," I told Pops. "Pretty smart.”
"Yeah, best idea ever," Shane agreed.
He scrambled to give his granddad a hug, causing the canoe to rock a little and Pops to grunt with fear or surprise, then hang on to Shane tightly.
I felt a wave of gratitude and relief. Pops was right. My first real test as a firefighter, and maybe… maybe I hadn't sucked. I'd flailed through it all in a state of panic, fear, and duty, and Shane had done every bit as much as I had. But still, the people here had survived, and they might not have if they'd stayed parked on the road. That was something.
Pops and Shane were having a family moment, so I took out my radio and called in.
"Station 75 Gridley, this is Mike Canali. Over."
"Mike!" It was Donny's voice. "Bro, you okay? Where are you? Over."
I filled Donny in on the evacuation to the lake. "I think we got to everyone blocked by that tree. I hope so. We've got around sixty to eighty people here who are gonna need transport out. All the cars were torched. And we need water and medical care. I don't see anyone who looks badly hurt, but there're probably some first and second degree burns and smoke inhalation. We've got kids and seniors here too. And there are more over by the beach."
"Damn, Mike. You did all that on your own? You trying to make the rest of us look bad, or what? Over."
My gaze scanned all the boats on the lake. "We just pointed the way. People were anxious for someplace to go."
"Don't be so humble, ya dweeb. Hey, they're clearing that tree now, and we'll get fire trucks and ambulances up there ASAP. Ten, fifteen minutes tops. Over."
"Thanks, Donny."
"Hey. I'll call Mom and let her know. The whole family's been worried. They're over at Mom and Dad's house waiting for news. They're gonna be glad to see you, baby bro. Out."
I usually hated it when Donny called me baby bro, but today, it made me smile. I could picture the whole extended family gathered at Mom and Dad's. I'd been a part of that kind of group a few times when members of the family had been out in a bad one. It was weird to think I was on the other end of that family vigil today. But it warmed me, knowing they were all pulling for me, the whole Canali clan.
Chapter seven
Shane
"I'm not going to the hospital!" Pops told the woman paramedic.
She rolled her eyes, already over arguing with him. "I can't force you, Mr. Bower, but I highly recommend it."
"There isn't a thing wrong with me that a nap can't cure," Pops insisted. Then his face fell, and I knew what he was thinking.
He didn't have a bed anymore—or a home. At least, we didn't think so. Mike had gotten word that the town of Crest Lake was mostly gone. And we wouldn't be able to get back in to check on Pops's apartment anytime soon. It'd be a few days at least, Mike said. Right now, it was too dangerous, and they had the road blocked off.
Fortunately, I still had Mable. I'd parked close to the water when we'd come back the last time, just because we were in such a hurry. Thank God I did. She'd escaped the fire that had damaged most of the vehicles in the parking lot. Supposedly buses would be arriving soon to take people to an emergency shelter, but Pops would hate that, and so would I.
"You can take a nap when we get to my place," I told Pops, moving to stand next to him. I put an arm over his shoulder.
"Your bed smells like Cheetos," Pops groused.
I gasped. "It does not! I wash my sheets every week." Well, that was stretching it. But once a month for sure.
I looked at the paramedic. "Does he really need to go to the hospital?"
She gave me a sympathetic look. "Well…. He seems to be doing okay. Can you keep an eye on him for the next twenty-four hours? If he has any difficulty breathing or shows any signs of confusion or lethargy, take him to the ER. And get him in to see his regular doctor for a checkup as soon as you can. Cough drops, hot tea, and no smoking."
"I can do that. Hey, Pops, maybe we can stop at Denny's on the way home."
Pops’s eyes lit up. "That'd be good. I'm starving half to death."
"There's juice and water and bars over there." The paramedic pointed to a little tent where they'd put out some supplies.
I led Pops over there, holding his arm. He was moving slowly. I should get his wheelchair from the car, but I didn't have a place to leave him while I fetched it, and the ground was a mess of ash and debris. At the table, we both took bottles of water, but he turned down a granola bar.
"I'm saving my appetite for pancakes."
I bit into one. The smoke left me feeling nauseous, but I knew I'd feel better if I ate.