by Akart, Bobby
The massive volume of water rushing out of the lateral line was eroding the pile of mud, dissolving it and pushing it in both directions away from the rubble. While they’d worked to free Chapman and then resuscitate him, the water had caused the pile to whither.
“Come down here, son, and be careful,” instructed Levi. He walked toward Jesse and found several hunks of granite that had been cleaned off by the rushing water. Jesse approached and Levi took his hand to help him down to solid footing.
“There’s more water on this side than over there,” Jesse observed.
Levi used his flashlight to illuminate the pile of debris until it found its way up the wall to the lateral line. When he’d first inspected the blockage, the dirt and debris ran all the way up the tunnel wall to the opening. Now it had settled or washed away to half its height. The bottom of the overturned mini-Bee was now visible.
Chapman stood and was now able to talk. He draped one arm over Kristi and the other over Isabella as he spoke softly with his mother. Tommy made his way over to Levi, glancing back at his idling car as he walked.
Levi seemed to understand what Tommy was thinking as he twisted his body to wash the other side of the tunnel with light. He turned and pointed his flashlight up the hill toward the tunnel entrance, which had been breached by a mudslide of its own. The dirt was creeping slowly toward them like a slow-moving flow of lava from a volcano, but it was not accompanied by any more water.
“I guess we’re gonna have to leave the car behind,” said Tommy with a hint of sadness. He felt the same attachment to the vintage Mustang as Chapman felt for Wonky Donkey. They were both a piece of their dads.
Levi wasn’t so sure. “Not necessarily. Come on.” He gestured for Tommy to follow him back to the group. He shined his light on Chapman’s face so he could look him in the eye.
Chapman immediately complained, “Damn, Levi. Are you tryin’ to blind me?”
“Nah. I just wanted to see if you still had some fight in ya.”
Chapman coughed as he laughed. “You wanna fight? Let’s go. Just let me catch my breath first.”
Everyone laughed as the man who was dead a few minutes ago could manage to find humor in the ordeal.
“I just needed to make sure I didn’t have to carry you on my back to a hospital or something. We’ve got to get movin’, but we have some work to do first.”
“What’s that?” asked Kristi.
“We need to save Tommy’s pride and joy, which also happens to be one of our best assets.” He turned his flashlight on the Mustang that sat patiently sideways in the tunnel, rarin’ to go.
Chapter 19
The Tunnel
Louisville, Kentucky
The water rushing out of the lateral line was both a help and a hindrance. While it was eroding the pile of dirt and rock so that more of the rubble was visible, it was also gradually filling up the floor of the tunnel. As the mudslide from the entrance approached, soon the water levels would increase, the silt on the bottom would grow deeper, and the Mustang would lose its ability to gain traction for its rear wheels.
Tommy, who’d grown up in snowy Chicago, was adept at traveling in icy and snowy conditions. The Mustang was notoriously light in its rear end. The bulk of its weight was found under the hood, which made it susceptible to sliding around sideways. It made for great movie scenes but was a very real hazard when driving in rain or snow.
Levi had experience of his own. In addition to years’ worth of experience digging tractors out of muddy fields, there was that time he got his pickup stuck in a rain-soaked apple orchard while making out with Carly before they were married.
“First, let’s get the horses and the donkey over the pile,” suggested Kristi. “All of this activity is agitating them, and we’re gonna need them calm if we’re gonna take them up and out the other end of the tunnel.”
“I agree,” said Sarah. “Let me deal with Wonky Donkey. He’s a lot like your father was. I learned how to handle them both.” She patted Kristi on the arm and smiled. Gradually, she was accepting Squire’s death. Perhaps it was the near death of another member of the family that reminded her she had lots to live for.
Together, Kristi and Sarah moved the animals across the debris pile, which was more rock than mud at this point. Carly and Rachel remained with the wagons, which were now a half mile away from the lateral line. With the animals delivered to safety, Sarah remained and Kristi hustled back to the group with a hoe.
Over Chapman’s insistence that he was fine and could help, Levi and Tommy unloaded the Mustang and took the contents to a dry spot on the other side of the rubble. It was a time-consuming process, as they had to be careful not to lose their footing while toting an armload of supplies, clothing, and food. Fortunately, their heaviest cargo, the ammunition, had gone down on the first trip.
Tommy asked Isabella to begin placing as many rocks in the trunk of the Mustang as she could. When Kristi returned, she helped. Soon the back of the car was sagging somewhat under the additional weight. He and Levi walked slowly across the dwindling obstacle.
“I swear, Levi, if we could wait it out for another hour, this thing may just wash away.”
Levi turned his flashlight on the steep slope where the mudslide was ever closer to the tunnel floor. “That’s not gonna wait for us. Let’s find the largest, flattest pieces of rock we can carry and create a road. How wide is your car?”
“Six feet,” replied Tommy. “Foot-wide rocks spaced four feet apart should do it. We need to place them next to each other on the upslope. On the downside, we might even pull some weight out if necessary.”
“You wanna carry it out?” asked Levi with a chuckle.
Tommy squeezed Levi’s forearms. They were rock solid and muscular. He laughed, too. “I’ve seen these arms, big boy. You and I can lift the rear if it gets bogged down.”
“Okay, Mr. Weightlifter. You know, there’s a big difference between the gym and real-life muscle-building on the farm.”
“Weight is weight. Come on.”
The two men sloshed through the water where Chapman and the women were waiting by the car. He addressed the guys as they approached.
“What’s the plan? This thing’s really dropped down into the water.”
Tommy and Levi finished moving the supplies and turned to Chapman. “That’ll do. Okay, for starters. Can you drive?”
“Yeah, I’m feelin’ a lot better. The damn cough is annoying, but my lungs are full of dirt.”
Levi explained as everyone gathered around. “Good. We need to get started. Kristi and Isabella, I’m gonna have you dig out a flat spot about a foot wide for the tires to roll through. We’re gonna find pieces of rock to fill it. Think of those old driveways where there’s grass growing between a bunch of fieldstones. We’re gonna do the same thing.”
“Okay,” said Kristi. “How deep?”
“Just a few inches. It doesn’t really matter as long as it’s fairly level. Tommy and I are gonna be filling it up, and then you three can start walking on them to set them in place. Make sense?”
“Oui.”
Levi turned to his brother. “Reposition the car over on the far side of the debris pile, hugging the wall. The dirt is lowest there. We can use your headlights while we build our ramp. Cool?”
Chapman was enthusiastic. “I’m on it.”
Everyone scurried off to get started. Over the next fifteen minutes, the car was lined up with the easiest path over the mound of dirt and rock. Kristi and Isabella did a good job of excavating two trenches, six inches deep, that rose over the mound. Using the shovels, they even dug away at the mini-Bee and broke out large sections of the glass that had been compromised during the crash down the lateral line. This helped create a roadbed of sorts for the chunks of granite to rest upon.
After the rocks were placed, he and Tommy walked back and forth across them to get them firmly seated in the muddy base. They used the handle end of the shovels to jam the rocks down into the four-
foot-wide space between the two tracks to ensure there weren’t any jagged edges just beneath the muddy surface that might harm the undercarriage if the car sank during the trek.
Levi gave the makeshift ramp one last look and was satisfied it could handle the car. He glanced up toward the downward slope. The mudslide had arrived and was causing slight waves in the standing water as it sank to the tunnel floor. He patted Tommy on the back.
“All right. We’re gonna walk along the side of the car and nudge it along if it needs help. If it gets squirrely, bail out and don’t get crushed under the wheels. Agreed?”
“He’s got this,” said Tommy. “I warned him about the torque. The weight in the back should keep him from sliding as long as he doesn’t panic and give it too much gas.”
Levi raised his right hand and exchanged a high five with Tommy. “Let’s do this.”
Tommy took the left rear fender so he could give advice to Chapman as he drove. Levi took the right side and pointed at Tommy to indicate he was ready.
“Okay, Chapman. Slow and steady. Keep the wheel straight. Don’t worry about the back, we’ll work it for you.”
Like a race car driver about to head out for a practice lap, Chapman stuck his hand out the window with his thumb up.
Chapman eased the clutch out and moved the car forward. They allowed thirty feet to gain some forward momentum before he hit the ramp. His speed was steady when the front wheels climbed the rocks.
The car slowed and the rear tires began to spin. Tommy immediately provided advice. “Ease off a hair! Levi! Shove it forward.”
The two men got behind the car and pushed it up the hill. The tires grabbed the rocks to gain traction and shot up the hill to the crest, leaving Levi and Tommy facedown in the mud after losing their balance.
“He’s at the top!” shouted Kristi.
Levi found his footing first and trudged up the slope on the rocks, which were now submerged deeper into the mud.
“Keep going!” he shouted as he made his way up the hill, quickly joined by Tommy.
Chapman gave the Mustang a little gas, and the car shot forward until the taillights disappeared for a moment. By the time Levi and Tommy reached the top of the mound, Chapman was sitting on the other side, pumping his fist in the air outside the driver’s window.
Cheers erupted in the tunnel as the guys exchanged high fives. Isabella and Kristi made their way up the hill and also joined in the celebration.
Chapman leaned out the window and hollered back at them, “Y’all need a ride?”
Chapter 20
The Tunnel
Louisville, Kentucky
They quickly discarded the heavy rocks from the trunk of the car. A new wave of water gushing out of the lateral line reminded them an entire creek or river could be prepared to dump hundreds of thousands of gallons of water on top of them, flooding the tunnel and threatening to halt their escape from the deluge.
“That’s it,” announced Tommy as he slammed the trunk lid shut. Chapman held the driver’s door open for him.
“I enjoyed the ride, but you can have your pony back. I prefer horses.”
“Very funny,” Tommy quickly responded. He turned to Isabella and Kristi. “Ladies? Care to join—?” Before he could finish his question, a gunshot reverberated through the tunnel.
“Carly?” Levi shouted his question.
“Mom?” screamed Kristi.
Neither responded. Levi started to run, but Tommy shouted at him, “Get in!”
He was behind the wheel and had fired the engine just as Levi slid into the passenger seat.
“Go!”
They took off for the wagons, where they could hear that the horses were startled, vocally complaining about the loud noise.
“I don’t see anybody,” said Levi as Tommy sped closer. The water levels began to decrease as he arrived at the back of the wagons. Levi exited the car before Tommy brought it to a full stop.
“Carly?”
“Shhh!” she responded. “Quiet.”
Levi stood in the Mustang’s headlights and motioned for Tommy to cut the engine by running his thumb across his throat. A second later, they were in total darkness, with only the faint ticking of the engine cooling down making any discernible noise. Even the horses seemed to be holding their breath, waiting for what would happen next.
“What’s going on?” asked Kristi, who was the first to arrive on foot.
She was given a rousing shush in response. A minute later, Chapman and Isabella arrived, and the group huddled behind the wagons. Listening.
“That was a gunshot, right?” asked Levi.
“For sure,” replied Carly. “It’s hard to tell which direction it came from because of the echo.”
Levi pointed toward the Louisville side of the river. “Definitely up there. The mudslide has covered the Indiana entrance ramp to the tunnel.”
Carly touched Chapman on the arm. “Hey, buddy. Glad you’re okay.”
“Thanks.” Chapman squeezed her hand and then turned to Levi. “Hey, don’t you have a night-vision scope for your rifle?”
“Yeah, good idea,” said Levi as he used a foothold on the back of the wagon to crawl inside.
It took a moment for him to root through the unorganized pile of supplies that had been haphazardly placed until it could be unloaded for their exit out of the tunnel. First, he handed the AR-10s to Tommy and Kristi. Then he handed two hunting rifles to Carly and Sarah.
“Got it,” he whispered after another moment. He attached the Pulsar night-vision rifle scope to the top of his backup .308 hunting rifle. His favorite rifle had been lost in Canada, but this Mossberg was the one he’d used for years before he bought a new one.
He’d left the scope at home when he went hunting in Canada. Night-vision devices were legal to own but illegal to use on guns in Canada. The law seemed odd, but it was because it was illegal to discharge any firearm at night in Canada.
In Indiana, the laws regarding night-vision hunting were similarly confusing to some. The use of night-vision-based hunting gear, while legal, was restricted. The state required a continuously burning light among the hunters that can be seen from at least five hundred feet away.
Levi exited the wagon, and just as his feet hit the water-covered pavement, another shot rang out. The horses became agitated again, and the group instinctively ducked for cover although there was no indication the shot had been directed at them.
“That’s definitely on the Kentucky side,” whispered Chapman.
Levi took a deep breath and exhaled. “We can’t just sit here, and there’s no way we should head in that direction with horses and wagons and our kids.”
“Let me drive up there,” said Tommy. “I can draw them out and see what the deal is.”
“They’ll just shoot at your headlights and destroy what we just saved,” said Levi. “No. I’ll use the night vision and get close enough to see what we’re dealing with.”
“I’m comin’, too,” insisted Carly.
“Me too,” said Kristi.
“No, to both of you,” Levi quickly said. “It’s too dangerous.”
“You’re gonna need cover,” suggested Kristi.
“And I’m the second best shot in the family,” Carly reminded her husband.
Levi didn’t like it. “You guys won’t be able to see.”
“If they fire on us, we can return fire,” argued Kristi. She lifted the AR-10. “With these things, we can fire at their muzzle flash and take them out.”
Chapman laughed and then agreed. “She’s got a point.”
Levi thought for a moment and then nodded. “All right. You two stay against the wall. We’re gonna walk slow. It’s pitch black in here right now, so we have to keep a slow, steady pace.”
“How slow?” asked Kristi.
“One Mississippi. Two Mississippi. Like that. And one more thing. I don’t want you two to shoot me. Don’t fire unless I say fire, okay?”
Carly was ready. “G
ot it. I’ll take the right side since I’m left-handed. Kristi, you take the left. Levi, the middle is driest. You’ll have better footing.”
The three of them fanned out and began walking toward the exit to the tunnel. Levi adjusted the scope as he walked. The Pulsar was a longtime favorite of his because it had a high-resolution display with a powerful built-in infrared illuminator to operate in total darkness. When he hunted the woods near the farm, he didn’t want to be responsible for accidentally shooting a fellow hunter.
Once they started, he ignored his own pacing rule given to Kristi and Carly. He intended to move into the tunnel ahead of his wingmen. The last thing he wanted was for either of them to get out in front where they’d be at risk. Besides, assuming the shooter didn’t have night vision, Levi had a tremendous tactical advantage.
He moved briskly toward the other end of the tunnel. As he walked, he adjusted his digital sights. He’d learned from past experience that the Pulsar worked best in the fifteen-hundred-to-two-thousand-foot range, with longer capability but far less accuracy. He wanted to be absolutely sure what he was dealing with.
He moved forward, scanning through his scope for movement. He knew the tunnel was nearly four miles long, but he felt he was well beyond halfway through it at this point. Every now and again, he’d turn the scope to identify Carly’s and Kristi’s locations. He was pleased they’d kept a slow, steady pace.
A woman’s scream grabbed his attention. He swung his rifle back around and focused on a blur of movement deep into the tunnel. Levi quickened his pace as he drew a bead on a single heavyset figure walking down the center of the tunnel, coming toward him.
Suddenly, the figure turned to Levi’s left and moved quickly toward the wall. Levi walked briskly now that he’d identified a target.
“Levi? Did you hear that?”
Carly’s voice was barely loud enough to be heard. Levi stopped and studied the figure in the distance through his scope. The figure hadn’t heard her, so Levi turned around and spoke in a loud whisper. “I’ve got him. Stay back and quiet.”