Chapter 3 A mountain of water
"Look, Gran," shrieked Noah, pointing way out to sea. Swollen with moonlight, a monstrous wave sped towards them. Its long, smooth silvery outline cast ghostly shadows across the bay.
Gran's voice trembled as she said, "It's a tsunami! The moon birds warned you of its coming."
Noah thought of under-water earthquakes and tsunamis. He never ever thought he'd be seeing one himself.
Any second now, he thought, it'll sweep us off the roof and we’ll be drowned for sure.
"Put on your lifejacket and throw this plastic rain cape over your shoulders," urged Gran, "then hang onto your grandfather's rope. We'll just have to do the best we can."
When the mountain of water struck the island it was like a massive explosion, and then a roar of bubbles. Spray shot up into the air.
Noah gasped when the water hit his body and bit into his skin. Icy cold. Tasting of salt.
His eyes blurred then stung. His lungs felt ready to burst. Miraculously though, he found himself still in the boat, with his grandmother alongside. Noah was clutching the thick, hairy rope with both hands. He watched as the moon birds flapped and glided around the boat, still screaming out their warning.
The dinghy lifted then shot forward like an arrow from a bow. Noah wondered if they'd end up on the other side of the world. Or, be tossed carelessly into the ocean, and drowned.
Looking back towards the island Noah blurted out, "There's water everywhere! I can't see any houses or roads! Or much land. Or the bridge."
"The tsunami’s taken a huge bite out of our island."
"A lot of animals will have drowned," murmured Noah.
"Yes. But also many people," said Gran sadly, "and some of them our friends. If the moon birds hadn't warned you, we’d be dead as well."
In rhythm with Gran, Noah dipped his oar into the water and pulled towards himself. He sensed the floor of the ocean deep beneath him. Felt the thinness of the timber boat -- all that separated him from the sea.
Noah knew what lived deep down in the dark water.
Giant squid with sucking tentacles, reaching out towards him.
Poisonous jellyfish.
Huge slithering eels.
Great white sharks with massive mouths and razor-sharp teeth.
Slimy fish with bulging eyes.
Ships torn apart by rocks then strangled in long slippery strands of kelp.
After several hours of rowing, dark storm clouds swallowed up the moon and the sparkling stars. All was darkness, as if the ocean and sky were one. Noah felt like a tiny bubble of sea spray, not sure if he was a creature of the air, or of the open sea.
Gran reached out and gave Noah's hand a squeeze as she said, "I know it's scary, but at least we have each other and we’re safe for now in your grandfather's dinghy."
Noah watched as the wind whipped the tops off the waves. Bodies floated by. Dead. Their stomachs bloated with air. Their eyes wide open and staring. Seals, sheep, cattle, dogs and even people.
"How much of the world has been flooded?" asked Noah, trying to pull his eyes away from the bodies. "How many people will have drowned?"
"I don't know," muttered Gran, her eyes clouded.
So much water. Nothing but water. The boat rose and fell on a gentle swell. It seemed they'd been floating and drifting forever.
Noah’s heart no longer thumped. His breath was slow and even. "Are we in heaven?" he asked dreamily.
"I'm not sure, replied Gran softly. "Sometimes it's hard to know."
Time slowed to a trickle -------.
"It's a miracle," said Gran, "if we’re still alive."
Like a seashell held against an ear, Noah heard the sound of the ocean deep within his head. His mind hummed with its song. He licked his lips, tasting salt from the silvery spray.
Meanwhile the dinghy rocked and twisted in the choppy waves. So much so, that Noah's stomach felt like it was being thrown around like a T-shirt in a washing machine.
Overhead, the moon and stars slowly faded. Hanging on tightly, Noah leaned over the side and vomited into the dark, murky water. He imagined schools of colourful fish gobbling up all the peas, carrots, potato and chicken he'd eaten for dinner.
Noah thought about the dawning of a new day. Saw light coming and darkness going. Going and coming.
It was the Monday of the second week of his school holidays.