"The Golden Calf Obligation" - Chapter 17
Jan. 10th, 2013 07:58 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
“Doc, I’ve Got this Burning!”
“Government is not reason; it is not eloquent; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”
-George Washington
It was just about 3 car lengths across from where I shakily stood to the bathroom, but it was an obstacle course unlike anything I’d had to cross in a long time.
There is something unnerving when part of your path is over the bodies of people who had, just moments before, been joking, laughing, eating, talking and living.
The roar of police cars and EMTs approaching let me feel free to concentrate on Chester rather than digging through rubble hoping to find other survivors.
After an eternity, I reached the door and saw that the room was afire.
“Chester!” I shouted.
“In here, boss.”
The voice came from the farthest stall, still fairly safe from the blaze.
“Chester, there’s a window just outside of your stall. Can you move?”
There was a hesitation that spoke of pain, then “I got smacked into the wall, but I think I can move.”
The fire began to spread more quickly.
“You’ve got to get out right now,” I shouted, “while you can!”
The door came open and he poked his head out, it was a portrait in terror.
“Matt, I got to admit I got a thing about fire. My folks died in a fire when I was young and I guess I never got over it.”
“Well, you’ve got to try!”
He came out just as the gas tank blew. We were both shot back by the explosion. Luckily the ruptured gas tank was full and all that exploded was fumes, but they shot flaming liquid in all directions.
The chance of escape narrowed greatly.
I got back to see half the room engulfed. Chester was back in the stall, I could only hope he was still alive. I was amazed that I was.
“Chester!” I called out as I saw water pouring out of damaged sinks, “Chester, are you okay?”
I have never heard a less convincing positive answer.
“I think I can help you with the fire, old son,” I shouted as I took my pistols out, “Look out now!”
As he peeked out I shot the sink just across from him. The plumbing erupted and shot water over the flames. With what could only be described as heroic resolve, Chester saw the waterfall and ran through it to the window. He picked up a waste basket and threw it through the glass and followed it out.
An arm pulled me away just as another blast came from the car.
Falling backward, I lost consciousness.
© C. Wayne Owens
Continue on to Chapter 18