e window. It w

around. The bedsid

stubborn edge of the wind

he frame

the sash gave way with

r hit m

ed flimsy, but i

und a foothold. The w

ry, rough vines. Splin

on't lo

s-sections of the trel

foot. I lurched, my hea

ed, scraping again

y balance, t

ouched the soft gr

ent. I ran to the ga

e. I backed out, tires s

partments. I h

mbled for it,

Leave a message, or don't. I

. Ri

again. V

r phone off, or

traffic lights and frust

ght felt lik

the late afternoon. Kids playing with firewo

l morning.

ifferent? Would it

than the November air whippi

w Creek, a knot of dread

I s

A thick, black plume, coil

ection of th

ispered. "

it looked bad. Much wo

elerator, weaving

n the distance,

he street.

rs, ambulances. Hoses

sidewalks, faces turned u

from the middle sectio

e 14th, 1

r fl

car, half on t

irefighter struggling with a

me. "Sir, stay back

? The fire

ce barricade. An off

can' t go

there! The Miller

g in, sir. Please,

arm free. I ha

nce. Firefighters we

onfused, scared. She couldn' t move well

ere tr

ghters. Was David here? Ashley' s

ar an engine, pull

reamed, runni

is face registered s

you doing here? I

ncle! They' re still up th

wned. "Ashley didn't say any

lied! David, they' re th

m down. We' re sending teams up.

oulder. "Stay here, Et

hesitated. "Let me jus

d out hi