Hide'n Go Seek by Dale Mayer Page B

under the weight of moving heavy concrete next to the workers screaming instructions. Loud wailing could be heard at the tents. A sudden crash sounded. Kali jumped to her feet, spinning around. As she watched, a loader lost a second chunk of cement, adding to her already frayed nerves. Rubbing her hand over the back of her neck, she shuddered and slowly resumed her place beside Lauren. Loud noises always made her jump in a disaster site, since they often meant more death and destruction.

    "I'm getting too old for this shit," murmured Lauren, her eyes closed.

    Kali smiled gently. In her late-forties, married with four boys all gone from the nest now, Lauren was as sturdy and as dependable as anyone Kali had ever met. Every crisis they'd worked, Lauren always said the same thing.

    "I mean it this time." She laughed lightly and kept her eyes closed.

    "Then quit. If your heart isn't here, maybe you need to be doing something else."

    "Oh my heart's here, that's not the problem." Looking older than she ever had before, Lauren lifted her water bottle for a long drink.

    Kali glanced at her in concern. "Sore and tired?"

    "No, I can handle that. At least I always have." Lauren shifted to a sitting position. "Not sure what it is. It's almost as if my soul says enough ."

    Kali's lips twitched. "Interesting way to put it."

    "I know. I'm searching for an alternative description because it sounds nebulous, but that one feels right." Lauren sent her a sidelong glance. "How are you doing these days?"

    The letter business flashed into her mind. Immediately, Kali squashed that thought. Lauren couldn't possibly know anything about it. She was asking about Kali’s recovery from Mexico.

    "Better. It's taking time. However, I am getting there." And she realized with surprise that today those words rang true. They were not just a pat answer to stop others from asking too many personal questions. She really was on the road to recovery. She shifted back, relaxing yet a little more. Progress.

    "Great." Lauren reached over and patted her knee. "You're a good person, Kali. Don't ever forget that."

    A shout of excitement from the site disrupted the quiet lull. The noise was unmistakable. Rescuers had found something. Kali's energy surged and it was all she could do to stay put, not wanting to add one more person to clog up the area. Coordination on these incidents was a nightmare - as were onlookers. Desperate family members crowded for that first glimpse, and gruesome curiosity drew others close enough to see the dead. Finding survivors was a victory for all of them.

    The noise continued to build into cheers and clapping.

    Lauren stood, hope breaking through the fatigue on her face. "They must have found someone."

    "That would be excellent. I'm tempted to go and see, only there's such a crowd now."

    "Look, there are Brad and Todd."

    Todd loped toward them, a huge grin on his face. His seven-foot frame gave him a distinct advantage over the crowd. Nearly a foot shorter, Brad powered along beside him. Vibrant energy beamed off them both.

    "Hey, they found four people. All from the same family. Two kids, a baby and mom."

    "Wow, that's fantastic." Kali hopped to her feet, giving them both a big hug. "How are they physically?"

    "Cuts, bruises and possibly a broken bone or two." Brad watched the crew bringing the last of the children out. "They nearly didn't make it." His smile dimmed. "Someone upstairs had to have been looking out for them."

    Kali caught the shifting expression and understood. Rescues missions were difficult for everyone.

    "Even better," Todd said, "The kids said they heard people next door, too. So they're going to try and open up that pocket next."

    Brad interjected, "That part of the building slid sideways, missing the weight of the rest collapsing on top of it. There's real hope of more survivors."

    The volunteers returned to work with renewed enthusiasm. They worked long past the fall of darkness and even further