Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden Page B

white. “The gasworks have exploded.”
    “No!” Mollie’s eyes widened with horror. The gasworks were at least five miles away, but such an explosion would be a catastrophe. Chicago was accustomed to dealing with fires. All through the hot, dry autumn it seemed as if there had been an outbreak almost daily, but nothing ever lit up the sky like this. The gas would fuel a roaring blaze for hours.
    Mrs. Kazmarek moaned and twisted her hands. “What about our work? All our work?” she said weakly.
    “Come, let’s go up on the roof so we can see better,” her son said in a grim tone. Mollie followed the family as they climbed up two flights of stairs. The stench of acrid smoke filled her nose the moment she stepped onto the roof. On the other sideof the river, an angry orange blaze illuminated the night sky, chunks of burning debris flying on the wind.
    Mrs. Kazmarek clasped her hands and moaned, but her son tried to console her. “It is on the other side of the river, Mama. We will be safe here. Your work will be safe.”
    From here, it was easy to see how the Chicago River divided the city into three distinct sections. A huge swath of the south side was ablaze, but the river would keep the north and west sides safe. Her apartment was north of the river, but with the way the wind was blowing and the size of that blaze, everything south of the river was at risk.
    Her gaze followed the rapidly blowing smoke, watching in horror as it tracked straight toward her factory. “I’ve got to get out of here,” she said as she whirled around and scurried down the stairs. Heavy footsteps pounded behind her.
    “Tell me you aren’t headed where I think you are,” Zack said.
    “I’ve got inventory at the factory. And equipment. I’ve still got plenty of time to get it out.”
    They reached the ground floor, but he blocked her exit. Firm hands clamped around her shoulders and gave her a brisk shake. “Don’t be an idiot,” he growled. “You don’t have a prayer of getting all that equipment out of the building. Stay here where it is safe.”
    “Mr. Kazmarek,” she said through clenched teeth, “I’ve got fifteen thousand dollars’ worth of watches sitting in that building. The train depot is only three blocks from my factory door. I expect that every factory on East Street is now loading their inventory into boxcars and sending it out of the city. I intend to do the same. Get out of my way.”
    The older Kazmareks came barreling down the staircase and raced to fling open the doors leading to the parlor. They threwtraveling cases on the floor and began plowing through the stacks of papers, throwing some stacks to the side and stuffing others into the traveling bags. Zack did not release her shoulders, but threw a frustrated glance at his parents.
    “Mama, I told you. Our house is safe.”
    The charming, tiny Mrs. Kazmarek reared up with fury in her eyes. She held a fistful of papers aloft. “This is my life’s work!” she roared. “Our people depend on these papers. Our hope. Our dreams!”
    The elder Mr. Kazmarek stepped away from a tower of papers. The whites of his eyes were wide with panic, but he latched on to Mollie’s arm. “A train?” he asked her. “You know of a train leaving the city?”
    Mollie nodded. “I expect every factory south of the river is stuffing them now as we speak. I need to get south so I can get my inventory aboard.”
    Mrs. Kazmarek stumbled forward. “Can you take our bags? Zack! You must take our bags and get them on that train. You must!”
    Zack’s mouth thinned to a hard line. He glared at the half-stuffed traveling bags, then down at Mollie. “Miss Knox, I would be happy to go with you to the factory and help load your equipment, provided you can get my parents’ bags on that train.”
    It would be a blessing to have a strong man to help her get space on that train. Mollie tried to hold down her panic as she took in the chaos of the parlor. “Hurry. I can try to get