Dream CLVI

I had picked up some items from the store and was about to drive back to the house, when I glanced behind me and saw a massive amount of oncoming water about a mile or so in the distance.

I couldn't tell how deep it was, but I felt I should get to higher ground.  I knew there was a mountain nearby that had a retirement community on its summit, so I started to drive there in hopes I could stay until the storm passed.

The speed of the water increased, and I was afraid it would swamp the car; I was just barely ahead of it when I finally started up the mountain.

I didn't drive to the very top, but to a large gravel-filled plateau just below the main building.  I reasoned that the residents of the retirement community wouldn't appreciate having their parking taken by me, but this large area would be okay.  I went into the main building to find someone in authority.

I managed to locate the director, explained that I was parked below, and then pointed out why: the onrushing water was still accumulating.  I said that people should probably remain here until the water subsided.  She agreed.

I went to find a place to sit until the storm passed.  The lounge was full of comfortable leather couches and chairs, most of which were filled with old men.  When I asked, it turned out that these men were not residents but relatives of residents.  I finally found a chair and sat down to wait.  I wished I had my Kindle with me to pass the time.

More and more cars appeared on the gravel-covered area, and people began drifting in, settling here and there.  Two girls sat near me, complaining the whole time of how they didn't like this situation and couldn't wait to get back home.  I was sympathetic but pointed out that it looked like the water was starting to crest over the graveled area.

One of the girls, a brunette named Lydia, said, "Yeah, but have you seen out the back?"  She stood up and motioned me to follow.

At the back of the building was a large window that looked down the other side of the mountain.  While the rain was still heavy, it looked as if there was no water at all; cars were driving down a street lined with small businesses.  One man jumped into his open-air jeep and drive off.  "I bet he wishes he had a roof," I said, and the girl laughed.

As the road curved out of sight, it was difficult to tell if the water was building up or not.  As a pickup truck drove down the street, I pointed out that it looked as if it ran into considerable water and lost control, just as it turned the curve and was no longer visible.

Lydia said she wanted to see what was happening out front.  The rain made seeing any distance difficult, but I pointed out the water lapping at the edge of the graveled area.  I was worried that my car might be completely submerged by now.  Lydia said she just wanted to see, and I agreed to come out with her.

The rain was light but foggy, so we got wet fairly quickly.  As we neared the edge of the graveled area, we could see that it wasn't the water beyond that was lapping against it, it was simply some water that had pooled up.  We looked over the edge and could see the water some twenty or thirty yards below us.

Lydia wanted to climb down; she was convinced that the water was not deep but only looked like a flood.  She climbed down some steps, waded a few feet into the water, and pointed out that it was only three or four inches deep.  She took one more step and plunged beneath the surface.

I jumped down to rescue her, managed to grasp her hand, and helped her to back out of the water and back onto the graveled area.  Since she was soaked to the skin, I undid the buttons on her dress, took it off her and wrung it out the best I could.  Other people were coming out now, but Lydia didn't seem embarrassed.  I helped her put her wet dress on, and offered to let her use my t-shirt as a towel, though it wasn't very dry at this point.

Later, back at the building, I went outside the back door.  The water was definitely rising; I walked all along a concrete bridge and the water was right up to the edge.  I saw dark shapes swimming in the water, with an occasional triangular dorsal fin breaking the surface.  Sharks.  Fresh water sharks, who could not be predicted.

I was glad my cat was safe, back in my room.  I didn't know when I'd see her again.  I looked at the sky, starting to lighten in the east.