Read Online Storm Rescue by Laurie Halse Anderson - Free Book Online Page A

we couldn’t get close enough to it in the boat—there are these big trees in the way.”
    David nods. “Maggie swam over to the window and tried to get her,” he adds. “But Lucy ran away and hid when Maggie opened the window and tried to grab her.”
    â€œI climbed into the attic through the window,” Maggie says. “But I couldn’t find her. And she wouldn’t come when I called.”
    â€œOh, no,” I whisper. “Now what are we going to do?”
    There’s only one answer. I gulp as I realize it.
    â€œWe have to try again,” I say, trying to sound brave enough though my knees are shaking and my guts are quivering. “This time I’ll come along. Lucy knows me—I’m sure I can coax her out if anyone can.”
    Maggie nods and exchanges a glance with David. “That’s what we thought, too.”
    They don’t say it, but I can tell they’re wishing I’d just come along in the first place. I can’t explain to them why I couldn’t—I don’t want to admit the truth. What would they think if they knew? I’m just glad they’re willing to go out and try again, even though they’re probably even colder and wetter and more exhausted than I am.
    Taking a deep breath, I wade over to the canoe and climb in. David and Maggie push the boat out with their paddles, and I hold my breath as it starts to float. I’ve been on boats before, but this is different. It’s a lot smaller, for one thing. The water looks awfully close—especially since an inch or so of water is sloshing around in the bottom of the canoe. I’m not sure if it’s from the rain that’s still falling steadily or from water splashing over the sides. Either way, I’m glad I’m still wearing my bright orange life vest.
    â€œLet’s go,” Maggie says, digging in deeply with her paddle.
    I sit as still as possible in the center seat of the rocking and swaying canoe, trying to stay out of the way as my friends paddle. The water slides by as the canoe cuts forward, heading deeper and deeper into the flood zone. Is this a big mistake? I wince as a large floating branch bounces off the side of the canoe with a clunk. My whole body feels numb, and I want to shout for my friends to turn back. I’m not sure I can do this after all.
    But I bite my tongue. I have to try, for Lucy’s sake. By the time other help arrives, it could be too late. I would never forgive myself if something happened to Lucy because I was too scared to try to save her.
    I stare grimly ahead as my friends paddle, clutching the sides of the boat and trying not to look down at the water swirling all around us. How deep is it? I don’t even want to know.
    David begins to whistle quietly. Maggie joins in. Soon I join in, too. It helps take my mind off Lucy.
    Mrs. Clark’s house looms closer ahead. I can hardly believe how different it looks now compared to early this morning. It’s amazing and scary that the water could rise so fast. Now those statistics I read about on the Internet are making a lot more sense.
    â€œMrrwowrr!”
    The familiar cry comes during a brief lull in the wind. “Lucy!” I exclaim, momentarily forgetting everything else, even my own fear. I squint into the rain and spot a flash of movement at the small window just beneath the peak of the roof. “I see her! She’s in the attic window!”
    â€œYeah,” Maggie says. “That’s where we saw her before.”
    Another loud Siamese meow reaches our ears before the sounds of Hurricane Felix swallow it. David and Maggie are paddling faster now. “Almost there,” David pants. “Last time we pulled right up to that big branch and tied the boat there while Maggie swam.”
    I look ahead. A tree emerges from the water, stretching taller than the houses around it. I never really noticed the tree before—usually its