Dusty Winds of Impact

By L.C. Plischke

The impact of the meteorites around the world instantly changed the planet forever. The teens look out over the destroyed metropolitan landscape of Toronto. Dust chokes the city. Debris falls sporadically from the darkened sky. Day has become night. Is this the end of the world? The three teens stand united together, facing a whole new world.

• Language: English
• Publisher: L.C. Plischke
• Release date: Jan 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311304995

L.C. Plischke

Lover of adventure and reading sci fi, L. C. Plischke has jumped out of planes and travelled around the world. Her motto is to try anything once, even eating chicken feet (not her favourite).Mother to four kids, L.C. Plischke is also a teacher-librarian back home in Canada. Her husband is Métis, and drags her everywhere in the bush and nature. They all love camping and have tried camping in Yurts and Otentiks. Their lastest adventure took them climbing up a mountain to get to the tea house above beautiful Lake Louise.L. C. Plischke is working on her next novel, the second one in the Meteor series.

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Dusty Winds of Impact

Book 1 of the Meteor Series

by L.C. Plischke

Dusty Winds of Impact

Lynn Caron Plischke

Copyright Lynn Plischke 2014

Published at Smashwords

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

L.C. Plischke's Facebook Page

Dedicated to my four children,

especially my daughter Allegra

for always believing

and for celebrating each victory.

CHAPTER 1

Flash of Light

As she sucked air through the reed of bamboo, Alexa wondered agonizingly how much longer she’d be able to continue breathing underwater like this. The bright flash of light had occurred at least fifteen minutes ago now. For fifteen minutes Alexa had been clinging to life in complete darkness, totally immersed in water. She tried budging her shoulder again, hoping against hope she would release it this time and be free. An intense pain seared through her upper body breaking her concentration and the seal of her mouth around the hollow bamboo reed, the reed that was keeping her alive. She gulped down dirty water before she could stop it. Panic engulfed her. Her legs kicked frantically in the pool, causing more pain to sear through her trapped shoulder. She was losing control of the situation. Alexa could feel herself wanting to cry, to give up, but instead she forced herself to be brave. Slowly she forced her lips to create a new seal around the bamboo. She spit the water the best she could from her mouth and disgustingly swallowed the remainder of the filthy water. At last Alexa was able to suck oxygen desperately into her lungs through the narrow passage of bamboo. If only she could free her pinned shoulder from the concrete prison above her and swim down into the pool and out. Darian, Skyler where are you? How could this be happening? It seemed like just moments ago Alexa had been happily fooling around in the pool with her brother and his friend Skyler with no more worries than being the monkey in the middle again.

"Com’ on Skyler! Just try and get the ball by me!’’ With challenge in her green, shining eyes, Alexa stood a ways away from Skyler, facing him in the hotel pool. Bright sunlight shone through the windows of the hotel’s pool area providing a cheery, warm atmosphere for those at the cafe nearby and the lounging hotel guests. Slowly sneaking up behind Alexa and splashing as little as possible, her brother readied himself to catch the beach ball. Only about a meter now behind his younger sister, Darian, who was just a little taller than Alexa, looked twice as wide with his burly, broad shoulders, his blue eyes shining brightly.

No prob Lexa!’’ countered Skyler teasingly from across the pool, his bronzed skin glistening with water, his grin wide. Skyler’s smile was almost always a soft one. Darian look alive! The ball’s coming your way!’’

With long strong arms, Skyler confidently tossed the beach ball as hard as he could towards his friend Darian. At first the ball shot through the air but finished by floating lightly, landing just a couple of meters from Alexa. While she dove swiftly into a front crawl, Darian raced from behind her, determined his sister wouldn’t get it this time. Both wrestled for the ball, water splashing everywhere. Skyler laughed in the distance. Darian was laughing so hard, it was difficult to maintain his grip on the ball, his laughter weakening him. It was apparent his little sister meant business.

Darian, give it up! You’re in the middle this time!’’ prompted Skyler from a safe splashing distance. He sounded way too joyous about Darian losing to his sister. Oh, Skyler had payback coming. That will …splah… decided by the last one …splah… not drowned!’’ Darian retorted while trying not to drown himself.

I win! I win! cried Alexa victoriously holding the beach ball high above her head, her long, brown hair with honeyed highlights dripping down her back as she jumped up and down. She gleamed triumphantly at her brother. She might be a year younger than him and smaller but she could still sometimes beat him at monkey in the middle. Athlete that he was, she was nothing to sneeze at. The swim club back home had really toned her muscles, giving her strength, especially in water. It was true, Darian found her to be a tough match in the pool.

Darian conceded defeat. He should have known by her war scream when she came at him, Alexa wasn’t going to be anybody’s monkey this time. Laughing, Darian couldn’t believe how great it was to be on a break from school. He felt so relaxed and carefree. This was great! They’d only been in Toronto two days so they still had another three days of freedom. An in-room movie rental was planned for tonight with an order of sodas and a couple of pizzas. One pizza had to have extra pepperoni, Canadian bacon and Italian sausage, Alexa’s and Skyler’s favourite and at least one all-cheese, his favourite. They were going to order the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie since Jeff, Skyler’s dad, had been wanting to see it for a while.

Yesterday Jeff had taken all three of them walking around Toronto’s Chinatown. It was as though they had been in a different world. In ten unhurried steps, they had left the great metropolis of Toronto. The lilting Cantonese language could be heard all around them and more Asians than any other race roamed the sidewalks. Jeff had taken them into a fish store to show them what it was like. Darian had never seen such a large variety of fish. Stacked neatly behind the glass, there were tuna, shrimp, calamari, wild sockeye salmon, snapper, scallops, halibut, black cod and other fish he had never tasted before like tilapia and grouper. It had been just like a butcher’s specialty store except that fish was the only commodity. The odour in the store hadn’t been as fishy as he thought it would be. It had a fresh fish smell that didn’t crinkle one’s nose, totally different from the dead fish smell of the ones he used to find by the lake when he was a little kid. The salesperson barely spoke any English although he knew numbers well enough. A blond girl with two long neat braids, five or six years older than him, had ordered two kilos of cod. Somehow, she managed to get her order with hand signals and lots of repeating.

"Best fish in Toronto,’’ she winked at him as she passed by in her artfully ripped jeans, smelling like coconut vanilla lotion. Darian smiled at the pretty blond. Skyler nudged him in the ribs, smiling knowingly as she took one last look at Darian as she left the shop. Darian was flattered. He was starting to like Toronto, especially when college girls started to flirt with him. Hmmm, her sweet smell lingered still.

Skyler watched the pretty blond leaving and his thoughts turned automatically to Mercedes, another pretty blond girl in his high school back home. Mercedes had also become a good friend to Alexa lately and he bumped into her often at the Cruz home. He wanted really badly to ask her out but he became too tongue-tied around her. Skyler had to get the fair, blue-eyed wench out of his system and he figured the only way to do it was to ask her out. Maybe when they returned home, he’d push himself to just do it.

Jeff treated his son, Alexa and Darian to lunch at a Vietnamese restaurant. Thin crepe-like rolls stuffed with shrimp and bean vermicelli had been served with a medley of thinly sliced carrots in a light, sweet, watery dressing that you could spoon onto your food according to your taste. The food had been amazing. They had freely added fresh bean sprouts to their deluxe beef noodle soup and mint leaves from a common plate. Their meal was accompanied by a jackfruit shake. It was the first time his taste buds have ever been privy to that kind of fruit. The waitress had told them that jackfruit was a large pear-shaped fruit found in Vietnam. The meal had been unforgettable. He would definitely eat Vietnamese cuisine again.

Darian was thankful of Jeff’s invitation to join them on his business trip. Rarely had Darian and Alexa been able to travel. Belonging to a family of six and with money being tight at times, their parents couldn’t always plan family trips, although they had been to Mexico five years ago to visit their dad’s parents and their cousins in Guadalajara. It had felt awesome to know they belonged to such a huge family. He hadn’t realized he had so many cousins. They only had a few back home. This was great! The trip to Toronto allowed them to get away from homework and high school for a few days. Of course, Alexa had brought school work and studying along. Always the responsible one. She just couldn’t bear seeing all the work piled up once back at school.

Alexa was waiting impatiently to make her brother monkey in the middle when Darian realized Skyler was intently examining the other people around the pool.

"Skyler…Yo, Skyler!’’

"Unhunh…’’

"What’s the matter Sky?’’ asked Darian.

I’m not sure. Do you guys notice something weird going on? Skyler was scanning the pool area. He shook his wet head, drops scattering everywhere, his long, brown braid swinging across his back. His tall six-foot sinewy frame faced away from them while he patiently continued to observe the other people.

Darian and Alexa also examined the lounging hotel guests scattered around the poolside. A pool attendant ran quickly across the pool deck towards the front lobby trying not to slip on the bright blue tiles. A man was talking on his cell phone as was a lady at the other end of the kidney shaped pool. They could hear at least three other cell phones ringing their various melodies and people groping in their pockets and their bags to answer them. People were talking excitedly on the phone. At the nearby cafe, some were examining their tablets and smart phones closely.

Darian, Skyler, and Alexa all looked at one other. No one said anything for a few moments but anxiety spread over Alexa’s heart-shaped face. Darian and Skyler looked worried too.

"I’m going to ask that lady over there if she knows what’s going on.’’ Alexa pointed to a young brunette in a navy blue skirt and white blouse sitting by a large peace plant. She slipped easily out of the water.

Alexa cleared her throat nervously. "Excuse me ma’am.’’ The classy brunette looked up at Alexa from her tablet with pretty hazel eyes and a kind face.

"Yes?’’

We couldn’t help noticing,’’ started Alexa, motioning towards Darian and his friend, that people seem to be keyed up about something. Do you know if there’s something going on?’’

The woman looked behind Alexa towards the other guests, seeming to notice as if for the first time that everyone was agitated and either on their cell phone, their laptop or their tablet.

She looked up at Alexa with a contemplative look.

"Yes, actually, something terrible has happened in Europe and on the coast of the Philippines just a little while ago. A tsunami hit each of their coasts. They believe meteorites the size of a bulldozer hit the Earth. Look.’’

She turned her tablet around so Alexa could see the news website that she had been watching. Darian and Skyler, by this time, could tell that something was indeed happening and quickly joined them. All four watched as images of a gigantic wave came out across the Internet at them. The unbelievable size of the wave foretold of great disasters to follow. A reporter spoke rapidly in French while images of what appeared to be France dismayed the group. Waves were advancing far behind where he stood and were flattening all in their path…buildings, cars, trees. It stretched out for what seemed like a mile.

"La destruction est horrible! Il n’y a pas de moyen de l’arrêter! Que Dieu nous aide!’’

May God help them,’’ the kind lady spoke softly as she slipped her tablet back into its case. Please excuse me but I must go. I have a business meeting in a few minutes.’’

"Thank you,’’ replied Alexa solemnly.

As the woman stood up, she looked at all three of them and smiled sadly. No one spoke. Skyler and Darian politely nodded their thanks to the woman.

The three slid into the vacant wicker chairs beside the peace plant. Darian, always the more impatient one, was the first to break the silence.

"I can’t believe it. All those people!’’

"How did this happen? Don’t we have ways of detecting meteorites before they hit the earth?’’ questioned Skyler as he wrapped a towel around his midriff.

Alexa, the science buff of the group, suddenly remembered having read a couple of weeks ago of an asteroid, around three hundred meters wide, calculated to plummet into the sun. Could the enormous meteorites have to do with that?

What if something had caused the asteroid not to reach the sun? Some scientists were always making predictions of worst-case scenarios like the pull of gravity from massive Jupiter throwing asteroids or comets off course.

Whatever had actually happened in space, meteorites had indeed hit their planet. Small pieces, thankfully, would disintegrate before hitting the earth’s surface but larger ones would continue on right through the atmosphere and cause havoc. Luckily the planet was covered by almost two thirds of oceans. Habitants of Asia and Europe would disagree right now, but inhabitants of Earth were pretty lucky. Consequences of a very large meteorite hitting solid earth could be catastrophic. The repercussions would be vast.

Darian wondered how everybody back home was taking the news. His thoughts wandered, as they often did lately, to pretty Mercedes with her pale blue eyes and long blond tresses. She must have heard the news too by now. Knowing Mercedes, she would already be thinking of ways to help the victims of the affected countries. Her wheels would be turning on fundraising ideas. Darian could see Alexa jumping right in with her as soon as they returned home and the two of them brewing up a storm of help and compassion for the victims of the tsunamis. Alexa and Mercedes were very much alike when it came to helping others. Darian admired this about Mercedes. His sister and she had become quite good friends lately which made it hard for him to tell Mercedes how he felt about her. Maybe she just saw him like an older brother and couldn’t see him as being more than that. Darian couldn’t help remembering how he had messed up with the last girl he had liked by going after her too enthusiastically. He couldn’t help who he was sometimes, somewhat impulsive and always eager. He didn’t want to repeat that again, especially if his affections for her weren’t going to be returned. And then there was the fact that Skyler seemed to like Mercedes too. He could tell the way Skyler would look at her when he didn’t think anyone would notice. There was the fact too that the weirdest things would come out of Skyler’s mouth whenever she was around. Suave he was not in Mercedes’ presence. His coolness had a tendency to go completely out the door around her.

After hearing the news of the tsunamis, Skyler frowned and looked apprehensive. Today Skyler was particularly anxious to see his dad. He hoped his meetings would finish earlier. Skyler always looked forward to spending time with him. They were probably as close as a father and a son could be. Growing up with his dad had meant going fishing together, hunting for deer, going to hockey practices, doing homework together and sometimes just hanging out. Dads didn’t get much better than his. And he needed to see him today. Skyler knew his dad would help make sense of what was going on in the East. His dad was most definitely his rock. If he had turned out at all okay, it was partly due to all the quality time they had spent together throughout the years. Skyler had been taught how to reach into himself, take what aboriginal blood he had deep down and use it to make him a better, more complete human being. He was thankful his dad never let him forget his heritage. Skyler grew up hanging on to the essential parts of being a Canadian Métis-aboriginal. He had learned to be proud of who he was, thanks to his dad’s strength and wisdom throughout the years and for just being there.

For a while, no one had anything to say and they just sat around. No one seemed to want to go back in the pool. The mood had become rather somber. They had partially dressed when Darian suggested, "Maybe we should just hang out in the hotel room until your dad gets back Skyler.’’

The other two agreed and they began to make their way to the front lobby. The pool area and the pool-side cafe were almost completely vacant now. The guests, either unnerved by the news from across the ocean or having other things to do, had gone off in different directions.

"WHAT is that?’’ Alexa tried not to shriek.

A flash of light which may have blinded them if they had been outside, came and disappeared just as suddenly.

The three of them froze. A powerful rumble could be heard in the distance like uninterrupted thunder. It did not pause nor relent.

"WHAT…IS...THAT?’’ This time Alexa’s voice was high-pitched and terrified.

Yelling at the top of his lungs ’’EARTHQUAKE!’’ the last remaining gentleman by the pool sprinted for the exit.

"LET’S GET OUT OF HERE SIS!’’ Darian yanked on Alexa’s arm almost tumbling her to the ground. Skyler was ready to sprint.

The noise was becoming deafening. The wicker chairs clattered, the potted peace plant toppled, and little ripples became small waves in the pool. Their teeth chattered, their bodies were jiggling, and their hair bounced slightly. Knees bent, they struggled to remain standing. Alarms had been set off all around the main floor of the hotel.

"LET’S GO ALEXA!’’

Alexa hesitated, trying to grasp a strand of thought slipping from her terrified mind. Skyler and Darian were ready to pounce, taut as leopards.

"WAIT!’’ she strained her voice to be heard above the escalating roar. Alexa grabbed bamboo reeds out of the dirt of the potted tree closest to her.

"TAKE THESE!’’ She shoved a reed into each of their hands.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!!! WE HAVE GOT TO GET OUT OF HERE SIS!’’

"NO…NOT AN EARTHQUAKE!’’ she shouted as loud as she could.

"WHAT!’’

"NO TIME TO EXPLAIN! WE MUST GET IN THE WATER! NOW!!…NOW! NOW! NOW!’’ Alexa was screaming hysterically now and trying to grab the two with her, towards the pool.

"PLEASE DARIAN! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, TRUST ME!’’

Darian looked into his sister’s eyes for no more than a half of a second and plunged his faith into her hands. Hesitating only slightly, Skyler decided to trust them blindly and let Alexa pull him towards the water. All three jumped into the water just as half of the ceiling left the pool area. Frantically, Skyler, Darian and Alexa pushed their way as fast and as far down in the pool as they could go. Eyes wide with terror, they looked up. Their hands, arms and legs were moving desperately back and forth attempting to keep their bodies as deep in the water as possible.

The other part of the ceiling, wicker chairs and tables came crashing into the pool and onto the pool deck. With great circular kicks and unbelievable superhuman strength, they pushed themselves swiftly towards the other end of the pool, helped along by the water gushing away from the debris. A beam came out of nowhere and separated Alexa from Darian and Skyler. All three were trying desperately to avoid crashing debris falling in the pool all around them. Half of the pool was no longer filled with water but with components of the hotel.

The roar was deafening even underwater. It seemed as if there was an eternity of an intensely powerful thundering noise as overhead a multitude of objects flew through the air. And then nothing. Silence.

Darian and Skyler jetted themselves upwards. Breaking through the cushion of water that had just saved their lives, they gasped for breaths of air. Dust and heat were inhaled into their lungs. Coughing and gasping to breathe, they tread water vigorously. Skyler tried to get his bearings. Before jumping into the water, the indoor pool had been behind the hotel at ground level. Much of the hotel structure that had previously been beside the pool had disappeared. Skyler was unsure because everywhere dust was falling and what had been daytime before the blast of thundering noise now seemed like nightfall. Yet, very little time had passed. Minutes at best. Were they outside? It was searing hot. Hot, melted rock fell here and there sporadically around them. Darian prayed they wouldn’t be hit.

LEXA!’’ cried Darian, ANSWER ME!’’

Darian began hollering persistently for Alexa. He could barely make out all of the pool area. All was dark and dust seemed to hang in the air. What he could see was rubble from the hotel everywhere.

"ALEXA!’’

What if she had been hit by flying fragments? He had to find her quickly. She could be drowning or hit on the head and lying unconscious on the bottom of the pool. Darian climbed onto mounds of broken cement unsure of its stability. Seeing the bamboo reed still clutched in his hand, he chucked it. He tried to remember how far Alexa had been from him underwater. He had an image of a falling beam. Did it miss her? Yes, she had avoided it by moving farther away from them. Hurriedly, he scrambled over the mound of rubble.

"ALEXA!’’

Suddenly Skyler was beside him and the two of them began searching frantically for Alexa. There was less open water on this side of the debris. Darian slid into the water and groped around urgently on the bottom of the pool. Coming up, he gasped, breathing in gulps of grimy air. There had been no sign of her in this small section of pool. He sat, elbows on his bent knees, head in his hands. Around him dust and rocks continued to fall. Despondence descended heavily upon Darian, his shoulders drooping dejectedly. Skyler was still searching around the mound of rubble but Darian could not foresee how Alexa could be found if not in the bit of pool water left. Head down, he listened to Skyler’s hands and feet scraping the cement looking for signs of her survival.

"Wait Skyler…’’

"We can’t give up Darian,’’ Skyler insisted, looking at him compassionately.

"No…I didn’t mean that. Just…quiet a minute,’’ insisted Darian.

The young men both remained frozen in their positions, not making a sound. Sounds of heavily falling rubble could be heard intermittently. Alarms sounded in the distance. Darian strained to hear what he thought he had heard before. Again, there…a small thudding sound, steady in its rhythm. It was close by. Darian’s and Skyler’s looks crossed, hope emanating like a beam of light in the darkness.

Like cat burglars, they floated over the heap of rubble guided by the steady thud. It was difficult not to rush. Skyler and Darian wanted to scramble to the source of the hopeful sound but they had to remain silent or lose their point of reference.

"There!’’ pointed Skyler.

They were inches away now. Poking through the fragmented cement was one lone, hollow bamboo reed. They had found the source – a call for help from Darian’s sister. Skyler took a rock and banged a quick staccato beat. There was no answering thud. All of a sudden, five quick thuds were made below them. Skyler and Darian could not retain shouts of relief and joy, sweat dripping from their foreheads from the intense heat.

Below, the only thing that prevented Alexa from screaming with