High Ground: Run

By Tuck Marshall

After a tsunami is unleashed at sea, a family is forced to find a safe place. Young William is thrust into manhood and learns one of life's harsh lessons. While trying to put the pieces of his world back together, an accident forces him to fight for his life. To see his family again, he will have to outsmart the deadly challenge. Every young man goes through the rites of passage and this is his story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781667819013

Book preview

Chapter 1

The Wave

In the darkness, the tsunami warning system screamed to life. Twelve-year-old William sat straight up in his bed. The alarm outside echoed across the harbor.

Why would they run a test now? Willy said under his breath as he rubbed his eyes. Dad’s gonna be mad about this, he thought as he slid out of his bed. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, the hallway light came on, and his mom and dad stumbled into the living room. Mom walked straight to Willy. She gave him a hug that felt sincere but clunky. Heat from her blankets still radiated from her. Her hair looked like she had been trying to stick a balloon to the wall all night.

Willy was on the edge of laughing at the sight, but his father’s words stopped him. Kathleen, get the radio from the kitchen.

Willy’s senses perked up. Dad hardly ever called her by her full first name. Normally Dad called her Kathy or Kat. The room suddenly seemed serious as Willy realized this might be bad.

Mom quickly headed for the kitchen as Dad flipped through the channels, searching for news. A few seconds later, his mom returned, already tuning her little FM radio. The static hissed between stations until she finally stopped on a recorded message that repeated, Warning: A tsunami alert is being issued for the California coastline. This is not a drill. This warning includes Cull County, Blair County, Cobb County …

Cobb County, that’s us. His heart raced as he continued staring at her radio. The tiny speaker continued, Seek higher ground immediately. Do not pack unnecessary items. Follow your city’s established protocols. Repeat … Warning: A tsunami alert is being issued for the California coastline. This is not a drill. This warning includes…

Mom turned the volume down until the radio clicked off. Her face shifted from serious to panicked. Willy had never seen her look like this before. She looked at Dad and followed his eyes to the screen as he turned the volume up on a newscast. The reporter was standing in front of a map of the Pacific Ocean, pointing at a spot in the middle as he continued, An earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean tonight. The epicenter was near Jarvis Island, south of Hawaii. The quake registered 8.2 on the Richter Scale and has put in motion a tsunami that is headed for the West Coast. It will reach the shores of California, Oregon, and Washington State in just under five hours. Residents in low-lying areas are being urged to seek high ground. We remind people to calmly evacuate these areas and follow the instructions of your state and local …

Dad turned the TV off, and the screen went dark. Willy looked at his dad, who continued to stare at the TV as if it were still on. The alarm’s continuous pulsing outside made it hard to think as he tried to read his father’s face.

Dad?

Dad’s reaction was delayed, then suddenly, the spell broke, and he began to speak. Kathleen, go to the kitchen and grab all the bottled water we have! And pack food! He pivoted and pointed at the stairs. William, go upstairs and grab pillows and blankets.

Dad? Willy said again, searching his father for more answers. What’s happening? Are we going to be okay?

Dad smiled a mechanical smile and put his hand on Willy’s shoulder. In a more calm and controlled tone, Dad said, Just get the bedding, son. He knelt to meet Willy’s face. Everything is going to be okay. We have plenty of time. We just need to keep moving. That’s all.

Willy felt fear but trusted his dad, and that was enough for now. He skipped every other step as he flew upstairs. He grabbed an armload of bedding and brought it down to the truck.

After tossing all of it in the back seat, he ran to the house, meeting his mom in the doorway. She was carrying out food in old shopping bags. Willy helped her load it in the truck next to the water. At the door, a bag ripped, and cans of food tumbled to the ground. Willy picked them up and tossed them on the floorboard. His dad walked out of the house carrying their safe. It wasn’t a big one, but the little metal box was heavy and made his dad sway with every step. Willy had seen the contents before. He knew there were legal papers, birth certificates, and digital photo albums inside. Seeing Dad with it added to his fear.

Willy raced to his father. "You