Nani. Annie glanced over at Wilson. “Wilson, call Nani.” The mongoose barked and kept paddling. “Nani, call Nani.” Wilson barked again, but Annie knew it was doubtful that the dolphin would hear him. They were going to have to do their best to get out of this on their own.
The volcano’s fury increased. The mountain began hurling rocks that struck the water all around them. “Dive,” Mano yelled. “Swim underwater as far as you can.”
Annie had little breath left, and she was sure Leilani was in the same predicament. But she took a gulp of air and dove under the waves. Her feeble kicks did nothing to propel her forward. She kicked out again, and finally began to make slow headway. Coming up for air, she gasped in a lungful and stared wildly for her sister and Mano. There was no sign of them in the boiling cauldron of waves.
Annie fought back the fear. They were probably still under water. She struck out in an overhand stroke, then saw her sister’s long hair trailing in the water as her head broke the surface. Moments later, Mano came up as well. Then Jason’s head popped up. Just ahead she could see Wilson paddling for all he was worth. He was still barking for Nani.
It was getting hard to breathe with all the ash in the air. The heat scorched her lungs, and Annie was beginning to realize they wouldn’t make it. She decided that was okay. God was with them, no matter what happened. She paddled in place and turned to look back at the mountain. A fabulous light show was going off with fountains of lava being hurled into the night sky. Tiny flecks of burning lava lit the sky like fireworks. If this was her last sight on earth, it was one guaranteed to confirm God’s awesome power.
Something nudged Annie’s arm, and she looked down. A dolphin bumped her with its nostrum, then another surfaced, and another. They were swimming in a pod of dolphins. She grabbed hold of the closest one’s dorsal fin, and the animal pulled her through the water at a fast clip. She started to let go to grab Leilani but saw another dolphin was already helping her sister. Mano had hold of Nani, and he scooped up Wilson as he passed. Jason grabbed a dorsal fin as well. The four of them zoomed away from the danger.
The water temperature began to cool slightly. Fifteen minutes later they were in calm waters just offshore from the landing. When her feet touched bottom, Annie gave her dolphin rescuer a final, thankful pat and let go. She waded toward shore where Mano and Leilani were already waiting. Every part of her body ached, but they were alive. She could hardly believe it. On the sand, she stopped and looked back at the mountain. It was still spewing fountains of lava. The sight was even more beautiful now that they weren’t in the thick of the ash.
Mano rushed to meet her. “Are you okay?” He cupped her face in his hands, and his gaze searched hers.
“I think we’re all in one piece.” She drank in the devotion on his face. Wilson poked his head out of Mano’s shirt and broke the moment’s poignancy. Mano dropped his hands as the mongoose scurried down his arm to meet Annie. She laughed and took her pet, then stepped past Mano to where Leilani sat on a large lava rock. Jason lay on the ground a few feet away, his chest heaving with exertion.
Leilani had her face in her hands. Annie sank to her knees in front of her sister. Leilani’s eyes looked dark and enormous in the moonlight, and Annie thought they must be dilated from the drug. “We need to get you looked at. I’m not sure what they gave you.”
“I’m okay.” Leilani hesitated, then threw her arms around Annie’s neck. “Mahalo,” she whispered. “I’ve learned a lot through this, Annie. I’ve taken so many things for granted in my life, especially you. I want to be different from now on.” Tears leaked from her eyes, and she sniffled.
Annie hugged her back. She couldn’t speak. “Let’s go home,” she said.
Annie’s skin burned and stung. They probably all had first-degree burns, maybe even second-degree in some places. She could feel some small blisters on her upper arms. But they were lucky to be alive. No, not lucky. Blessed by God’s providence. She stopped and put her hand on Mano’s arm. “Let’s thank God we’re alive. Would you pray for us?” All but Jason knelt together on the cinders, and Mano praised God for bringing them safely through the maelstrom of fire. His arm was pressed closely around Annie, and gratitude swelled in her that he was here, safe and whole. And that he loved her.
Behind them, the volcano still spewed, but they were at a safe distance now. The ground trembled beneath their feet, but Annie knew God’s hand held them steady. They left Jason where he lay on the sand. He wouldn’t be able to walk without help, and they could send Sam back for him.
They trudged toward town. By the time they arrived, dawn was lightening the gloom, though heavy cloud cover from the eruption hovered low overhead. Crowds lined the streets. Vans with equipment and supplies were already speeding out to the site to see the extent of the eruption. Mano waved at Sam.