At the Edge of the Pond

Robin Weinrich

 

 

 

It’s gonna be a great day.  I don’t care if the entire city of Los Angeles disappears in an earthquake, I’m still gonna have a great day!  I just know it.  Johnny’s thoughts were interrupted as the driver of the white Chevy Malibu swerved in front of him.  The squeal of Johnny’s tires and the jerk of his camping gear shifting forward as he hit the brakes wasn’t enough to take the grin off his face.  Oh well. . . he must be in hurry.  Too bad.

 

He pulled into the back of the station and hopped out.  He felt the warm breeze flirt with his hair and cool the back of his neck.  The clouds hung around, floating lazily as if in the calm waters of a slow river.  Johnny looked up to catch the perfect blue sky behind those lazy clouds before he succumbed to the inside of the brick building.  Ah, what a day!  He smiled.

 

“Geez, Gage, you look like you just came off a speed boat!”  Chet was primed for the day.  “Get a haircut, would ya!”

 

“Chet, Chet, Chet,”  sighed Johnny, his lop-sided grin firmly in place.  “No matter what you say, it’s my hair, and my look and you’re not gonna ruin it!”  Johnny opened his locker and began his usual routine to prepare for his shift.  Roy must be here already, he thought.

 

“Yea, you can go on all you want, Gage, but Chief McConnike is not going to let you keep it up--what a chump!”  groused Chet.  He walked out of the locker room, obviously not pleased that Johnny was in such a good mood.  Johnny thought he heard Chet mumble something about “being too happy?”

 

Johnny finished tucking in his shirt as he rounded the corner to the day room.  He looked over to the coffee pot, finding his partner pouring his own cup. 

 

“Hey, Roy, how’s it goin’?”  Johnny asked as he slapped Roy on the back.

 

Roy grimaced as coffee spilled over the edge from the force of Johnny’s slap.  He swerved his hips enough to miss the hot splat that hit the floor.

 

“Sorry, Pally,”  Johnny grinned.  “Let me get a rag.”

 

“Okay . . .”  Roy started. 

 

“Ya know, this is gonna be a great day!  I mean look at the sky, Roy!  Did ya notice how crisp and clean everything felt this morning?  Man, I could still be lying under all that today--but, duty calls!  So, I’ll just soak it up as best I can!”  Johnny rambled on.

 

“Uh . . .” Roy started again.

 

“I mean, even the guy who tried to cut me off this morning!  I’m thinking, buddy, you need to slow down and enjoy the day!  The wildflowers were blooming everywhere and on yesterday’s hike I found a more scenic way to the waterfalls!  Then, when the clouds started clearing out and the stars came out . . . “  Johnny sat down at the table with his cup of coffee.

 

“Well, Johnny, you sound like . . . “  Roy began again.

 

“Oh, and let me tell you, Roy, those birds this weekend . . man, even the eagles were happy! Ya know?”  Johnny paused to take a breath.

 

“Glad the camping trip was  . . .”

 

Johnny shoved his chair back.  “Come on, Roy, let’s go check the supplies!”  Johnny bounced out of the day room, leaving behind his partner, who could only stare at the now empty spot.  Yea, partner, this’ll be a good day, ‘specially with all your enthusiasm at the high end, Roy reflected..

 

Roy walked behind the squad to find Johnny already doing the bio-phone check to Rampart.  Marco and Chet were working on polishing the right side of the engine and he noticed Mike in the cab doing his own routine checks. 

 

“10-4, Rampart, Squad 51 out,”  Johnny replied into the receiver.  He replaced the hand-set and buckled up the top of the case, looking up as Roy opened the trauma box.  “So, Roy, how ‘bout this next weekend you come with me?  Bet we can catch some trout, huh?  I’m ready, now!” he grinned at Roy.

 

“Well, it’ll depend on what Joanne has going on . . .

 

The tones sounded. 

 

Station 51, Station 8, Engine 16.  Structure fire.  Pacific Coast Marine Aquarium.  5811 Avalon Boulevard.  Five, eight, one, one, Avalon Boulevard, cross street, Harris.  Time out 8:15.”

 

Roy wondered if he’d ever complete a sentence today as he pulled out of the bay.

 

*******

 

Captain Stanley jumped out from the cab and started surveying the scene.  Smoke was billowing out of the main structure of the aquarium.  The police had already begun crowd control and the other engines were rolling in.

 

“Engine 18, set up on the west side,”  he bellowed into his handie talkie.  “Engine 16, let’s lay lines to the south, backing up my crew.”

 

“Hank!” 

 

Stanley turned toward the police officer calling his name.  He noted it was Vince as he came closer.  “Hey, Vince, whatcha’ got?”

 

“This is Steve Culo.  He’s one of the caretakers here.”

 

“Captain, we’ve got to get those animals out.  I’ve got a rock python, slider turtles, my alligators . . .please, we can’t lose them!”  cried Steve.

 

“Look, Mister Culo.  I understand your concern.  But right now, I’ve got to get this fire under control before we risk any lives in there!”  Stanley replied, firm but with compassion hedging his tone.

 

“Michael!  Michael?  Michael!”  a woman screamed running toward the building.

 

Vince quickly stopped her and held her tight as she struggled against him.  “Michael, my son!  Michael’s still in there!”

 

“Ma’am, you’ve got to calm down.  We’ll go find him.  Now, tell me more!”  Vince commanded.

 

“Johnny, Roy, over here!  We’ve got someone in the building!”  Stanley yelled.

 

Johnny and Roy were adjusting their belts on their equipment, running at Stanley’s command.

 

“Please, please, find my son!  He’s 11 years old and was wearing a t-shirt and jeans!  He was supposed to meet me at the shark tank while I got more film for our camera!  Michael!”  the woman sobbed.

 

“Okay, we’ll find ‘im, just stay right here,”  Johnny assured her.  He and Roy ran into the smoky curtain surrounding the building and were immediately in a whole new world of marine life.  As they found the main entrance, an explosion ruptured the tank in the front lobby.  Fish flapped everywhere as water gushed passed their boots.  Roy grabbed his HT.

 

“Cap, something just exploded down the right side of the building!”  he yelled as he looked up inspecting the building.  “The structure seems okay.”

 

“10-4, Squad 51, make your search quick!”

 

Stanley thumbed his HT.  “LA, Engine 51, we need a second alarm.  This building is fully involved.”

 

“10-4, Engine 51.”

 

Stanley turned as the caretaker moaned.  “Oh, no.  Not the tanks.  We’ve got to save them!”

 

“I’m sorry, Mister Culo.  We’re doing everything we can.”  Stanley said.  Between the woman’s sobs for her son and the man’s cries for his animals, he hoped they would contain this fire quickly and give everyone a happy ending.

 

*******

 

“Michael?  Can you hear us?”  Johnny yelled lifting his mask away from his face.

 

The smoke was getting thicker and they heard flames crackling in the back of the building.  If only we could hear the kid, Johnny thought.  Instead, he heard twits, grumbles, quacks, growls and other noises not made by humans as they passed the many habitats housed in the Main Aquarium building.  He knew that there was no way the creatures would survive the fire, but he was determined that a little boy would.

 

“Johnny, over here!”  Roy yelled.

 

Johnny jogged over to a large pit that Roy was looking into.  He noticed cypress trees and bushes encircling a large pond with lots of mud.  Sitting on the other side of the pond on a large boulder was the boy, shivering with fright and coughing from the smoke, his feet dangling from his perch.

 

“I’ll get over there to him,”  said Johnny.  He grabbed the life-belt Roy handed him and jumped into the pit.

 

“Careful, Johnny, I don’t know if there’s anything in this one.”

 

“No problem--I’ll be quick.”  Johnny turned his attention over to the boy.  “Michael?  Are you Michael?  I’m Johnny.  I’m gonna come over and help you get out of here, okay?”

 

It was still difficult to hear anything other than the chirps and distress calls of the animals.  Johnny sloshed through the pond, noticing the depth at only about four feet.  He kept watching for any of the residents of this particular habitat and saw nothing. 

 

The boy appeared to be in shock as Johnny reached him.  “Michael?  Are you okay?  You’re gonna be okay.  Your mom’s waiting for you and we need to get on out of here, okay?  Michael?”  Johnny gave the boy his air mask.  Michael gulped quickly as he received the fresh air.  “Hey, there, slow and easy, slow and easy . . .that’s it.”

 

“Johnny, you ready for the line?”

 

“Hang on, Roy, let me get this adjusted . . .”

 

Just then another explosion ripped through the building, this time closer.  Roy ducked to avoid the falling ceiling pieces.  He heard more animal grumbles and whistles as their fear escalated from the loud blast.  Another rumble and then a large crash caused Roy to shudder.  That’s was too close.  Johnny?

 

“Johnny!  JOHNNY!”

 

Roy yelled as he turned to see the right side of the habitat walls fold down into the pond.  Glass shattered from the skylight windows as more of the structure collapsed.  Through the smoke and the debris, Roy couldn’t see his partner.

 

“Johnny, can you hear me?”  Roy grabbed his HT while still hovering on the floor.  “Engine 51, this is Squad 51, we have another explosion in our location.  Structural collapse and a possible code-I. We need assistance!”

 

Stanley replied.  “10-4, 51, hang-on, we’ll be right there!”

 

“My boy?  Did they find my son?”  the woman continued to plead.

 

“We’re working on it, ma’am,”  Stanley tried to keep the frustration out of his voice.  He located then next engine crew on its way in.  “Engine 10, Engine 51.  We’ve got a Code-I in the main building.  Need your assist.”

 

“10-4, Engine 51.”

 

The flames from the second explosion furiously attacked the aquarium walls.  This is gonna be one hell of a mess to clean up, sighed Stanley.

 

*******

 

This is gonna be a good day, I just know it.  No doubt about it.  Sunshine, warmth, cool water . . . wait a minute . . . where am I?  Johnny suddenly woke up wondering why he was so wet.  Must’ve fallen into . . . what?   Then the pain hit his reality, fast.  “Ughhh . . . “  he cried hoarsely.  My leg  . .  . oh no. . . 

 

“Mister?”  a hushed whisper in his ear.

 

“Where . . wha?”

 

“Are you awake?”

 

“Uh . . “ Johnny shook his head to clear the cobwebs.  Smoke filtered through those cobwebs and he coughed.  Not only had he noticed the cold water around him and the searing pain in his leg, but he also couldn’t move.  Man, what happened?  Oh yea, the aquarium.  Another explosion My leg!  Immediately, he looked over at Michael who was still shivering, but more alert this time.

 

“Yea, I’m okay, I think . . my leg hurts,”  Johnny replied with a shaky voice.  He looked around and saw debris everywhere, including the chunk of ceiling across his torso.  No wonder I can’t move.  He noticed that the chatter of other animals had subsided.  Guess they didn’t make that last explosion

 

“JOHNNY!  Can you hear me?” 

 

“SHHH, Mister!”  Michael was frightened and still whispering.  “Please, be quiet . . .he might come back . . please,”  he started to sob.

 

Roy?  He must be on the other side of this downed wall.  “Yea, Roy.  Where are you?” Johnny tried to yell quietly, panic rising as he watched Michael’s reaction to his voice.

 

“Still in the front but this whole right side of this habitat looks like it caved in--I’ve got help on the way--are you and the boy okay?”

 

“Yea. . . Michael’s fine,” Johnny replied, feeling woozy.  He looked over at Michael one more time.  “I’m feeling a lot of pain in my . . .left leg and I’ve got  this piece of concrete holding me down . . . looks like at the edge of this pond.”  Daylight was beginning to filter through the darkened habitat after the ceiling fell through. 

 

“How bad?”  Roy’s concern clearly heard by Johnny.

 

Johnny was feeling the onset of dizziness and he tried to take a deep breath.  Ohhh, that didn’t feel right.  “I don’t know. . . Roy .. . ?”  he began to shiver.

 

“I’ll be right back . . hang on!”  Roy ran.

 

“Mister,”  Michael whispered.  “It’s gonna come back--please be quiet!”

 

“What is it Michael?  What’s coming back?”

 

“The alligator!  The ceiling was falling down and I saw it!”  Michael’s voice became full of fear.  “He was thrashing with his tail and snapping his jaws.”  Michael’s eyes darted around the pit looking anxiously back and forth.

 

“It’s . . okay, Michael,”  Johnny started to have a sinking feeling regarding the pain in his leg.  “Man, I’m not feelin’ so good,”  he stated as he felt the rising bile in his throat. An alligator, oh no, I think I know why my leg hurts . . . slow breathing . . . easy, I’ve got to stay focused . . . an ALLIGATOR!!

 

“Don’t you worry . . . “  Johnny’s voice shook from the cold and fear.  “My partner and some other firemen are coming. . . right now to get us out,”  Johnny continued to reassure the scared boy.  He tried to shift to keep his shoulders out of the water, but wasn’t very successful as he felt a new twinge of pain creep up his side. 

 

“Michael, tell me why . . . “  Johnny hesitated as he felt another stab of pain.  Feels like my ribs are cracked or broken.   “. . . why were you inside this pit?”

 

Michael’s eyes darted from left to right, wondering what to say.  Johnny tried to take a deep breath and noticed it was getting harder to keep his breathing steady. 

 

“I was supposed to go to the shark tank, but I think I went the wrong way.  I walked passed this one and couldn’t find anything in here.  That’s when the alarms went off and it scared me.  That alarm made me jump and my camera went into the pit,”  he stopped. 

 

“Okay, go on . . .”  Johnny insisted, trying to concentrate on something else other than the searing pain in his leg and the growing discomfort of his side.

 

“Well, it’s my new camera that I got for my birthday and I just took pictures of the snakes and I just wanted to . . . to . . . get my camera,”  he sniffled.  “I didn’t think anything was in here, really, I didn’t, so I thought since everyone was running, I would quick get my camera and jump right back out.  That’s when I saw it.”  his voice got quiet.

 

Johnny turned his head from its awkward position in the mud.  “The alligator?”

 

“Yea . . mister, I’m really sorry . . . I know that I’m in big trouble . .  really, I just wanted my camera . .”  Michael started to sob again.  Johnny tried to comfort him, but he was loosing the ability to focus and his leg was really on fire.  He patted Michael’s arm. 

 

“We’re gonna get out of here . . . “ he whispered.

 

*******

 

Roy had secured his line and climbed up on top of the debris surrounding what used to be a habitat at the now gutted one and one-half story marine attraction.  The fire was under control and the crews were beginning to salvage what animals they could.  This crew, however, was rescuing two human survivors.

 

He peered over to see Johnny pinned by a large concrete beam across his mid-section.  What was visible of Johnny was covered in mud and water.  Michael was sitting next to Johnny’s head trying to keep the water away from the fireman’s head.

 

“Johnny?  We’re coming down, now,”  Roy informed his water-logged partner.  Chet joined him and shook his head. 

 

“What a mess.  You okay, John?” yelled Chet.

 

Johnny murmured something.  Roy couldn’t hear him and was growing more concerned as he saw the red tinge to the muddy water.  “Johnny?” 

 

“my leg . . . hurts . . .” each breath was a struggle for Johnny as he tried to mutter his warning to Roy.  “alligator,”  he sighed.

 

Roy descended down the pile, keeping a watchful eye.  “Johnny, did you say alligator?”

 

Michael looked up at Roy, fear in his eyes.  “SHHHHH!  He’s probably still around!”

 

“Take it easy, Michael.  We’re going to get you out of here,” Roy responded in a calm voice, despite his own sense of growing panic.  “Why don’t we put this belt around you and get you on out of here?  Your mom’s really worried about you.”

 

“Okay, but you might need my help with Johnny.”

 

“I appreciate that, but I’ve got several others who will help us out.  You just let me do my job and then we’ll all be safe, okay?

 

“Okay.”

 

Roy secured the belt around the nervous boy.  “Okay, Chet, he’s ready.  No injuries, just a little shocky.  Get him on some O2.”

 

“Okay, Roy.  Here we go,”  said Chet as he began pulling the lifeline.

 

Michael and Roy climbed back up the pile, Roy steadying the line for Michael.  Once at the top, Chet took the boy to safety out of the building.  Roy went back down to check on Johnny while the rest of the men gathered their equipment for moving the piece of concrete.

 

“How ya doing, Junior?”  Roy counted Johnny’s pulse.

 

“Been better, . . .alligator . . . boy saw it . . . .my leg, Roy . . I think . . . “

 

“Okay, stop talking, let’s get you some oxygen,”  Roy commanded.  He didn’t like the way Johnny was struggling with breathing.  Must be some broken ribs, he thought. He continued his initial assessment and sloshed through to the left side of Johnny to check his legs. 

 

“shhh, stop splashing. . . alligator will be back . . . Roy?”  Johnny’s voice was still a whisper.

 

“I don’t think anything’s survived this mess,”  Roy replied, trying not to show his nervousness.  He also decided that he wouldn’t tell Johnny about the extra help that was coming just in case the local resident happened to show up.  He reached for Johnny’s left leg.  “UGHHHH!” Johnny cried out in pain.

 

“Easy, Johnny, easy . . . I’m sorry, I had to look, easy,” Roy soothed as he backed away from Johnny’s leg.

 

“Cap, he’s been bit.  It’s pretty severe, I need that stokes!” Roy yelled.

 

“alligator . . . damn,”  Johnny said.

 

“On the way, Pal.  Okay, men let’s tie our lines to that end in the water,”  directed Stanley.

 

Marco and Dwyer began tying off their ropes around the pillar as fast as possible, their task even more urgent after discovering the severe damage to Johnny’s leg.  Stanley had directed Mike to pull the engine as far into the entrance as possible.  They’d use the engine as their power to move the concrete off Johnny.

 

“You okay?”  Roy asked, keeping Johnny as still as possible while the ropes were lowered.

 

Johnny simply nodded his head, too tired to think about it anymore. He was beginning to feel chilled even through his turn-out coat and now instead of pain, he was feeling numb.  Johnny tried to ignore all the splashing and turmoil on his left side from the ropes being tied on.  Let’s just get out of here, quick, quick, quick.  His teeth chattered and his vision was blurred. 

 

And then everything in Johnny’s field of vision turned to slow motion as the ambush began.  A sudden flash of tooth-studded jaws appeared.  As he cried out in fear and pain, Marco, Dwyer and Roy leaped from their positions and found dry ground.  Johnny watched in horror as something large with armor plating and a boney head, began to surface at the top of the water on his left side, splashing his face with mud and more water.  He clenched his eyes shut and grabbed for thin air when he felt the deep gnash of teeth on his leg.  He now felt as though he would drown when a large splurge of water covered him up. Two men threw themselves on top of the large creature and wrestled it away from Johnny.  Between the slowness of his brain making the connection of what just happened, and the depth of the pain he now felt, Johnny passed out.

 

“Cap!  We need to get him out, NOW!”  Roy shook with fear and anger as he watched the horrific scene in front of him.  He clamored back to his partner’s side as the two handlers subdued the alligator with duct tape and rope.  “Johnny, Johnny?  Can you hear me?”

 

The pillar was finally moving.  “Chet, I need you!  Over here on the left--grab his shoulder!”  Roy instructed.

 

As the pillar was lifted, they pulled the unconscious paramedic from his watery spot.  Carefully, they laid him in the stokes and secured the straps.  Roy’s hands were still shaking and Chet was speechless.  Johnny’s leg was bleeding heavily through the now shredded material of his turn-out pants.  The stokes was lifted out of the pit and the concrete piece dropped heavily into the muddy pond.  The handlers put the angry alligator into a wooden box to transport it out of its destroyed habitat.

 

*******

 

“10-4, Rampart,”  Roy finished.

 

He concentrated on delivering the requirement medication to his partner, now victim.  He concentrated on the details of the bandages over Johnny’s badly mangled leg.  He concentrated on the fact that Johnny was still alive.  That’s all I have to do. . . concentrate . . focus . . .don’t let me get distracted.  Johnny needs me.

 

“Roy?”  It was Captain Stanley.  Roy hadn’t even noticed that Stanley was behind him.  Focus.

 

“He’s lost a lot of blood, and he’s got some broken ribs.  Shocky and hypothermic.  I’ll be ready to transport in a minute,”  Roy responded methodically.

 

“Hang in there, pal.”  Stanley patted him on the back.

 

Roy looked up beyond Stanley as the ambulance pulled over.  He watched as they lifted Johnny onto the gurney and began loading him into the ambulance.  Roy hefted his equipment onto the deck and closed the doors. 

 

“Hang in there, Junior,”  he echoed Stanley’s words as the ambulance sped on its way.

 

*******

 

The handler grabbed the snake by the neck and stuffed it into a small styrofoam box.  Steve Culo supervised the clean-up effort and was grateful that the firemen were helping round up the survivors of the aquarium from the ashes.  The 18-foot African rock python was one of the last snakes they had found still alive.

 

Five more alligators were found and transported to the County Zoo, who agreed to house the fire survivors temporarily.  One of the firemen on Engine 16, Dale Corinth, got bit on the right hand when they found a 4-foot Anaconda snake still alive.  That, besides Johnny’s injuries, was the only other human injury.  Most of the sharks, iguanas and fish died during the blaze.  

 

Captain Stanley rubbed his tired eyes and watched as the last of the hoses was packed on the engine.  He sighed and began turning his attention to mopping up the emotional mess of his A-shift crew.

 

*******

 

“Roy?  Are you awake?”

 

“Huh?”  Roy struggled to say something coherent.  He opened bleary eyes to see Dixie in front of him.  He had laid down for a moment in the Doctor’s lounge and must’ve dozed off.

 

“Hi, Dix.  How is he?”  he asked as he stretched and yawned.

 

“Well, it’s a good day, my friend,” she said quietly.  “After one hundred twenty stitches, surgery to repair the torn ligaments, lots of meds, warm blankets and wrapped ribs, he’s at least put back together. . . this time.  Now, how long he’ll stay that way, well that’s another matter,”  she grinned knowing that Roy needed to hear that.

 

“Thanks, Dix.  I suppose he’s pretty out of it?”

 

“Yea, we finally stabilized his temperature and the blood is flowing again.  He’s going to be fine, Roy,” Dixie reassured him.  “And before you even ask, yes, you can go see him now.”

 

“Thanks, again Dix--you’re the best,”  Roy replied, gratefully.

 

Roy entered the room and watched the even rise and fall Johnny’s steady breathing.  Much better, my friend, much better.  Now, about that leg . . .  He glanced at his friend’s left leg and noticed the many bandages and sighed.  He never liked seeing his partner so still after an injury, but he really liked knowing that Johnny was walking, soon at least, out of this one.  Even if it meant a few more scars.

 

He pulled up the chair and glanced out the window, noticing the silent clouds drift by.  He felt a chill through his back as he recalled the events of the day and sighed to release some of his tension.  Settling back into the chair, he leaned his head to the side and took comfort in the fact that he’d be there when Johnny woke up.  He begin to drift, putting aside the horror of alligators and thought only of trout, lazy rivers and campfires shared with his best friend--soon.

 

 Yes, Junior, it is a good day.

 

*******

 

 

 

 

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Guest Dispatchers                Stories by Robin W.