Chapter 2 - Fourteen Children in the Water
The news reporter's voice filled the ballroom.
“New information is emerging tonight about yesterday's extraordinary rescue of fourteen elementary school students and their driver…”
Nobody touched their drinks.
Onscreen, the school bus rocked violently against a broken concrete support.
My mother moved closer to the television.
“That was yesterday?”
“Yes,” Henry said.
Grant looked at me.
“You were on that bus?”
I remained quiet.
Olivia grabbed my arm.
“Nathan.”
“Yes.”
Mom turned.
“You were there?”
“I was.”
Grant's eyes narrowed.
“Doing what?”
Henry answered before I could.
“Saving those kids.”
The television showed rescue personnel stretching a line across the river.
The reporter continued.
“The bus became stranded after flash flooding destroyed part of Route 16. Officials initially believed rescue by boat was impossible because of submerged debris and extreme current.”
Grant stared at me.
“How did you reach it?”
“Line system.”
“That current would've killed you.”
“It almost did.”
Mom looked at me sharply.
“What?”
I regretted saying it immediately.
“Mom—”
“What do you mean, almost?”
Olivia touched the red marks around my wrist.
“The rope did this.”
I nodded.
Grant looked confused.
“What rope?”
“The primary line failed.”
Henry's face tightened.
“With people on it?”
“Just me.”
Mom closed her eyes.
“Nathan.”
“It happened quickly.”
The television footage showed the exact moment.
A wave struck.
The line snapped.
My body disappeared beneath the water.
Several guests gasped.
Mom grabbed Olivia.
Grant stepped toward the screen.
“Jesus Christ.”
The footage continued.
Five seconds.
Ten.
Then my head broke through the surface.
I caught part of the bus.
Someone in the ballroom whispered:
“How did he survive that?”
I answered quietly.
“Luck.”
Henry shook his head.
“Training.”
The reporter explained that rescuers had been ordered to withdraw when engineers warned that the concrete support beneath the bus was failing.
Grant looked at me.
“So you evacuated?”
“No.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What do you mean, no?”
“There were still three kids inside.”
“You ignored an evacuation order?”
“It wasn't that simple.”
“Sounds pretty simple!”
My voice hardened.
“There was an eight-year-old boy named Caleb inside that bus who couldn't swim.”
Grant stopped.
I continued.
“He was trapped behind two seats. The driver had a broken leg. Another girl was having an asthma attack.”
Mom whispered, “Nathan…”
“We estimated the support had twelve minutes.”
Olivia understood immediately.
“So you went back.”
“Yes.”
Grant stared at me like I had become a stranger.
“You could have died.”
“So could they.”
“But—”
“What would you have done?”
Grant opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
The television showed rescuers carrying children toward waiting ambulances.
Then came the final clip.
Me emerging from the water with Caleb strapped against my chest.
The boy's arms were locked around my neck.
My mother covered her mouth.
Olivia was crying silently.
Grant lowered his eyes.
The reporter continued.
“All fourteen children survived.”
Applause suddenly erupted from the far side of the ballroom.
Then another person joined.
Then another.
Within seconds, nearly eighty people were applauding.
I hated it.
I didn't know where to look.
I raised one hand.
“Please.”
The room slowly quieted.
“My team did this.”
Henry smiled.
“You led the team.”
“I wasn't alone.”
Grant finally looked at me.
“Why didn't you tell us?”
“Tell you what?”
“That you do this.”
“I've told you for years.”
“No. You said emergency medicine.”
“That’s what I do.”
“You never said you jump into flooded rivers.”
“Normally I don't.”
A few guests laughed nervously.
Even Olivia smiled.
Then my secure phone vibrated.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
I looked at the screen.
The smile disappeared from my face.
Grant noticed.
“What?”
“Excuse me.”
I walked toward the windows and answered.
“Cole.”
A familiar voice spoke.
“Dr. Cole, stand by for the Secretary.”
I straightened.
“Yes, sir.”
Grant was watching me.
So was everyone else.
Another voice came on.
“Nathan.”
“Mr. Secretary.”
The room became completely silent.
“We've completed the preliminary review.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your team's actions are confirmed.”
I looked toward my mother.
“Understood.”
Then he said:
“We need you in Washington tomorrow morning.”
My stomach tightened.
“For the investigation?”
“No.”
A pause.
“For the appointment.”
I didn't answer.
The Secretary continued.
“The President approved the recommendation.”
I looked at Grant.
“The National Emergency Medical Response Directorate needs a new chief.”
May you like
My brother slowly lowered his champagne glass.
“And the President wants you.”
