Chapter 13: Hotel
Sarah's young adult novel, "Peacekeepers/Truthbringers," continues
Sarah has written a young adult novel, “Peacekeepers/Truthbringers,” and we’re excited to share it with you. We’ll be releasing a new chapter every week. We’ll also continue to post occasional non-fiction reflections as inspiration and news arise.
It felt to Cora like driving straight into blackness as she and Gaster hurtled down Fort Road in the old truck. Black clouds overhead blotted out the moon and stars. Nothing was visible but the headlights and the ghostly shapes they briefly illuminated to the left and right of the road. When Gaster’s phone rang, interrupting a thick, leaden silence, they both jumped. Cora reached for the phone on the dash and answered it. “Drake,” she said, “Let me put you on speaker.”
Drake’s voice crackled through the small speaker on the flip phone. “You aren’t going to believe this, but when I got in my truck, I checked Kola… I just wanted to be sure. Well, I caught a faint pulse. She’s alive, Gaster. Maybe not for long. But there is a chance. I called Doc Hutton and headed over there when I left you. Doc Hutton put her right into surgery.”
“Oh God,” Gaster said, “Why didn’t I check her more carefully? We’re on our way.”
“Son, she’s your dog, and I can’t stop you from coming. But it’s late, you and Cora are exhausted, and there’s nothing you can do for her. Doc Hutton’s shop is already closed; he’s not going to let you in. Go to the hotel room and get some rest; we can be back at Doc Hutton’s first thing in the morning, when they open.”
“But Dad…”
“Gaster, all I could do was hand Kola to Doc Hutton at the door. He confirmed she’s alive, put her in surgery, and told me he would call us with news. If you come, you’re just going to be in a dark parking lot. He will call us when the surgery is over. I think that’s the best we can do for tonight.”
Cora looked at Gaster carefully, waiting.
“Okay, Dad,” Gaster said, resigned. “We’ll see you at the hotel.”
“Okay, son. Sit tight. Kola is in good hands, and we’ve done all we can for her. Say some prayers for her – offer some meal or tobacco. We can stay up together and wait for the call.”
