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A collective gasp came from the audience, followed quickly by screams and cries of terror. Chase and Mouse each grasped one of the posts and leaned out to get a better view of the wall of water.
“What the hell is that?” Chase shouted.
I cared less about what it was and more about the fact that Ben and the others were racing straight toward it. The officials shouted and raced toward the scene, but even their shortcut didn’t allow them to reach the trouble before the fast thunders.
The leads in the group crashed into the wall of water and sank into the liquid. Others put on the brakes and skidded to a stop near the pool, and those included Ben. I breathed a sigh of relief, but the reprieve for my heart was short-lived as dozens of huge dripping watery arms stretched out of the wall.
The limbs snatched up the other vehicles and lifted them high into the air. Ben was among those that were tossed into the wall where they floated in their seats. Their faces showed their torment as they tried to hold their breath and keep from crying out in shock.
I fumbled with the lid on the canister on my arm but finally managed to get it open. My arm shook so badly that the flute vibrated out. I snatched it up and pressed the instrument against my lips, not caring when my companions gave me surprised and confused looks.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and blew.
A melody floated out, but there was a sense of urgency that hadn’t been there the last time. The music flew across the ground and stirred up the dirt on the tract. In a few moments a spinner spirit of my own making rose out of the course and slammed into the wall of water. The two elements duked it out, but with each passing moment the sand absorbed the water, creating clumps up and down the wall.
My heart stopped beating when I realized the sand wasn’t only sticking to the wave but to the thunders, as well. That included their drivers. The men struggled under the sand bombardment of my making, and several crawled out of their vehicles and dropped to the far ground to escape the sand.
My music fell silent as I gaped in horror at what I had done. However, the damage had been wrought, and both men and monster crashed to the earth. The clumps exploded all over the ground and absorbed the remainder of the water. They were also flung over the thunders, many of which were dented and filled with sand and liquid.
The officials hesitated for only half a second before Rast led the charge toward the injured drivers. I could only stand there dumbly as Chase and Mouse climbed down and rushed over. A clap of a hand on my shoulder made me jump, and I whipped my head around to find Grant still standing beside me.
“Put that thing away and let’s get over there,” he told me.
I went through the motions of shoving the flute into the canister, but my cloudy mind couldn’t focus on anything except Ben’s sand-covered thunder. He sat motionless in the seat and I couldn’t find the courage to take a step toward him.
Mouse and Chase reached Boastful and pulled Ben out. They lay him on the ground even as Grant grabbed my hand and tugged him over to them. Tears sprang into my eyes at the sight of Ben’s body covered in sand and scratches. There were even burns from the friction. Many of the other drivers were in the same state.
All because of me.
“How is he?” Grant questioned his compatriots.
Chase looked up at us with pursed lips. “He’s not too bad on the outside, but I think he’s swallowed a lot of dirt. A doctor will be able to tell us more.”
“Then you’ll be wanting Dr. Amanzi,” Rast spoke up as he joined our little group. He knelt beside Ben and opened one of his eyes. They were bloodshot and there was no recognition of any of us. “He’s on call for the thunder races and his house is only five miles down the road and on the right. You can’t miss his sign.”
“I’ll go get him in the thunder,” Grant offered before he hurried off.
“We’re providing thunders for the injured,” Rast informed us as he nodded at the arena. A few wide-bodied thunders bumped onto the course and toward our position. They had flatbeds and thick tires to get over the rough terrain in the center of the course. “I expect Ben would want to be taken to his villa.”
“More than likely,” Mouse agreed as he gave my arm a shake. “You okay?”
I swallowed a lump in my throat, but I still couldn’t find my voice so I shook my head. Rast studied me with a curious expression before he nodded in the direction of the far side of the arena. “I have my carriage parked over there, the one with the thunder crest. Take it and use it to get yourselves to the villa.”
“Much obliged,” Chase replied as he gently grasped my arms. “Come on. I’ll get you there.”
“And I’ll take care of Boastful,” Mouse offered as he turned and looked forlornly at the vehicle. “This isn’t going to be easy. . .”
Chase tried to lead my shell-shocked self away, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Ben. He was lifted onto one of the thunders and Rask spoke with the driver who nodded. The vehicle was filled and bumped off toward the arena.
“He’ll beat us to the villa even if we get started now,” Chase whispered as he gave me a gentle but persistent pull. “He’ll want you to be there when he wakes up.”
I let him lead him across the course and to the far side of the old barracks. Several large carriages were parked there with their horses in a nearby field. Chase found the carriage and positioned me close to the vehicle before he hurried over to the horse master who sat in a small lean-to with a stove. They spoke for a few moments before the master stood and strode into the field where he gathered up two horses. He soon had them hitched to the carriage and Chase helped me into the vehicle while he himself took the box.
We rolled along down the road, and I happened to look out the window. Crowds of former onlookers lingered between the stalls casting furtive glances at the arena. Many held tight to their lucky charms, but I noticed several dozen of the trinkets had been tossed to the ground. Others in the crowd clung to theirs and whispered silent prayers at their safe exit from the arena.
I fell back against the seat and the rest of the world flew by. Time had no meaning, and I was confused when the carriage rolled to a stop and Chase opened the door. He was framed by Ben’s villa in the background and the worried face of Hannah just behind him. “The poor dear. She looks almost as bad as the master.”
My ears perked up at the mention of her count. “Ben? He’s here already?”
