SURGE

It was a little after ten p.m. when she eased over the massive deep-water eddy floating aimlessly in the Gulf.  She instantly began taking the new life into her at an explosive rate.  She looked as if she had consumed a billion fireflies as the energy inside her increased by the minute.  Within four hours she would be twice as strong, and by daylight tomorrow she would be the most powerful storm of the century.

Jason strolled along the beach as the sun beat down and warmed his skin.  His two sons were busy building a large sandcastle while his wife lay under the umbrella reading her newest romance novel.  He loved living in Galveston and enjoyed spending time with his family by the water.  He had stopped to look out at the waves rolling in when he noticed something on the horizon.  At first, it looked like some low-riding clouds were right at the water’s edge, but as he stared, the clouds seemed to be getting taller and taller. As he squinted his eyes to get a better look, he had the feeling that something was very wrong.  Suddenly, he realized what he was seeing wasn’t clouds, but a huge wave forming and growing taller by the second.  He began hearing a ringing, soft at first, then becoming louder and louder.  He looked all around to see where it was coming from and finally noticed a seashell by his feet.  It was vibrating each time it rang.  As he gazed down at the seashell, the sunlight began fading and he was soon engulfed in darkness.  He bolted up in bed as the telephone continued to ring.  Groping in the dark, he fumbled with the receiver and pulled it to his ear.

“Jason, we’ve got trouble,” the voice said.

“Roger, is that you?”  Jason tried to shake the sleep from his consciousness.

“Yeah.  Sorry to wake you, but it’s bad, real bad.”

“What’s bad?” Jason mumbled.

“Dolly must have found a hot spot.  A big one.”

“Oh, no.”  Jason sat up abruptly.  “When?  What time is it?”

“It’s a little after four.  The center started seeing movement on the radar sometime after midnight and sent a plane.  They just radioed and said she’s up to a four and growing.”

“Oh, my God,” Jason gasped.

“That’s not all.  She’s hauling ass and heading straight for us.”