Olivia's Mine (33 page)

Hearn snuck in the back of the church and
tapped McMichael on the shoulder. McMichael turned around.

“I thought you should know,” Hearn said,
“they’ve issued flood warnings all along the coast from Vancouver
to Prince Rupert. Squamish, Pitt Meadows and Port Coquitlam are
sandbagging.”

“What’s happening at the dams?” McMichael
asked, keeping his voice down.

There were three dams about eight miles away
that provided water power to the area.

“I understand they’ve put extra watchmen on,”
Hearn said.

“Good,” McMichael said. “Keep me posted.”

Hearn turned and left the building as the
priest was pronouncing Jason and Sarah husband and wife. The
engineer was scheduled to leave Britannia and return to Aaron’s
employ in Seattle after the wedding. He would miss him, McMichael
thought, he was a good worker. Maybe he’d make him an offer to stay
at Britannia.

Sarah beamed at him as she and her husband
made their way down the aisle, out of the church. The rain was
still pouring down, but the lightning had stopped. Akiko passed
Sarah her umbrella as everyone made their way to the community hall
for the reception.

“We seem to be without an emcee,” William
said to McMichael. “Frank was supposed to do it, but...”

McMichael looked at him unapologetically.

“Would you care to step in?” William
asked.

“No,” McMichael stated emphatically. “I don’t
think stepping in for Frank would be a wise thing at the moment.
Besides, I have a bit of a history emceeing weddings and I’d rather
not tempt fate. Let’s just say the last time I did it, at my
niece’s wedding, things got out of my control.”

“I knew there was a reason we had Billy.
He’ll do it.” William laughed, heading off to find him.

“Mr. McMichael,” Sarah said upon her
entrance, “I just want to thank you again for everything you’ve
done to make this day special.”

“My pleasure Sarah,” McMichael said. “And if
you don’t mind Jason, I’m going to kiss the bride.” He kissed her
on the cheek.

“Now that you’re married, don’t you go
running off on me.”

“Oh I won’t Mr. McMichael, don’t worry. Jason
and I are going to stay here in Britannia. But I may need a raise
in a year or so.”

“Lucky for the rain,” McMichael laughed, “I
don’t see a blue moon tonight.”

“Thank goodness the thunder has stopped,”
Sarah said. “I was worried the band wouldn’t be able to play in the
electrical storm.”

“We’ve been fortunate with a few things
today. You and Sarah have a wonderful life,” he said to Jason,
shaking his hand. “Treat her well, because I’ll know, by God I’ll
know, if you don’t.”

McMichael caught sight of Olivia and walked
over to her.

“Apparently I owe you an apology,” he said to
her.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Olivia said. “You
didn’t do anything wrong. Frank’s just had a jealous streak in him
where you’re concerned.”

“Still, I didn’t mean to cause you any
trouble. For that I’m sorry.”

Perhaps her mother was right. John
McMichael
was
polite.

“Would you like to come sit with us? Lucy and
Rudy are at the table.”

“I think I’ll keep my distance Olivia, no
offence. I’d like to have a quiet word with your father and your
uncle. I’ll catch up with you some other time.”

“Of course. I understand.” Olivia said.

Perhaps John McMichael
was
nice, like her mother had
said.

McMichael wandered off to a corner table at
the back where William and Aaron were sitting.

“Gentlemen,” he said, “may I join you?”

They motioned for McMichael to sit down.

“Thank you for your help this week,” he said.
“I’m sure you didn’t expect all this excitement to go along with
the wedding. Aaron, that new drill is something. I’ll put in an
order on Monday.”

“Good to hear it John,” Aaron said. “Because
you’ve definitely bought that one.”

“John,” William said. “About the railroad.
Aaron and I are sorry that your government didn’t see fit to push
through the northern line at this time. It certainly wasn’t through
the lack of your efforts.”

Aaron nodded.

“What are your plans John?” William
asked.

“My plans?”

“Beyond Britannia.”

McMichael wished he had a stiff drink in
front of him, but he didn’t.

“You’re not thinking of staying here all your
life are you?” William asked. “You’re too good to be stuck
here.”

“That depends on your definition of stuck,”
McMichael said. “I happen to have a good life for my family and
myself.”

“Still,” Aaron said, “your girls will be
grown soon and leaving for the big city. What will Britannia have
to offer you then?”

McMichael knew there was truth in what the
men were saying, but he wasn’t ready to face that day, not quite
yet. He glanced around and saw Christina dancing with the young
doctor Alex Thompson, and Lara and Jimmy in the corner, sneaking
sips of beer.

“They grow up so fast,” he said.

“When the time is right,” William said, “we’d
like you to consider coming to work for us in some capacity.”

McMichael smiled. “Gentlemen, I am flattered.
But what would you want with an arrogant, demanding mine boss?”

“We’d like an arrogant, demanding boss to
work with us and handle our employees. You’ve got a knack for
that.”

“What did you have in mind?” McMichael
asked.

“We’re not sure yet,” Aaron said. “But we
like your style. You don’t crack under pressure. You’re a real
leader. We’re exploring a few ventures. There’s a family in Toronto
that’s getting into the liquor business. We may open a few
breweries with them, we don’t know. If not, there’s always our
railroad operations. We know you’d like that.”

“And automobiles,” William chimed in. “We’re
buying stock in car factories. We’ve got big plans for starting a
Canadian factory down the road. We’re looking at the Toronto area,
on Lake Ontario. Maybe even a little east of there. Land is cheap.
Aaron thinks the area is a golden horseshoe in the making.”

“Well then,” McMichael said. “Why don’t I go
get us some champagne so that we can toast our endeavours, past,
present and future?”

Across the Hall, Olivia sat at the table
dumbfounded.

“No,” Lucy was saying, “I heard he took a
swipe at him.”

Rudy nodded.

“He tried to hit McMichael?” Olivia
asked.

“Mary Alice, who happened to be in the street
at the time,” Lucy continued, “told me he called him a slimy,
money-pinching, wife stealing...”

Rudy kicked her under the table.

“Ow!”

“And he did it in the middle of the street?”
Olivia said. “I will kill him.”

“Okay,” Rudy said, “this is the part where I
ask you to dance Lucy, so you don’t tell Olivia anything else you
heard.” He quickly pulled her onto the dance floor.

“She has to know,” Lucy said.

“But she doesn’t have to know right now,”
Rudy replied.

McMichael saw Olivia sitting at the table by
herself and approached her.

“I was just going to get some champagne
Olivia. Why don’t you come join your father and I?”

“No thank you, my stomach is a bit
upset.”

“Of course.” McMichael said. “In that case,
I’ll take the champagne back to the table. Perhaps I was hasty
earlier. Would you care to dance? One dance, in front of all these
people who will witness nothing untoward?” He looked at her
hopefully.

Olivia smiled.

“I appreciate the offer John, you were
probably right the first time. I’m sorry. It’s not you.”

“Well, another day perhaps,” John said.

I’ll wait, he thought to himself.

Mother Nature loves playing hide and seek.
Between her majestic mountains and wondrous rainforests of the
Pacific Northwest lay many hidden lakes and streams. Way behind the
peaks of Britannia, the watchmen who manned the power facilities
were unaware that one particularly large lake was about to carve
her own path through the mountains to the ocean. The natural
driftwood dam that held her waters in place was no match for the
heavy rains that had been occurring.

It was a cold damp night, and the two
watchmen from Britannia, Russ Keeping and Marco Mazzotta had gone
inside the equipment building to warm up.

“So, I wonder how things are going at the big
shindig?” Russ asked, referring to the wedding.

“I suppose it will be quite the party, what
with the rescue over and all,” Marco replied.

Russ lit up a cigarette.

A thunderous cracking sound filled the
air.

“Did you hear that?” Marco asked.

“Probably thunder,” Russ answered.

The noise came again, this time louder.

“Doesn’t sound like thunder,” Marco said.

“I’ll go check it out,” Russ said, donning
his gloves and heading back outside.

He had only taken a few steps when he saw
water heading towards him.

“Oh my God, Marco,” Russ yelled. “Let’s get
the hell out of here. The damn’s going to go. We’ve got to call
down there and warn everyone.” He started to quickly telephone the
mine operations.

Hearn answered the phone. His face grew
grim.

“I’ll tell them,” he said.

McMichael, William and Aaron stood outside
the community hall with their champagne glasses in hand.

“To our futures,” William said, raising his
glass. The other two men raised theirs in unison.

“To our futures.”

“It’s a nice night except for the rain. I
like it cold. But does the damn rain ever stop?” William asked.

“Yes. In February.” McMichael said. “Although
I must admit I find it a bit chilly this evening.”

“Keeps the champagne at optimum temperature.”
Aaron added philosophically.

William looked up the mountain.

“What the hell is that?” he asked.

McMichael looked up the mountainside.

“I don’t see anything.”

“The noise,” William said. “Listen.”

The men were silent. A rumbling was coming
from the mountain. McMichael instantly thought of the
landslide.

Hearn came running up to him.

“We just got a call from the watchmen. The
dam has let go.”

“The dam’s given way? We’ve got to get
everybody out!”

“What are you talking about?” William
asked.

“An entire lake is about to empty itself on
our town. I’m going to the mine to sound the alarms.”

“What?” William said.

“I have no idea which way the water is going
to go. Get everyone you can up on the rooftop of the hall. It
should be safe. We’re going to have a flood like we’ve never seen
before. I have about five minutes before it’ll be too late. Move
gentlemen. Now!”

McMichael and Hearn ran up to the mine. Aaron
and William went back inside the community hall, with William
making his way to the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said, “this is an
emergency. I need everyone to make their way to the rooftop of the
building. Don’t ask questions, there’s no time, please, do not go
into the street. Just get up to the rooftop.”

Rudy made his way over to Aaron.

“What’s happening?”

“McMichael says the dam has given way.
Listen, you can hear the water coming.”

Rudy headed towards the door.

Aaron grabbed him.

“No, don’t go out there.”

“I’m an officer of the law,” Rudy said.
“Please, handle everyone in here for me while I find out what’s
happening.”

Aaron let go of him.

Rudy stepped outside and to his horror found
that Aaron was right. There was a wall of water heading towards the
town. The sound was becoming louder, closer.

The mine’s emergency sirens came on at full
blast. It brought the people who had not been at the wedding into
the street. McMichael ran from the mine with bullhorns in hand,
looking for help.

“The dam has burst!” he yelled.
“Everyone, get to high ground!”

He saw Rudy.

“Get on the rooftop,” McMichael said. “Get on
the rooftop and yell to everyone to do the same.”

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to knock on as many doors as
possible. We have to do something.”

“I’ll do that,” Rudy said. “You go back to
the wedding. I can handle it.”

“Rudy,” McMichael began, “you weren’t here in
1915. It was at a wedding, on a night like this when Lucy lost her
entire family. I don’t want that to happen to her again. I don’t
want that to happen to anyone else ever again. Please, get up
there. Get up on the roof. Tonight you’re off duty. Tonight, for
the time being, you’re just one of us. I need you alive for
later.”

McMichael saw the young doctor standing in
the street.

“Where’s Christina?” McMichael screamed.

“What?” Alex yelled.

The sound of the rushing water was now almost
deafening.

“Where’s Christina?”

But it was too late for the doctor to answer.
The rushing water was now upon him, hurling him forward with all
the force of a giant wave, and sending him crashing into a tree,
where he held on for dear life, dazed but alive.

The water missed McMichael and as he turned
to run out of its path he saw his youngest daughter Lara, alone on
the front porch of their home.

“Daddy!” she was screaming, but he could not
hear her.

With a rush of adrenaline he had never
experienced before, he ran to his home, grabbed his daughter and
went to the top of his roof. He turned her eyes to the unfolding
tragedy taking place. The flood was upon them. He watched several
of the small bungalows being washed out into Howe Sound, the
strength of the water being too much for their foundations to
hold.

Olivia stood on the rooftop of the community
hall and watched as the torrent of water ripped apart what had been
her home. She could see her bathtub, floating into the sea. Lucy
held her tightly.