Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter SevenIl...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����

By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Seven

Il...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Seven Ilani saw Esther's parents near Malawi's bed. They looked so happy. &...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter Six(Conti...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����

By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Six(Conti...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Six (Continued) Ilani slowed and looked around - nowhere looked familiar. Of co...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Six

(Continued)

Ilani slowed and looked around - nowhere looked familiar. Of course they weren't on their island, but...

"Where's the hospital?", she cried. "Where's my family?"

Des looked at Ivan. "Hey!", he said accusingly, "You said the kiddie was alone. She hadn't got a family. That's why she was crying. You lied!"

"O shh!", Ivan replied. "It doesn't matter. She'll be looked after."

"It does matter. I'm taking her back", and Des marched off with Ilani. 

Sometime later they found her dad. He was so relieved.

"Thank you", he said to the young man. "Could you help me get a job?", pleaded Des. "What I've been doing is wrong. I didn't realise."

"You need to talk to the police first", Frankie answered. "Then I will do my best."

"Come on, young lady. Your brother has missed you. We have also missed you. 

"Mum will just leave again", muttered Ilani.

"Well, that was no excuse to leave with strangers. You know that. And God has given me some ideas about the future that may help us all. I will talk to your mother first."

Sue was waiting for them near Malawi's room. "Malawi has visitors", she said through tears of joy at Ilani's return. "Come and see!"

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter SixFran...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Six


Fran...: ���� TSUNAMI���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Six Frankie paused, trying to be systematic in his search near the hospital. He ke...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Six

Frankie paused, trying to be systematic in his search near the hospital. He kept asking God for guidance and for help.

Having spent a year on the streets as a boy, hungry - always hungry and afraid, he did not want his daughter to be alone in the darkness. In a few hours the sun would set. He glanced around, shielding his eyes against the blinding glare of the westering sun.

Frankie felt grateful that Malawi was going to be alright, but he was tired. Last night, while he waited for news of his son, he had doubted in the darkness. The only Bible verses he could remember were: 'The Lord is my shepherd.' and 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' He couldn't even pray. He kept seeing Malawi's white shirt in the gloom, the falling truck, that huge menacing wave, towering in his mind, threatening to engulf him, to tear him from his moorings.

Suddenly he saw a little girl of about eight or nine, walking with a man far in the distance. Frankie broke into a run. "Ilani! Ilani!", he called. The man and the girl stopped and turned around. They were strangers.

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter Five(Cont...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����

By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Five(Cont...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Five (Continued) The huge wave roared towards Malawi with a terrible sound li...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Five

(Continued)

The huge wave roared towards Malawi with a terrible sound like the thunder of a 747 plane. He thought he heard his friends calling, but he couldn't be sure, with the dreadful noise filling his ears. Then he was caught up in the wave's billowing fury. He tried to scream, but his mouth was filled with what seemed like torrents of water, washing over him, around him.

Something caught his face. Was it a leg? Malawi reached out and held on tightly. As the wave swept past, there was a sensation of other arms grabbing his tree that stood with roots wound deep into the earth, grown strong over decades.

The tree was broken, but it did not rip out. The wave eventually receded bringing more pain tugging the boy's body, tearing at him in vengeful dragging surges. Then it was gone, dragging mud, sand, torn buildings, and other debris with it.

The boy cracked open his eyes to find himself in a warm bed anchored to a stable floor. Then he saw his mother and behind her his father. Malawi tried to smile, to say Hello. He felt deep relief and fell into a peaceful sleep.

Malawi had turned the corner towards healing, and it wasn't solely because of the presence of his parents in that room. It was the Presence of Almighty God in their prayers.

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter FiveDes...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Five


Des...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Five Dessie shuffled along happily. He liked this little girl, skipping beside hi...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Five

Des shuffled along happily. He liked this little girl, skipping beside him. He and Ivan had taken her for a fizzy drink and some food. Poor girl, hungry and crying outside the hospital.

Good job they were there to help her, just as they had often helped other children after other bad things had happened like...like...floods? He couldn't remember.

Surreptitiously, Des took a bright red lollipop for the girl and a lovely yellow one for himself. Briefly he held it to the light. So pretty! "Des!", yelled Ivan, "walk properly!"

Act normal - that was the key. No one noticed then.

Not long now, then they could hand her over to the boss.

Then he - they could go back fishing - for children.

After all, if people left their kids alone, then they were not looking after them. Anyway, they went to good homes. Adoption the boss called it.

          ----------------------------------------

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter Four(Conti...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Four(Conti...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Four (Continued) Inali was very angry. She wanted to hug her mother but knew sh...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Four

(Continued)

Inali was very angry. She wanted to hug her mother but knew she would not stay. She never did. Why was Malawi lying there so still? No one had even told her he was missing. She decided to run away. Who would miss her anyway? Blinded by tears, she backed away as her parents were talking to the doctor.

Guardedly the physician, a Doctor Brauer, would only say their son was stable. The doctor was very tired and overly distraught at the number of young people being brought into the hospital, most beyond hope, at least in this world.

"Look!", he burst out, "why don't you pray?!" Quietly he left the room, wondering why he had said that. He needed a coffee and a rest.

Frankie and Sue could barely look at each other. Instead they focussed on Malawi. Suddenly he stirred. "Inali", the whispered word came and settled in the room. The parents looked relieved.

"She is here, son", but she wasn't. Inali had gone.

         ------------------------------------------

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter FourSu...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����

By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Four


Su...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Four Sue sipped her lovely hot coffee in a cafe not too far away, and considered...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Four

Sue sipped her lovely hot coffee in a cafe not too far away, and considered her options.

She had some regrets at leaving Frankie and the children, but not enough to consider returning. In some ways she was sad the pretty island had been virtually destroyed. But the way of life had stifled her. Here she was respected, looked up to and in charge. The job money was good and she could afford nice clothes.

Perhaps she could visit them anyway. Just then a policewoman and her assistant came near her. Her heart sank as she verified her ID. Apparently her son had been found, barely alive, and was asking for her. She hadn't even known he was missing! 

Hastily, she arranged a few days leave, detailing some of her work load to her assistant. Then she left for the hospital.

Frankie was there, and Inali, looking so like her but lost and confused. Sue bent to hug her, but there was no response. 

The last time she had seen her husband, her words had been: "I want to be free!", as she walked away.

Malawi was lying covered in bandages, and connected to various monitors.

               -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter ThreeThe ...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Three
The ...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Three The mainland people did not have much to do with the island peoples. Still, the...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Three

The mainland people did not have much to do with the island peoples. Still, the survivors had been carefully winched to safety, and accommodation had been found for them. In the morning, search boats could be sent to pick up the bodies of those that hadn't survived, if they could be found.

Frankie intended to go with them along with a few other relatives. Right now his head was filled with images of destruction, broken homes, broken trees, the truck tumbling over and over; people crying out in hope and fear and desolation. The noise still seemed to engulf him, in surging waves.

Once around the bend in the track, Malawi had paused for breath, leaning over a split palm tree, the ache from his earlier head injury suddenly surging into pain. This pause had saved him.

The wave was on him before he knew it, trying to rip him free from the tree. Malawi struggled to breathe as water rose over him. Much of the momentum had been spent further down the island, though there was still enough power to toss the ute past him. A tyre caught him, pushing the boy further into the tree.

Hours later, he awoke, conscious of burning thirst and pain. The sun beat down. Malawi longed for rescue but did not know if there would be anything, at least in time to save him. 

Saltwater dribbled from his mouth and he slid deeper into unconsciousness and cold.

       -------------------------------------------

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter Two(Conti...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����

By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Two(Conti...: ���� TSUNAMI���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Two (Continued) Later Inali could never quite recall what had distracted her - was i...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Two

(Continued)

Later Inali could never quite recall what had distracted her - was it her damp blond hair in her eyes, the fear of the earthquake? Whatever it was, she realized that she was in a bad situation. She was at the down end of a sliding seesaw.

"Da!", she cried, an almost forgotten cry from babyhood. "Coming!", Frankie yelled, but Inali could see her dad could not help.

"Jesus!", she cried, sobbing, forgetting her mother had said that did no good.

A great calm touched her and courage came. Carefully, Inali crawled to the rear end of the ute in time to see and grab her dad's arm. She was safe, and at that moment the tsunami hit and the island broke before it.

The waters surged towards them full of rocks, trees, plants. The people fell back, moving higher. Roaring and foaming, the wave took the empty truck and left, but nothing was or ever could be the same again. All around the tiny plateau where a few people cowered in shock and terror, there was total devastation.

It felt and looked like the end of the world.

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter TwoInali ...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
By Tessa Harvey
Chapter Two
Inali ...: ���� TSUNAMI���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter Two Inali was upset. Yes, she thought: "The sea is coming back. It always does.&q...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter Two

Inali was upset. Yes, she thought: "The sea is coming back. It always does." She couldn't imagine what the fuss was about and why they were leaving home in the truck when it was nearly tea-time. Her tummy felt empty. There were bananas scattered among all the children in the truck, and she reached for one and a small bottle of water. She noticed that her dad must have pushed them into the truck, but again could not see why.

Above all, Inali was scared the land would move again. It had been horrible.

The truck bounced and jounced over the old and new cracks. Inali tried not to let her water spill. It was too precious.

Suddenly, the truck crunched to a swerving halt, skidding on loose rocks and pebbles. This time the water shot straight up in the air and came down all over Inali. Her brother had been so proud to have been asked to drive, but now he cried out, "Dad, what about Essie, Butch and Donut? I have to check that they are coming." He ran, his white shirt gleaming as he rounded a bend in the deepening gloom. He thought he had parked the vehicle safely, but the brake had slipped.

His dad leapt after the truck, even as his heart cried out for his son. The old truck was sliding towards the steep edge and yelling parents were trying to rescue their children. It teetered on the brink.

       -------------------------------------------

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����Chapter One (Continued)By Tessa H...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
Chapter One (Continued)
By Tessa H...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� Chapter One (Continued) By Tessa Harvey Malawi's friends were yelling and shouting, exultant that the t...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

Chapter One (Continued)

By Tessa Harvey

Malawi's friends were yelling and shouting, exultant that the tide was so far out! Beyond memory. Some of the men and women grabbed flapping fish and other sea creatures left by the water.

Everywhere was happy chaos. He turned to Inali and saw her unhappy face and frowned. "Take me home, Mali", she whispered sensing his resistance. Fine! He could come back.

The bell still rang out stridently, but Frankie stopped when he saw his children. "Come on kids. We have to go now".

"Dad", whispered Inali, " I lost my story when the ground jumped." A brief smile crossed his anxious features. The little girl reminded him so much of his missing wife.

"Why Dad?" demanded his son. "I'm going back down."

"God told me to go!", his  dad yelled back, then softened his tone. "Please get the truck, son! The sea is coming back!"

Then they heard a low moan from the shore, a collective gasp of fear, excitement, dawning horror.

A roar came, drowning out all other sound and far away, a monster line rose dark and thunderous stretching across the horizon. It towered over everything, moving fast, a terrifying crescendo of sound. A roar that dominated everything froze them in fear.

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����Chapter One (Continued)By Tessa H...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����
Chapter One (Continued)
By Tessa H...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� Chapter One (Continued) By Tessa Harvey Malawi thumped along kicking stones. He had thought he could leave at...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

Chapter One (Continued)

By Tessa Harvey

Malawi thumped along kicking stones. He had thought he could leave at fourteen but had been refused. His recent dreams of being the best fisherman, of the other men clapping him on the back in praise, talking excitedly, evaporated, leaving bitter resentment.

Suddenly the ground moved beneath his feet and he fell, hitting his head hard against a rock. 

Inali had also felt the quake and was screaming in fear. She had been dreaming happily of writing stories and had even begun one when the world around her literally shook. The ground cracked and plants crumbled and fell. She tried to run and stumbled almost at once over broken rocks and ferns and little yellow cattails. Then she saw a hand sliding up.

It moved, scaring her even more and Malawi crawled out from the fringe of beach bushes. He looked at Inala,dazed and uncertain.

Then they both heard the urgent summons of the school bell jangling harshly in the utter sudden stillness - the emergency signal for the whole village.

But what they didn't hear was the ocean; that roar and swell, the vast ancient cadence that had, since birth, given time and cadence to all their days.

                 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa HarveyChapter OneKayla's...

Tsunami: ����TSUNAMI����By Tessa Harvey
Chapter One
Kayla's...: ���� TSUNAMI ���� By Tessa Harvey Chapter One Kayla's dark ponytail swished exuberantly as she rang the last school bell for ...

🌊🌊TSUNAMI🌊🌊

By Tessa Harvey

Chapter One

Kayla's dark ponytail swished exuberantly as she rang the last school bell for the year, releasing a surging, yelling, joyous flood of children. Multi-coloured parrots soared shrieking above them. But they did not return to their own trees - instead soaring high to fly , far towards the distant mountains of the island.

Frankie noticed their almost silent departure swift-flying into the far-darkening sky. Puzzled, he turned from the window and began straightening desks and picking up the odd drink bottle and forgotten battered lunch box. He loved his job teaching, yet the sudden loss of his wife to the distant city had hit him hard.

A warning voice in the night had woken him. Absorbed in his work, Frankie hadn't even had time to check the news and weather forecasts, something he rarely forgot.

Far away, stirring from deep sleep on the ocean floor, a slumbering giant woke and stretched, stirring angrily into a wakeful menace.

Sea life fled panicked as the rocks and sand beneath them heaved and cracked, sending sudden shock waves in all directions.

They felt it on the island and then, everything began to change....

TO BE CONTINUED