Thunder rumbled, lightning flashed, and the wipers struggled to clear 16's windshield. It seemed like storms were getting worse every year. The rain was coming down so fast it couldn't drain away, and the streets were running with water.
Mickie turned off E. Washington onto Lien Rd. near East Towne Mall, straining to see the edges of the street. The water was up over the curbs in some places, and it was getting deeper by the minute. She was beginning to worry that the cab would stall out in the flood. It was time to find high ground.
There was a strip mall parking lot ahead that was a few feet above street level. Mickie aimed for it. As she turned onto Theirer Rd., there was a mound of water in the middle of the street. It looked for all the world like an oversized bubbler water fountain. She drove carefully around it, and was surprised to see a manhole cover next to it, just at the edge of the upwelling of water.
Good grief! It was an open storm sewer. It was a large enough hole that a pedestrian could fall into it and never be seen again. Or a wheel could get stuck in it, and break an axle.
She got 16 up into the parking lot and pulled into a space facing the street. Grabbing her mike, she said, “16” into it.
After a moment Kaito's voice, sounding just a little strained, said, “Go ahead, 16.”
“There's an open manhole at Lien and Theirer.” Mickie told him. “Looks like a giant bubbler. Big enough to break a wheel!”
“Mad Towners, if you see a big bubbler in the middle of the street, don't drive into it!” Kaito said to the fleet. “It's an open manhole. Thanks, 16. Are you safe?”
“Yes, I'm parked by the thrift store. Gonna stay here right now. Can't see any curbs.”
“10-4, 16.” Kaito said. “Any drivers who need to pull over, look for high ground.”
Mickie watched a jacked up pick up truck drive slowly down the street, followed by a couple smaller cars. The truck avoided the bubbler, as did those behind him. One of them stalled out on the curve where it was lower, and therefore deeper. The driver peered our the window at the water, which was deeper than his tires. He visibly sighed, and put on his flashers and sat there.
Emily climbed up on the dash and looked around. Shuddering, she crawled into Mickie's lap and hid inside her jacket.
“I hate water!” she said, and stuck her head under Mickie's arm. Mickie reached in and scritched the cat's ears.
“It's ok. We're on high ground.” She reassured her friend.
The rain kept coming down in buckets for over an hour. When it finally let up, Mickie could not see any of the curbs on either street. She could see three blocks in two directions, but the water overflowed into many of the lower parking lots, and lapped at the top of the driveway aprons of the one in which she was parked.
She could hear sirens in several different directions, and saw occasional flashing lights moving slowly out on E. Washington. Kaito was repeating his message to the fleet to stay on high ground and stay safe until the water had a chance to subside.
“We are telling customers it is not safe to pick them up right now. If you are in a flooded area, sit tight.”
Mickie could see at least a dozen cars on either Lien or Theirer sitting in water up past their wheel wells, most with flashers blinking. None of them appeared to be in any danger beyond their inability to move. Still, she was very glad she had headed up to this lot when she did.
She didn't usually like to have the am/fm radio on while she was driving, but she turned on the NPR station while she waited. The announcer said the police had issued a statement saying the storm had been too much for the storm sewers to handle, and that people should stay off the streets unless absolutely necessary.
Well, that's what Mickie was doing, and she planned to continue until the water drained to a safer level. She always carried a book for the slow times, so she pulled out the current one and settled in to read.
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A moment later, Emily poked her with a paw.
“What's that?” the cat said, peering out through the windshield.
“What?” Mickie responded, looking up.
“That dark thing in the water. It looks like a bird!”
Sure enough, Mickie could see something black in the water, struggling. Her first instinct was to rescue it.
“It looks like a crow.” she said, opening her door.
There was a half a foot of water in the parking lot, slowly draining now that the rain had stopped. She stepped out into it, and up onto the grass above. The ground was saturated, and squelched underfoot.
The bird was struggling, obviously waterlogged and unable to fly. Mickie splashed into the water above the sidewalk. The bird, hearing her, started trying to come towards her. She waded into water above her knees, searching for solid footing before putting her full weight down.
When she reached the bird, she could tell they were tiring. She stretched out her hands to them. The raven, (surely too big to be a crow)grabbed her sleeve in their beak. She reached below the water and found feet. The raven latched onto her hands, and she lifted the wet creature out of the water.
The bird was much heavier than she expected. Probably from all the water in their feathers. Once she was sure of her grip, Mickie carefully made her way back up the bank to the parking lot. The raven stretched out their wings and flapped them vigorously, showering her with water.
“Well, better out here than in the cab, I suppose.” she said. “I'll just crank the heat, and we'll both dry out pretty quick.”
She opened the door and climbed into the cab, making sure the raven didn't hit their head on the doorframe. Once she sat, the raven hopped onto the edge of her cab bag. Mickie turned the fan on high and the heat all the way to hot. The raven spread out their wings and seemed almost to sigh in relief.
Mickie looked the bird over, but could see no obvious signs of injury. Just soggy feathers.
“How on earth did you end up in this flood?” Mickie wondered.
The raven shook their head, and fluffed up their feathers. Their wings were drying out, and they kept them mantled so as not to hit either Mickie of Emily in the face.
Emily sat primly at the far edge of the passenger seat, tail wrapped around her paws.
“I think she was chasing someone.” the cat said.
“Someone?” Mickie responded. “Not something?”
The raven ducked their head, and audibly sighed. They folded their wings and turned and hopped up onto the headrest, and into the back seat. When Mickie looked in the rearview mirror, she found herself looking into the dark eyes of a young woman with black hair. A very naked young woman.
“I don't suppose you have a blanket?” she said.
Mickie stared at her, openmouthed, for a long moment. Then she shook herself, and reached for Emily's towel.
“This is the best I can do.” she said, handing it over her shoulder.
The woman took it and rubbed her hair dry before wrapping the towel around her body.
“Thank you for pulling me out of the water.” she said. “It's very bad form to shift in front of the mundanes.”
“Um, I can imagine.” Mickie said. Looking closely at the young woman's face, she asked, “Are you related to Corry?”
“Yes, she's my cousin. I work for her father.” the woman replied. “My name's Kerita.”
“Mickie. And this is Emily.” Mickie nodded towards the cat.
Emily squeezed her eyes at Kerita.
“Very pleased to meet you.” Kerita said. “You saved me some serious trouble, not to mention embarrassment.”
“How did you end up in the water?” Mickie asked.
“I miscalculated.” Kerita replied. “I was following someone, and missed seeing a branch in the downpour.” She rubbed at her shoulder. “There were a few too many people stuck in their cars and looking around for me to shift without being seen.”
“Well, you surprised the heck out of me!” said Mickie.
“You haven't seen anyone shift before?” Kerita asked. “You work for MadTown, and you obviously have power.”
“People keep telling me that.” Mickie said, “I still don't know what that's all about. And, no, I never saw anyone fully shift before. Just James getting a bit hairy when he's upset.”
Kerita chuckled. “I'll bet. James can be pretty scary.”
While they sat and talked, the water slowly drained off the streets. When Mickie could make out the curbs again, she felt it was safe to move.
“Is there somewhere I can take you?” she asked Kerita.
“Yes, please take me home. I have cash there, if you'll trust me to go in for it.” Kerita said.
“Sure,” Mickie replied, “Where's home?”
“North in the Birds, on Raven Lane.” Kerita said with a smile.
“Of course.” Mickie said, also smiling.
-)O(-
Most of the cars that had stopped in the downpour had been able to drive away once the water went down. Mickie had no trouble getting out of the parking lot. She drove out to E. Washington and in towards Hwy 51, north to Anderson, across the south edge of the airport, and eventually to the trailer park on Packer's Ave.
“It's the one with the long carport, down near the end.” Kerita said as they turned onto Raven Lane. “Just pull right inside.”
Mickie found the space deep enough to fit the cab all the way in. She stopped, put it in park, and Kerita hopped out, saying, “Keep the meter running. I'll be right back.”
The shifter jumped out and disappeared into an open porch that blocked the view of the trailer door. A few moments later she came back out dressed in a T shirt and sweat pants. She handed Mickie her folded towel, and paid the fair plus a $20 tip.
“Thank you for rescuing me.” Kerita said. “And for a pleasant ride. I'm sure We will meet again.” She waved and went back inside.
Mickie backed out, and went on with her day. Now that the floodwaters had receded, there were lots of calls on the board. She was kept busy for most of the remainder of her shift.