THE CHASM 

By Tessa Harvey

    Part Three- Awesome Fire

    Dylan stood close to the other firefighters. They had soaked the old stone building and as much of the surrounding hard-baked earth as possible, and held some water in reserve. Another truck had joined them, the man and woman, tired and scorched, but determined to stand and fight. Apart from the terrible roar of the fire, it was quiet.

    All around, on every side, the fire raged. It was hard to breathe. Smoke swirled, embers flared and died on the sodden ground. There were seventy-three men, women and children in the school. Most were holding loved ones close, some were praying. Nearly all were silent, even the children. All other life had gone.

     The fire, that monstrous dragon, as almost upon them.

    Emery Henderson came outside. "Everything ok in there?" the senior firefighter asked. Emery nodded, then gazed, appalled at the leaping fury all around them! Suddenly fire sprung up near the school. Instinctively they reached for the water hoses, then stopped, awed. The fire was burning towards the fire like a gigantic, circular backburn, but as Dylan touched the ground near him, it was still damp.     Without fuel, without being humanly started, the massive back burn was heading towards the wall of fire, against the wind. And the other fire was failing, overwhelmed! Emery lumbered to the school door, calling "Betty! Come and see this!" A few at a time, others came to watch.

    Betty said, in awe, "this happened a long time ago. Some people were surrounded by enemies and God sent chariots of fire - in the Bible."

    A child came out and stared. "There's angels in these flames, fighting the bad fire monster!" "God heard you pray," another said. Slowly, the terrible fire was beaten.