Dezarae: thank you so much for your tips and advice!
The radio gave warnings of a storm near Scotland that would reach the mainland at night
In a fairly short time, the wind intensity had increased dramatically. In the afternoon the KNMI, by radio, gave warnings the storm near Scotland would shift toward the south east, and people should take their precautions, but it was, according to many, a storm like all other previous storms and therefore no reason for panic.
Tony and Doug shared an uncomfortable look, but Jelle and Mieke didn't seem to worry too much.
"It will be all right" Jelle tried to comfort the time travellers. "We've had storms before; this one won't be any different."
"Besides, the dikes where completely strengthened and heightened in 1903 and they are guarded." Mieke added.
"You see, gentlemen, no need to worry."
Even though Doug thought it was encouraging that neither Mieke or Jelle seemed to worry, he kept hearing the winds tear and tug at the old farm. A look at his friend revealed the same unease.
Gert like his parents, didn't seem to worry; in fact, he didn't even seem to notice the squalls that pulled at the farmhouse. Instead he made up many silly games to play and by doing so, effectively diverting Tony and Doug's minds from the storm.
When Mieke put her son to bed, the aforementioned diversion was gone and both Tony and Doug started to worry again. At 22:15 Jelle went to check on the farm's animals. He came back half an hour later, only to leave again, saying he was going to the dike.
Doug and Tony decided to join him. When they stepped outside, the wind sounded ominous and tried to sweep them off their feet.
"Is this a normal level for high tide?" Doug asked concerned, looking down, where the furious waves were fighting each other to see who could get over the dike's top first., the droplets soaking the three men in no time..
Jelle looked at Doug and shook his head. "This is the low tide." He shouted over the hauling winds.
"If this is low tide, we're in for a laugh tonight." Tony said uncomfortably. Jelle nodded grimly.
By now more people had joined them on the dike.
"Things are looking pretty bad" the dike inspector said. "I fear that some of the dikes may not hold, we better start waking the people up." The other men nodded in agreement.
Tony looked at his friend. "So much for our relaxed holiday, huh?"
Doug managed a small smile "we'll be all right."
The dike inspector divided the volunteers into groups and distributed commands. Tony and Doug walked along with Jelle to wake people up and warn them of the approaching danger. Others hurried down to the city, and some stayed and monitored the dikes.
The water levels kept rising and winds increasing and soon everyone was soaking wet and cold. The puffs of wind made it very difficult to stay on their feet. Even though everyone stumbled more than once, there was no time to waste so they just got back to their feet to continue their mission as human alarm clock.
They managed to make their way to the little harbour. Here too were people awake and trying to get the ropes, which held the yawls and other boats in place, loosened up a bit, so the ropes didn't get to tight, since this would mean the yawl might be drawn under water or the rope might even break.
Jelle started helping the men, after sending the women and children away to Visscher's house high on the dike, where they would be safer. "Visscher has plenty space and he won't mind" He said, sending Tony and another man to escort the women and children to the house.
"Wouldn't it be better for all of us, to get to higher grounds, instead of trying to safe these boats?" Doug asked Jelle.
"Maybe but you must understand, these boats often provide a family's income. No boat, no money." Jelle looked at Doug, "if you wish, you can join your friend and stay at Visscher's." Doug shook his head. "I'll help"
The men were all wet, cold and tired of the hard work, when all of a sudden water level fell. Astonished the men looked around. "What's going on?"
"We've won! The water is dropping, that's what!" one of them cheered.
The men laughed. "Well, let's secure the last boats, and then we'll join the others at Visscher's. I hope he has the fire going and loads of brandy ready." Jelle said, the others laughed.
Soon the men where all on the dike on their way to Visscher's house. They where convinced the storm had reached its high peek and even though it was quite cumbersome to stay on their feet, the men where in a good mood, when suddenly part of the dike collapsed just meters away from them. The dike simply couldn't resist the shaving of the water any longer and gave way.
The cheering waves rolled over the dike, through the hole, flooding the polder and rushing towards the village.
'Obviously the danger is not yet over.' Doug thought.
Then a wall of seething water rose up and thundered over the land with raging speed, destroying everything in its path. With horror, Doug watched Visscher's house, where many had taken shelter from the storm, collapse and destroyed by the raging waves.
For a moment Doug stood frozen, and then he started to run towards the remnants of the house. He was stopped by Jelle who grabbed his arm. "There's nothing we can do to help, we must safe ourselves."
"No, Tony is there, I must…"
Doug managed to free himself from Jelle's grasp and started to run. He stopped before the hole in the dike, wandering how he could get across it when another furious wave swept him off of his feet. The water dragged him down towards the polder. Doug went under a few times and it took all of his swimming skills and strength before he managed to grab hold of a tree and climb onto a sturdy lump where he laid his body across the branch, holding on tight.
Finally day light came and Doug looked around. Water, everywhere he looked was water. He saw a few tree tops and a roof of a house which had not been completely devastated; large part of the town was destroyed and flooded. At the far end some buildings had survived. He could see some roofs and the church tower rising above the water, debris from destroyed houses floated by.
Hours went by, Doug didn't know how long he had sat there, he only knew he was tired, numb with cold and he hurt all over his body. It took all of his will power not to let go of the tree
When he saw a boat, filled with people, Doug didn't have the energy to make them notice him and he feared the boat would sail right by him. Doug sighed, wandering if it would be really so bad, to simply let go. He was cold and tired and felt he would not be able to hold on much longer. He looked up when someone shouted something to him. He didn't understand what was said, but at least they knew he was out there and with renewed energy he held on to the tree, waiting for some one to get him.
It took another hour before the boat came back and he was rescued from the tree. The boat sailed to the village where in the east side some buildings had survived the storm. On the way they managed to pick up two more survivors, but they also saw quite a few bodies which made even the toughest men silent.
At the town's elementary school the rescued could dry and warm themselves. Blankets where issued and the wounded were taken care of.
Every room was filled with people, from whom many were looking for relatives and friends. Doug was taken to a room where he was given dry clothes and gratefully he accepted warm soup.
Finally warm again, he looked around. He was astonished by the spirit of these people. Surely many had lost their houses, relatives or friends in this storm and they had to rebuild everything but even though there was a lot of grief here, Doug also detected strong will to survive, pride and the good spirit to help one another in this common fight against the water.
General Kirk was pacing restlessly, after every turn he stopped to take a look at Ray and Ann who were working hard to get the tunnel in properly working order again.
"We have enough power for visual contact" Ray suddenly said.
All attention was immediately drawn to the screen and sure enough the screen, which had been silent for many hours, came to life.
The first thing they saw was the water and all the damage it had done.
Everyone gasped.
"Where are Doug and Tony?" general Kirk managed.
"There." Ann pointed to the screen. "It's Doug, but where's Tony?"
They watched Doug in his search for his friend.
"Ray, as soon as we have them both together I want enough power to get them both out."
"Yes, general" Ray answered. "I just hope we'll get them both out of there alive."
When Tony woke up; he was stiff and his head throbbed. For a minute he didn't know where he was, and then the memory came back.
He had helped escort the women and children to a house on the dike, where farmer Visscher and his wife had welcomed them without question. They ensured warm milk for the children and brandy and hot coffee for the adults.
After Tony had warmed up he wanted to go back outside to see how Doug and the others were doing.
He opened the door when a strange sound reached his ear, before he could turn around, the house shook and Tony was swept of his feet by the raging water. He couldn't hold on and was washed away by the wave. Desperately Tony tried to keep his head above the water and grab hold onto something, but all he could see was water.
In no time Tony lost all sense of direction and time. He was getting cold and tired. Finally he managed to grab a large piece of wood that floated by and with his last reserve he rested his upper body on it. Tony lowered his head, he had to rest, but he knew he couldn't close his eyes for that would probably mean he would fall asleep and let go of the wood, which was the only thing that kept him from drowning. The last thing he remembered was hearing voices and hands grabbing him. He was pulled into a boat where he lost consciousness.
Tony got up to his feet in order to search for his friend who he hoped made it to the shelter too.