Lifting the chain as high as it would go, Gabe twisted it so the rusted dead bolt was just above water. He wasted precious seconds whacking it with his ax but couldn’t get the momentum to break it free while holding it. Realizing it was a fruitless effort, he tucked the ax into his jeans and yanked free the bolt cutters. He needed both hands to work the cutters and therefore had to cut through the chain while it was underwater. The cutters were crap, and Gabe struggled to get a strong enough hold on the chain. Finally, it broke and he was able to yank it free and pull open the door.

The dog was struggling to stay afloat, dipping below water and popping his head into the air for a few seconds before disappearing again. A stainless-steel bowl clanked and bounced in the water against the fence, sounding a bit like a wind chime. Gabe allowed the rush of the water to sweep him inside. The current seemed to double in strength as the water pressed around the side of the shed. No wonder the dog hadn’t been able to break away from the current to try for the doghouse roof again. It was all Gabe could do to lock his arms and legs against the fence as he was swept into it so as not to smash against the dog.

Even over the rush of the water, an eerie groan resounded through the air, reminding Gabe of the humanlike hisses he’d heard emanating from planks and boards as they succumbed to fire. It wouldn’t be long before the shed collapsed under the weight of the rushing water, and there was a good chance of it taking the whole pen with it.

Determined not to be inside when it did, Gabe hoisted one arm underneath the long-eared dog who’d not only noticed him but was attempting to climb onto his shoulders. Once Gabe had hold of him, he flipped around, collapsing against the fence as the floodwater swept past them.

The dog was a big, gangly, long-legged pointer and awkward to hold under perfect conditions. Soaked and slippery and shaking as the animal was, Gabe struggled to find a position in which he could carry him across the water without losing his grip. Even in the chaos, it struck him how underweight the dog was. The ridges of his ribs stuck out like the keys on an accordion.