Chapter 64—Back in Opua

Standing at the kitchen window, Ipu watched Tip and Taylor's parents slide wearily from their Land Rover. It was 8:00 p.m., and there was still no sign of the kids. A wind gust grabbed the vehicle door, and it swung into Maggie. Tree branches flew through the air, and heavy rain splashed up mud and water from the ground. Josh and Maggie secured their rain hoods and ran. Ipu opened the door and they stumbled inside.

"What a doozy," Josh said, slamming the door and pulling off his slicker. He shook it out. "Maggs, how's your face?" Maggie touched the edge of her eye and pulled away a bloody finger.

"It's just a scratch," she said, and pulled off her own slicker and hung it on a hook.

"Maybe," he said, "but it could have been your eye."

"Well, it wasn't."

"Come." Ipu held out her hand. "We clean you up."

"Thanks for warming the place up. We've been freezing since this wind hit."

"Where are the kids?" Maggie asked while walking toward the bathroom.

"Kids not here," Ipu said.

"What?" Maggie stopped and looked out at the howling storm. "Where are they?"

"Not back from cave." Ipu looked at the blood trickling down Maggie's shocked face and took her hand. "Will explain to you and Mr. Josh—fix face first."

The worried family sat together drinking strong coffee. Josh had called the cave guides he knew as well as Jojo's friends. Everyone agreed that to go out in this near-hurricane was suicidal. The search would have to wait until daybreak. Maggie assured her husband that Jojo knew what he was doing and they'd weather the storm in safety. But she had to practically tie him down to stop him from going out on his own, regardless.

"We wait," Ipu said, patting Josh's hand. "All will be well tomorrow. You see." And she offered him a rare smile.