Birds
A low rumble made Colly's blood freeze. The chug-chug of an engine followed by the clinking of chains started his heart pounding. He peered at where Jaz had disappeared on the barge. "Hurry!" he shouted inside his head. Where was she? Why didn't she get off?
Maybe she was trying.
Maybe she was caught!
He took out his red whistle and gave a short careful toot. No Jaz.
He tooted again, louder and longer this time.
Nothing.
The ice near where I was walking groaned. I froze to the spot and looked down. Crack. My foot went through. I jumped back. Water splashed up from a foot-sized hole where I'd been standing. I backed away. Another piece of ice disappeared. Black water grabbed at my feet. I kept stepping backward. Each time, the ice held just long enough for me to take another step, and then it sank.
I looked over my shoulder at the shore in panic... Crack. What was I going to do?