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September crouched to keep her balance on the ladder but finally fell to her knees as the crab-climbing Doctor wobbled it side to side. It clinked and clanged a broken bell chorus, and barely clung to the corner of the dumpster.
Steven scurried higher, with the Doctor in plodding pursuit. If she could get the boy into the loft, she’d dump the ladder, sending the Doctor to join Sunny in the hellish flood.
"Take my hand." September reached for Steven, careful not to move too far and tip them all off. Better to let Steven come to her.
Shadow ran back and forth at the far end of the ladder. He'd been silent before. Now his barks became yodels of frustration. Her joy at his survival turned to fear he'd be killed, and then fierce pride how the uncertain puppy had become a confident protector. She hadn't taught him that, but he'd improvised when needed. God, how she loved him.
September had to trust Shadow to protect himself while she focused on Steven's safety. The kids must have called Combs by now. She could hang on until the cavalry arrived. Didn't have a choice.
The Doctor couldn't grip with his savaged right hand. He still made creepy progress bracing his elbow and gripping with the good hand. He stopped, grabbed one edge of the ladder, and shook it until Steven's small hands lost their grip, and slid backwards within the Doctor's reach. Steven yelled and kicked at the pale man's face.
"Hang on, Steven. I'm coming." September scooted on her butt in an urgent race to reach Steven before he fell. The Doctor showed his teeth in what passed for a smile, grabbed Steven's ankle and yanked.
The ladder rocked, still barely gripping the dumpster's edge. The metal box bobbled and dipped, halfway floating in the tide. Only their weight held the ladder in place.
September caught a cloying stench of animal feces, infection and wet dog. Something white moved inside the dumpster, but she couldn’t take the time to look.
She grabbed one of Steven's hands. "Let go of him, you bastard." Her hands ached but she couldn't let go.
Steven became a tug-toy between her and the killer. The child’s soprano screams sang discordant counterpoint to Shadow's baritone yodels.
Then the dog fell silent. The ladder shook. Behind the Doctor's oblivious form, Shadow crawled up the ladder one careful paw-tread at a time. A raw scrape bisected his head; a bloody crease carved an opening in the side of his neck, and his face dripped blood into the water below.
September screamed again, this time to keep the Doctor's attention. One unknowing kick would knock Shadow into the water.
Shadow had returned to her twice. He couldn’t survive another immersion, not with such severe injuries.
Steven kicked the Doctor in the teeth, knocking the Reaper's grin off his face and September wanted to cheer. He recoiled backwards, and Shadow's jaws snapped closed on his ankle. The man gasped and released Steven. The Doctor tried to regain his balance, but fell sideways from the ladder, dragging Shadow with him.
The Doctor belly flopped, folded across the edge of the foul dumpster, head inside and legs dangling outside. Shadow still clung to the shrieking man’s ankle, rear paws trailing in the floodwaters. Suddenly the man's screams cut off. He shuddered, and fell limp.
September poised to dive after Shadow. It was her turn to save him. But when the dumpster began to move, she reflexively grabbed Steven. The ladder tipped sideways, and they hung for an endless moment before splashing into the icy flood. To save Shadow, she'd have to let go of Steven.
The dumpster drifted with the water. Shadow’s jaws remained clamped on the Doctor’s leg.
Shadow's big brown eyes met September's with an expression of acceptance that seemed to last forever. She had no words, but he knew. He always knew. His eyes closed, he unclamped his teeth, and sank beneath the water. The metal dumpster floated the Doctor away.
September clung one-handed to the partially submerged ladder. She struggled to keep Steven's head above water. Moon glow cast diamonds over the frigid flood. She'd had no choice, and no more tears to give. Only prayers.
Please God, take care of my dog.
