Page 41 of Through the Storms

As they drove east, Riley had to turn farther in her seat to see the clouds, and Chloe shifted so more of her weight was on Riley.

Chloe leaning against Riley was comforting, just like a weighted blanket.Stop.How could she be having these thoughts when they were driving toward a tornado?

The energy in the van crackled with anticipation.

“Don’t think you’re done with your lessons just because you can say cumulonimbus,” Oakley said. “Now remember, we have the wind shear there below the cloud.” Oakley pointed and stopped talking as the passengers peered out the windows.

The cloud loomed larger and darker as Britt drove toward it. Riley strained her eyes, looking for a sign of rotation in the cloud. She searched her memory for what wind shear was but came up blank. “Can you remind us again what wind shear is?”

“Sure,” Oakley said. “Underneath the clouds, about a mile down, there are horizontal tubes of air that are spinning, but then something magical happens. An updraft comes along and pushes the tubes upward.”

“In about another mile or two, I think we can pull off,” Britt said.

Oakley turned back to her computer and punched a few keys.

The palms of Riley’s hands dampened, and her senses heightened. It was the same feeling she had when she received an EMT call. A light rain had begun to fall, and the sky grew darker.

Oakley turned back. “Okay, so now we have the updraft spinning and moving upward into the cumulonimbus cloud, and we now have a vertical rotation. Anyone remember what it’s called?”

“Even I can get this one,” Sandy said. “A cyclone.”

“Oh, for god’s sake,” Peggy said. “It’s a mesocyclone.”

“Now you’re just making stuff up. There isn’t such a thing as a mess of cyclone.”

Riley stifled a laugh, and Chloe buried her face against Riley’s shoulder and chuckled silently.

“That would be a mesocyclone,” Oakley said.

“Meso?” Sandy said.

“Yeah, like in Mesoamerica,” Peggy answered.

“What the hell does Central America have to do with a cyclone?”

“Meso means middle,” Peggy said in a scolding voice.

“So it’s a middle cyclone? That doesn’t even make sense.”

“Ladies,” Oakley said. “Since we’re almost at our stopping point, let me clear this up. The cyclone is in the middle of the cloud. It’s rotating upward, hence the term mesocyclone.”

“I think we can stop right up there over that hill,” Britt called out. Her voice was louder than it had been.

Riley turned and made eye contact with Chloe.

Chloe’s eyes filled with confusion. “Hill?” Chloe mouthed.

Oakley laughed. “Ignore her. She’s just messing with you.”

“I’m not. In Kansas and Oklahoma, all you need is a slight dip in the road to consider it a hill.” Britt pulled the van to the side of the road.

Riley turned and peeked out the back window as the trailing vehicles pulled up behind them. The rain was light, but Riley still pulled her raincoat out of her bag.

Chloe had already donned hers and was on her feet. Her knuckles were white as she gripped the back of the seat.

“All right, kids,” Britt said. “I have brought you safely to your destination. “Please watch your step when you exit the vehicle. Also, please follow any directions that Oakley may give you and be ready to return to the van quickly should the need arise.”

Riley stood and put her hand on Chloe’s back. “Are you ready for this?”