Page:Restless Earth.djvu/74
The Veronica has rushed parties ashore with medical supplies.
The motor-vessel Taranaki, which was at anchor in the roadstead, reports that the Bluff at Napier has carried away. There are clouds of landslides all around the bay.
The Bluff carried away! Exactly what was meant by that? The whole of the scant bulletin was so carelessly worded that it might mean anything.
The Bluff—the rising headland thrusting out to sea; the remnant of a range of hills, such as edged the bay to the west and north, its seaward face a sheer cliff, at the foot of which jutted wharves. Upon its heights and upon its landward slopes the homes of the moneyed and the elite. The residential suburb. The Botanical Gardens spreading themselves over its choicest undulations. God’s acre rearing its monuments upon it. The Public Hospital capturing its topmost breezes. . . .
The Hospital and the Nurses Home have collapsed. It is feared the death-roll is heavy.
The Bluff carried away! The Hospital and the Nurses’ Home collapsed! God! It must be frightful! If the Bluff had flattened out, like the Murchison Hills in ’29, then fully half of Napier must be buried!
Harley groaned aloud.
“Grace! Grace! Grace! . . . ” in every heartbeat! Strangely, no beat for Joan. Joan was merged in Grace. Where Grace was there Joan would be—both dead or alive. He did not then think they might be merely injured. There were no half-measures with him at this moment, either in his newly-awakened love or shame.