AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yeah,” Jerry answered. “Wait you’re not going down there, are you?”
“I need to get closer,” she told them. “I’ll be fine,” she added when they sent worrying glances amongst themselves.
“I’m coming down with you,” Bobby said. “There’s some climbing gear in there and I want you harnessed in. Your dad will kill me if I let anything happen to you.”
“That is if Joel doesn’t get to you first,” Doug joked.
“Enough guys,” Paige said knowing they were simply trying to get through this and ragging on her was the easiest way. “Let’s go.”
Once they were on the ground Paige got to work getting samples and assessing the ground layout. They were nearly done when the ground began to move again, shifting the rocks beneath their feet and throwing them off balance. Paige glanced back towards the south bluff and yelled out a warning.
“We need move Bobby,” she shouted grabbing the bags and heading back to the north bluff where the other two were waiting. She hooked the older man to the rope and gave him a push helping to keep the rope steady as he climbed up.
“Move it Paige,” Doug shouted as she tossed the bags up to them.
She saw the ground shifting and thanked the guys for their suggestion of the ropes as she hurried up. Jerry had the Jeep running as she hopped in the back along with Bobby and watched as the road behind them disappeared as the ground continued to shift.
“What the hell was that?” Bobby asked once they were back at the mine’s headquarters.
“Paige!” Lenny shouted seeing them. The rest of the staff who were anxious to know what had happened surrounded them instantly.
“I need to knoweverythingthat was going on down there,” Paige demanded of the men. “Who were the last groups in sections five through nine?”
“We were in seven yesterday afternoon Paige,” Doug admitted.
“Harry and his men were on eight when the accident happened,” Lenny answered.
“I was on six,” Mike added, “and Tim’s group was on five.”
“Who was on nine?” Paige asked.
“No one was scheduled to be on nine in the last two weeks,” Ken said checking the logs. “Why?”
“Because that’s where the cave-in came from, it’s the only way that ground would have shifted the way it did,” she answered hitting the side of the Jeep.
“Paige are you there?” she heard her father ask through the walkie.
“Yeah Dad, I’m here,” she replied taking the item from her belt. “You all okay?”
“We felt the shift and the north passage is now blocked,” Joel stated. “Have you heard anything from the others?”
“Signal’s still jammed, I’m trying to get the air cleared so we can get through but it’s taking some time,” she told him. “Joel, I need you to check on the west shaft, if it’s clear I think I can get you all out.”
“The west shaft?” Sam asked. “That won’t help the others.”
“One thing at a time,” Paige responded. “Until I can get a picture of what’s going on down where they’re at I don’t know if we’ll be able to get to them. I know that’s not what you want to hear but you don’t know what we’re facing.”
“What aren’t you saying Paige?” her father inquired. “How bad is the damage?”
“Truth?” She paused knowing it wouldn’t make them feel any better, but they needed to know what they were up against. “The entire area between the north and south bluffs as well as the north passage road is now caved in…”
Around her, the mood grew dim as the men realized the situation they were facing. The silence stretched on until she heard Joel finally state, “Paige let me check the west shaft.”
“Good,” she replied stepping away from the group who was going over the map again. “Joel as bad as it sounds…it’s worse.”
“How could it possibly be worse Paige?” he inquired.
“I’ve seen earthquake damage, accidental punch throughs, methane pockets, plain old stupid accidents but this…it wasn’t an accident Joel,” she admitted. “This kind of damage is only possible from one thing.”
