Robyn Hogan

It seemed to take absolutely ages for the dust to clear though, I suppose, like all moments of horror, terror, time drags forever. I was trembling all over but particularly inside me, my guts felt like half set jelly being stirred.
          Alex was slouched, head, chest and arms hanging out of the wall, his mouth open, skin a greyish white even through the covering of fine red dust.
          He groaned.
          I felt the air rush out of me. I must have been holding my breath. ‘ABC,’ I thought. (After the wombat burrow episode I had checked up on First Aid tactics.) With relief I realised ‘A’, airway, was okay and Breathing – yes, his chest was moving, actually, heaving, in and out. I couldn’t remember what ‘C’ stood for but if ‘B’ was there ‘C’ didn’t matter any more. I was sure of that much.
          He lifted his head, groaned, and looked at us with utter surprise. If the situation had not been so terrible we might have laughed but not even a nervous giggle could we raise.
          ‘We’ll get you out. Just lie still.’ Fox’s voice was frightfully unsteady, squeaky with panic. ‘We need something as a lever. We’ll have to lift the rock and pull you free.’
          Turning to Jacques we picked him out on the edge of our light beam standing on one leg, back to us, his hands pressing against his neck, awkwardly over his hat and up into the air.
          ‘He’s no use,’ I muttered. But the rungs of the tied on ladder shone in the light and we shared the thought that flashed at us.
          ‘Let’s hope it’s strong enough.’ Fox strode over the Jacques. ‘We need the ladder.’
          Jacques stopped mid-stretch and turned round. ‘Have they come for us? We are defeated,’ he whined.
          ‘Not yet. C’mon. Let’s have the ladder.’
          ‘You’re in league with them. You’re one of them.’ He was backing away, arms out in front, palms holding Fox at bay. ‘They never could have found me without you. Spy!’ he spat out viciously.
          I felt like ranting at the stupid man and Fox must have realised. He shot me a silencing glance.
          ‘Jacques. You’re a great explorer, Jacques. There’s been an accident. Jacques, we need the ladder.’ Fox spoke slowly, calmly.
          As if by magic Jacques responded. He immediately began unfastening the ladder, fingers working quickly, and handed it to Fox. But he didn’t say anything and he didn’t come forward to help us.
          ‘We’ll use it in its folded position. I think that will be large enough. For starters anyway. What do you reckon is the best way?’
          ‘Try with a point, a corner.’
          ‘Yeah. Then if we get it wedged in we may be able to turn it.’
          ‘I’m up on my knees a bit,’ Alex offered, softly, ‘I think, if I straighten them I’ll be flatter. But I won’t until you’ve got the wedge in.’
          We stared at him, totally surprised. He was tougher than we had realised. A further thought occurred to me. Could his legs be paralysed? Perhaps he wasn’t in any pain, couldn’t feel? But I bit back the suggestion and flashed a quick plea heavenwards.
          ‘Just hold in there, mate,’ Fox reached into the squeeze, running his hand down Alex’s back to the blockage. His fingers curled along the line of rock. He looked up at me, sideways, hope brightening his eyes. ‘I think it might be all rubble.’
          ‘Can we just pull the dirt and rock away?’
          ‘No,’ he drawled and I knew he was thinking rapidly, ‘be too risky.’
          Quietly he edged a ladder corner into a softish patch and eased it in. There was a faint crunching of moving stone and dust puffed.
          ‘Are you ready to heave him out, Ame?’
          I wasn’t but I realised we couldn’t expect Alex to just slide out by himself. I moved so his head butted into my stomach and put my arms round his chest. Saying nothing he placed his arms round my waist, holding me firmly.
          ‘We’ll move on a count. When I say “three”. And be quick.’
          I checked the space behind me, the lie of the floor and flexed my knees ready to take the impact. From the corner of my eye I noted Jacques sitting, hunched into himself, his headlamp off.
          I think we three were aware we probably had only once chance. We did not mention it though. Our leader seemed aware of nothing.
          ‘One. Two. Three!’
          Fox shoved and lifted, Alex straightened and flattened and I pulled, stamping backwards. Grunts of exertion tore from me; my heart felt strained to burst, my brain black. The ground rushed up around me. Next thing I knew I was lying like a beetle, uselessly clawing the air. But Alex, solid, heavy Alex, lay on top of me. He was free.
          ‘How’s tricks?’ I said, then giggled hopelessly. So much so Fox had to kick me, gently but, even so, in the ribs, to tap me back into reality. Alex, once free, had fainted quite convincingly, on top of me.
          He came to as Fox was trying to lift him off me. Fox’s face was pale, clenched, determined.
          ‘Gently. He’s injured.’ I forced the words. I really wanted to go to sleep; to wake up in my own soft bed in the magic moment before the alarm rings.
          ‘Sure,’ Fox said.
          ‘I’ll slide out from under,’ I offered, still sounding dopey.
          To this day I don’t know where my wisdom came from – maybe my subconscious had learnt more at First Aid than I claimed credit for.
          I braced my arms. I sniffed the air, for blood I think, then, steadying Alex about the hips, I slid free and turned, it seemed in the same movement, to look at him. He was, of course, on his face and, obviously, unconscious again. I glanced at Fox.
          ‘I think we should have him face up. I scrambled to my feet. ‘We’d best turn him together. You take his hips and heels, I’ll manage head and shoulders.’
          Turning him was a bit easier. Especially compared to pulling him out of the wall. That had slipped again. Crumbled noisily. Closing that passageway forever.
          That we were trapped had not yet occurred to me. To any of us.