The Journal: Ash Fall (21 page)

I slipped into the jacket when Mark returned,
took the offered bottle of water, and we waited. Dusk morphed into
a purple twilight and then into the blackness of midnight. We
watched as small, fist sized rocks were scooped out of a hole, only
to be replaced by larger ones. The progress was maddeningly
slow.

July 7

I woke to the sun warming the back of my head
and a heavy blanket draped around me. I sat up, pushing off the now
too warm cover and looked at the monitors. It was as if nothing had
changed, until I saw someone come out of the new hole!

I grabbed my hardhat and hurried down to the
excavation site, making it just in time for a quick briefing.

During the night, the hole had been widened
to three feet in diameter, big enough for someone on this side to
crawl through and inspect the damage and the victims on the
other.

* * *

“I thought it would take a lot longer to get
inside,” I said to Roger as I came up behind him, partly to make my
presence known and to not startle anyone.

“We got lucky, very lucky. We ran into a long
pocket of plain gravel and made a lot of headway in a short
time.”

Simon had been the first one in.

“There are five survivors, three of them
badly injured,” he glanced my way then looked away just as quickly.
That told me John wasn’t one of the five. “Though the pod is
intact, the door is partially buried, so I don’t know if anyone
made it inside. The overhead looks fairly stable, and I want to get
those five out as quickly as possible. We’ll need a couple of
stretchers and volunteers to go in.”

Every member of the mining crew stepped
forward, even Mark.

“Sorry, doctor, you can’t go in there,” Roger
Boyle stated. “We can’t risk you being hurt and you’re needed on
this side much more than in there. Adam has trauma training and
will stabilize each man before sending them out to you. Now let’s
get those men out of there!”

The four volunteers went in that tiny hole,
each dragging something with him: lights, ropes, medical supplies,
water and several dark green canvas bundles that I found out were
trauma stretchers.

“The flexible stretcher allows the patient to
be restrained. If they come-to and start flailing about while being
extracted, they could panic and hurt themselves or get wedged,”
Mark explained.

More lights appeared on the monitors as the
crew worked quickly. The black and white screen was somewhat fuzzy
and it was impossible to tell who was doing what unless you knew
each of the participants. They were all about five foot ten inches
tall and slender in build. Many of the workers I was familiar with
were taller, bigger. These four were selected for the obvious
reason that they could get into smaller places.

I watched the gray screen as bottled water
was passed to each of the men, two of which were now on their feet
and as they moved about I recognized Sven!

* * *

The first of the mummy-wrapped injured men
was being pulled from the rock. I moved off to the side to not be
in the way while Mark went into action assessing the carnage. A
second, then the third one appeared, each moved further up the
tunnel.

“I can’t tell much while they’re still
restrained, so I’m moving them to the infirmary,” Mark announced to
Roger. Then he turned to me, gave one of my hands a squeeze and
said, “Good luck.” He knew I would be staying until John came out,
one way or another.

I was half expecting the two uninjured men to
come out next, however, they elected to stay behind to help dig out
the life pod. Every shovel full of the rocky cold dirt they moved
was replaced by double from the sliding rock and gravel, slowing
the progress even more.

I lost track of time as I watched the screens
flicker with movement. Eventually the two uninjured miners crawled
through the opening and emerged, dirty and tired. Two more
volunteers went in.

“Sven!” I called to him. He turned with a big
smile on his Swedish face and gave me a hug.

“Don’t you worry, we’ll get John out,” he
reassured me, knowing my first concern was for John.

“Are you sure he’s in the pod?” I was near
breathless with anticipation.

“I saw him go in, he and Bradley. He was
pushing the boy into the pod and we were all set to follow when
more rock slid, pushing the door shut, so we ran the other way,”
the big Swede explained. “If rescue didn’t start so quickly, we
would have gone further into the next pod and waited.” His face
darkened. “There were so many that were caught. I could hear them
screaming. It didn’t last long. I can still hear them here,” he
tapped his head and visibly shuddered.

“Paul and Travis made it out ahead of the
slide,” I told him, knowing it would be good news that he needed. I
was rewarded with another genuine smile. “They’re in the infirmary.
I think Dr. Robbins would like to check you over too. Wait right
here a minute and I’ll go with you.”

I moved up next to Roger and got his
attention. “Can you spare me for fifteen minutes? I’d like to walk
Sven over to the infirmary,” I told him.

“Sure. I doubt there will be anything major
happening here for another hour or more. And Allexa, get something
to eat, you look pale,” Roger replied. I turned to leave, when he
caught my arm, and lowered his voice. “Thanks for being here. I
know the guys appreciate seeing that someone cares.”

* * *

At the portal, I was shocked to see the
bright sun so low in the sky. I had been down there for hours, no
wonder I was so chilled. My stomach gurgled to remind me that I
also hadn’t eaten all day.

Sven stopped when we stepped into the waning
sunshine and lifted his dirty face to the light.

“Every time I go down, I understand anything
can happen. It doesn’t seem to be a real possibility until we’re
actually faced with not coming back out.” He stood there for
another moment, silently soaking in the sun. I could see the tears
dampening his face, glistening in the fading daylight. I slipped my
small hand into his rough big one and gave a gentle squeeze.

* * *

Mark was nowhere in sight when I opened the
door to the medical facility, so I suggested to Sven that he wait
while I got us something to eat from the kitchen.

When I brought a tray back loaded with
sandwiches and sealed coffee cups, Sven had disappeared. I set the
tray on the desk and opened one of the coffees. The hot brown
liquid released a fragrant steam that made my mouth water. The
aroma apparently wafted around the room, as Mark peeked from the
other side of a curtain.

“Is one of those for me, I hope?” He smiled.
Something wasn’t right.

“Absolutely. There’s even a sandwich with
your name on it,” I replied. “What’s wrong, Mark?”

He slumped down in the over-padded chair
behind the worn desk and reached for a Styrofoam cup. He took a
sip, then another, and said, “I just lost one of the men. He had
massive internal injuries that I just can’t deal with here.
Although, I don’t know if it would have made any difference if we
were in a fully equipped hospital.” He looked up at me, then to the
clock on the wall behind me, and jotted something down in a
file.

“I’m so sorry, Mark,” I laid my hand over
his. I just didn’t know how to comfort someone who had seen so much
death. “Where’s Sven? I brought him some lunch too. I’m sure he’s
hungry after this ordeal.”

Mark raised his dark blue eyes to meet mine.
The sorrow there made those eyes even darker. “I’m sorry,
Allexa.”

At first I didn’t understand what he was
saying, and then it hit me. “Sven? Sven was hurt? He was fine when
I left him here. He had even stayed to help dig the others out!
This can’t be ….” The words caught in my throat and I pushed away
from the desk, spilling my coffee.

Mark moved away from chair to stand in front
of me. His arms gently circled my shoulders.

“When I heard the door close, it must have
been you leaving. I came out and found Sven slumped on the floor,
blood pouring from his mouth. Gray and I got him onto one of the
cots, however, he was already hemorrhaging badly. Before he died,
Allexa, he asked me to tell you thank you for being his friend.”
Mark’s voice quivered with emotion, and his embrace tightened.

My radio beeped. I grabbed my hardhat and ran
for the mine entrance. I came up behind Roger just in time to see
the monitor flicker to life.

“I had them move things around down there so
we had a better view of what’s going on,” he said. “They’ve managed
to get most of the rock away from the pod door, but there’s a big
one wedged tight. Simon feels if it’s moved it will create another
cave-in.”

“Can they get the door open?”

“We sent in a hydraulic crowbar. If nothing
else it will peel the door open like a can of sardines. We will get
them out tonight, I promise you that,” he was adamant and that was
reassuring.

My stomach gurgled.

“I thought I said for you to eat.”

“I forgot,” I replied, just as Mark showed up
with the tray of sandwiches and coffee.

“Eat,” Mark commanded, shoving half of a ham
and cheese on rye sandwich into my hand, and setting a fresh cup of
coffee down in front of me.

July 8

The screech of tearing metal poured out of
the three foot hole and filled the cavernous room, waking me from a
fitful slumber. I don’t know how long I slept. My coffee was now
icy cold.

My hands started shaking as the door to the
yellow life pod slowly opened. A dark haired young man stumbled
out, followed closely by John!

Simon appeared first, climbing out of the
large hole in the wall of rock and stone. He reached behind him and
took the arm of the next one, helping a very shaky Bradley climb
down the pile of debris. John emerged next. He was filthy, and his
jacket was torn; he was clutching his left hand to his chest and I
could see it was bandaged. He looked wonderful to me. He scrambled
down the rocks and looked up. I smiled at him, my chin quivering
and tears of joy brimming unshed in my eyes.

He drew me into his arms and whispered,
“You’re here.”

I laughed as the tears spilled over. “Where
else would I be?”

We walked up the long slope into the breaking
sunlight of a new day.

He stopped, much as Sven had done, and
breathed in the warm summer air, relief swimming over his face as
he marveled at his freedom.

“I do need to give you a quick check over,
John,” Mark said following us out. “I guess the protocol is for you
to clean up and leave your gear here, is that right?”

John nodded. He looked so tired. “Actually,
I’d like to shower first, if you don’t mind, Doc.”

“Did you take any blows to your body or
head?” Mark asked. He looked as weary as John did.

“No, just my wrist got jammed when the door
was slammed shut,” John replied.

“Then I don’t see any harm in showering
first. I’ll be in the infirmary when you’re ready.” Mark backed
away and I walked with John to the metal building that held the
barracks so he could clean up.

* * *

When John came out of the low steel building,
I was waiting on the wooden steps. He was dressed in a black
t-shirt and a dark green sweater, jeans and brown loafers. He sat
down next to me.

“How long have you been here?” he asked,
picking at the chipping paint on the wobbly railing.

“Ever since they came for me. It’s been three
days,” I told him. “I could probably use a shower myself.”

* * *

Mark had fallen asleep at the desk, his dark
curly hair half covering his closed eyes. I gently prodded to wake
him, and he sat up with a start. I set a cup of coffee down in
front of him and he sighed with appreciation. John and I sat on the
other side of the small desk, sipping our brew, waiting for the
doctor to fully wake.

“Sorry about that,” Mark apologized,
addressing John. “It’s been a long night, and much longer for you.
Let’s check you out. I’ve already discharged Bradley. He’s a
scared, but tough kid. He’ll be fine. He owes you a great deal,
John. He said if you hadn’t pushed him into the pod, he likely
would have been crushed.”

When Mark started to open the exam curtains,
I stopped in my tracks, afraid of what else might still be back
there. He noticed my hesitancy.

“Gray has been busy… housekeeping,” he said
with a double meaning meant for me. “You’re welcome to come into
the exam room, if you wish, Allexa, and if John doesn’t mind.”

Mark checked John’s wrist, rewrapped it, and
took vitals, pronouncing him fit to leave.

“I would like to x-ray the wrist though.
There don’t seem to be any serious breaks, though there might be a
hairline fracture.” Mark looked at the wall clock. “It’s
ten-thirty. Can you meet me at my office in town around three
o’clock? It won’t take long.”

* * *

“Can we just sit here for a while?” John
asked, basking in the late afternoon sun. “Maybe even have dinner
outside?” He laid his left arm on the bistro table, the wrist now
splinted to prevent any movement after our visit to Dr. Mark’s
office in Moose Creek.

“Whatever you want,” I replied, curling my
fingers with his. “Dinner is only egg salad macaroni with fresh
green beans.”

“Considering the tasteless MRE type food in
the pod, anything you fix, no matter how simple, will taste
gourmet. And I need to thank Eric for the beer. You just can’t
imagine …” The thought trailed away as he closed his eyes and
finished off the pale ale Eric had brought over earlier to welcome
John back.

CHAPTER 23