Not surprised you couldn't get cell service, we're a little more than fifty miles from the closest ranger station and that's about where the tower is. Then I showed up while you were standing around deliberating. We couldn’t decide who should go, and we didn’t want to leave him and…” We tried calling 911, but no one could get a signal and then we thought about going for help. We thought he was playing a joke at first but, then when we tried to pull him out, we couldn’t. Too long and the blood’ll start to pool and…how long has he been stuck in there?” The real trouble is how he’s stuck upside down like that. I imagine he’s in quite a bit of pain and, depending how tight he’s wedged, likely having some trouble breathing. “Ben’s fine,” he replied, finding the small case he was looking for and unsnapping it, “But that’s a temporary situation at best.
Jasper lowered the tailgate of his pickup and began searching through boxes in the bed. “Is…is my brother ok?” A strong hint of anxiety had entered Greg’s voice, You’re lucky I was passing by, don’t typically come out here this time of day.” No lights or other gear clued me in on that real quick. Jasper’s breath hissed through his teeth, “Yeah. “No, sir,” the young man answered, his head hung sheepishly. “That you lot?” Jasper asked Greg, “You experienced cavers?” “DANGER!” it warned, “Experienced Caver’s Only!” Leaving the cave and heading towards his truck, his eyes passed over the bright yellow sign posted next to the entrance. Just a bit of light from the low setting sun shone through the hole above him as Jasper climbed the rough metal rungs driven into the stone wall to assist spelunkers with entry and exit. The entryway tunnel was tall enough for a grown man to stand in and sloped upward gently for several dozen meters before turning sharply, the last ten feet or so a straight vertical ascent. Jasper grunted at the collection of heads nodding in affirmation, then began moving to the main cave’s entrance, stepping carefully to avoid twisting an ankle. The rest of ya wait here and for God’s sake don’t go in that hole after him.” “Well, Greg, you can come and monitor the phone once I get you set up. You,” he pointed to one of the boys, “what’s your name?” I’ve got a satellite phone in my truck to call for some folks to help get him out. Jasper took off his helmet and pulled out a handkerchief, wiping the sweat and dirt from his forehead. The girl who asked Jasper the question had large eyes, wet with barely unspent tears, her hands clasped together in front of her so hard they were white. Half a dozen late teen and early twenty-somethings waited for him there, four girls and two boys. It took maybe five minutes for Jasper, an experienced cave explorer and rescue worker, to extricate himself back to the main cave from the branch Ben was in. The walls were far too narrow to turn around, and it would be nothing short of catastrophe if he got himself trapped too.
Jasper carefully eased himself backwards through the cramped tunnel, one excruciatingly calculated movement after the next. Try as best you can not to move around, you’re like to just wedge yourself in even tighter.”īen’s foot waggled gently in what Jasper took as acknowledgment.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, Ben, just have to go call for some more help. “Then why am I still here with you?” chuckled the phantom voice softly before falling silent. “That was years ago, John,” Jasper mumbled under his breath, “You’re just a memory. “You’re going to fail him,” the voice said, “I’m sure of that. I’m gonna get you out,” the rescuer spoke to the feet, ignoring the commentary. “ Really,” observed a voice that Jasper reminded himself was just in his head, “ it looks like the rock came alive and swallowed him. Jasper spent several long moments mentally willing a response before, at last, the boots kicked weakly. He felt a thrill of fear at how very still the young man was. ("I Will Fail You" by Demon Hunter) and (Technical) Write a story where the ending is the beginning.Īll Jasper could see of the boy by the narrow beam of his helmet light was a pair of low-cut boots and maybe two inches of ankle. My challenges were (Thematic) Write a story based on a real-life piece of music. Author's note: This is my entry for Tewahway's Wheel of Misfortune 2022 story contest.
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