Chapter 57—The Drop

Jojo pulled out a ladder made from a single length of rope with a fat knot tied every eighteen inches. He anchored the ladder to the ground using metal spikes—pitons—that he hammered in deep. Each piton had an eyehole to which he connected another climbing tool called a carabiner, a metal loop with a spring-loaded closure. He attached the carabiner to a double shackle at the end of the rope, creating a strong system that would hold everyone's weight as they dropped into the dark chasm.

"I'll go first," Jojo said. Once he was at the bottom he lit the area with two LED lights.

Chaz sat on the edge. His legs dangled over the deep hole, and his heart thumped as if it might jump out of his chest. He felt a surge of panic—what if he fell? How would they get him out?

Jojo yelled from the bottom. "Don't wait, Chaz, go now."

Chaz swallowed hard and leaned over to grab the rope. He wrapped it around his right hand and turned to face the ladder. His feet reached down, searching for the first thick knot, and then he dropped. A stab of pain filled his hand and wrist.

"Aw—oww!" His scream echoed throughout the chamber. The rope had trapped his right hand before his feet could find the knot. Chaz panicked as he swayed over the drop-off. His feet fumbled for the first knot and found it. Somewhat more secure, he grabbed the rope with his left hand and tried to release the pressure on his right. But his body weight continued to pull the rope down, crushing his right hand.

Tip saw the problem right away. He had stood close to watch Chaz drop onto the rope so he would know how when his turn came. "Taylor," Tip said. "Chaz needs help."

"What do we do?" She moved toward the edge, her face tight with fear.

"We need to release the pressure on his wrist. His body weight is pulling on it. If we don't hurry, his wrist will break. I'm going to lie down and reach for his left hand. Once I have it I'll pull him up. Sit on my legs."

Tip lay flat on his belly and Taylor sat on his lower legs. He wiggled forward until his chest and arms hung out over the edge. He looked down into a pair of terrified eyes.

"Chaz, grab this hand," Tip said, wiggling his fingers.

"I can't let go," Chaz cried, and looked down.

"Don't look down. Your feet are secure on the knot. Slide your left hand up. I'll grab it."

Jojo directed the LED light up. It was the least he could do, since he was powerless to help from below.

"We won't let you fall," Tip said. "I promise."

Chaz looked back up at Tip. Then he started working his left hand up the rope until their fingertips touched.

"Just a little more, Chaz," Tip coaxed and leaned farther out. Tip finally grabbed Chaz's hand with both of his. "Taylor, sit hard while I pull him up."

Taylor put all her weight on Tip's legs as her brother pulled Chaz up and scooted his own body backward. Chaz rose enough to loosen the rope around his wrist. "Taylor, go untangle the rope!" Tip said.

With her brother no longer hanging over the edge, Taylor rushed to help with the rope. When it let go, Chaz snatched it with his hand but cried in pain. He thought he might pass out, but after a few seconds the intense pain became a dull throb and he relaxed.

"Thank you," Chaz said. "I thought it was going to break. It feels sprained."

"We've got something for the pain," Jojo said. "And mates, grab over the rope, not under it, eh?"

Chaz forced himself to go down the ladder before he lost his nerve. The climb was agonizing, even though he used his entire arm rather than his tender hand to hold the rope. Once he was at the bottom, he released the rope and dropped onto the cavern floor. That was close, he thought, and looked at his swollen and purple wrist. Jojo rubbed it with a liberal dose of the painkilling pepper tree salve.

Fifteen minutes later, Tip was the last person to land safely, and Jojo looked at his watch. "Good work, mates, but we have less than two hours to be out before dark."

"We'd better find the crystals today," Chaz said. He held his wrist out like a small bird would a broken wing. "I don't want to go through this again."

Over the past three days, Chaz had felt increasingly disheartened about the expedition. Though he didn't want to say so, the days inside the caves had been the worst of his life. Why had the angel appeared to him, anyway? He had no aspirations of doing great things like Jesse, nor did he have a deep curiosity like Nikki. He looked at his hand. If this expedition failed, it would be his fault. He wiped his eyes with his good hand.

Jojo caught the look. "Let's stop for lunch, mates." He reached into his pack. "Chaz, I want to wrap the wrist. It'll help." Chaz forced a smile.

The team sat close and looked around the lower chamber. The air seemed lighter and smelled cleaner. As they downed protein bars and swallowed strong black tea with honey, each worried about what the next leg of the search would bring.