“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
July 9
“Allex, I’m still on shift! I have to go back,” John stated. “I’ve no doubt that they will overlook that I wasn’t at Eagle Beach last night, considering what’s happened, but rules are rules. Besides, it won’t be for long.”
“What do you mean, ‘it won’t be for long’?” I questioned. “There’s still two weeks before rotation. Today would have been shift change and you’d be on nights tomorrow.”
From across the wooden kitchen table, he held my hand. “I’m going to quit, Allex. I can’t do this anymore. The last cave-in I was trapped in, was while I was married. When I insisted on going back to work, my wife left me.” He paused. “Not only will I not risk losing you, I’m getting too old for the risks. My heart just isn’t in it anymore.”
“Are you really sure you want to do this, John?”
“No doubts in my mind at all. I just need to go back long enough to collect my hazard bonus.” He smiled. “Any injury sustained during a cave-in automatically doubles the bonus, and Mark has the x-ray to prove this wrist is fractured.”
“They pay you a bonus for being trapped by a landslide of rock?” I snorted. “It would never be enough to cover what you endured.”
When he told me how much it was, I was shocked, and now understood why he wanted it. He had earned every dime.
“When will you be back?” I asked. Having John sleeping beside me last night had been my bonus, and I really didn’t want him to leave again so soon.
“In a couple of days,” he answered. “There’s paperwork to do and I need to collect all of my stuff from the house. And I need to say goodbye to those left, and to Steve and Sandy. They’ve been good to all of us and I’d like to leave them something. They may be out of a job soon,” John went on. “This was a very serious accident, Allex. There will be a skeleton crew clearing the debris and recovering bodies, and after that, the mine will close for a lengthy investigation. While that is going on, the rest of my crew will be sent home, and the shift that was still topside will be reassigned to different location. This is going to cost the mine millions.”
“Millions? Of dollars? I don’t understand.”
“Every man that was lost, all fourteen of them, had a life insurance policy worth one million dollars,” John stated flatly. “It will be given to whomever they had designated. Not that it will ever replace the life, but their families should be okay.”
* * *
After John left to return to Eagle Beach and start his packing, I went to the office to see Anna, hoping she had some further news for me.
“Do you have your phone turned off?” she asked me as soon as I sat in the brown leather chair next to her big desk.
“Oh, I guess I forgot to turn it back on, sorry. I didn’t want anything to disturb John last night,” I said, reaching in my pocket for my phone. I switched it back on and saw six messages waiting for me.
“I understand. How’s he doing?”
“Better. After being underground for over forty-eight hours, he didn’t want to go inside last night. In fact, I think he would have slept on the grass if I had agreed,” I laughed. “So, I know it’s early, but is there any news from the mine about the cause?”
“I think it’s going to take a long time to be sure, Allexa. They won’t even start looking for answers until the shaft is cleared and all the bodies are recovered. The speculation is it might have had something to do with the rumblings some of the survivors reported. That’s just rumor right now,” Anna hastened to add. “Hard to believe we could have an earthquake around here.”
JOURNAL ENTRY: July 10
I took a leisurely walk this morning along our short and
crumbling road. I’ve been trying very hard to notice any changes, anything different every time I pass an area. It’s been a warm and wet summer so far and the road weeds are producing in abundance. Pale purple asters are peeking out from under the yellow tansies. The wild redtop grass, thin tawny brown stalks with elongated seed heads, are now four feet tall. Had it been a normal time, the county would have been by already to cut them away from the road. Now they are crowding the asphalt, vying for space with the shorter, less mature wild wheat. I had an idea that this might solve an ongoing problem.
* * *
Emilee came bouncing across the driveway as only an almost twelve year old little girl can do. “What are you doing, Nahna?”
“I’m so glad you’re here, Emi, I was just about to come looking for you.” I smiled down at her. She’d grown at least six inches in the past few months. “How would you like to help me collect feed for the chickens?” I asked her.
She had that skeptical expression on her face that I’ve come to recognize as the “are you serious?” look.
We got two pair of scissors and the small wagon and walked back down the road where I had just been.
“See these seed heads?” I asked and Emi nodded. “These are called redtop and the chickens will find them very tasty this winter. They have plenty to eat right now, with grass and bugs, however, when it snows again, they’re going to get hungry and we have to make sure they have something to eat or they won’t give us any eggs!”
At this she smiled. She loved collecting the fresh eggs as much as she loved eating them. Just then she swatted at a mosquito.
The Journal: Ash Fall Page 16
