Artie fell for just a second until the slack in the rope went taut. But his weakened right hand couldn't hold on and the rope zipped through his left hand searing his palm. Before he could think anything else, he was suddenly swinging. He looked up. Saamp had wrapped itself around his left forearm, catching the agent mid air. Artie's eyes shone gratitude, but before he could do anything he heard a scream from below. Dangling, he looked down to see Claudia looking up.
"Claudia!" he breathed.
She's here! Artie looked up and saw that the vines were still attached to the Jaguar artifact. No! He didn't stop it and now Claudia would be the next victim. He closed his eyes in agony.
Then he had a thought. Looking around he saw the other end of the rope engaged with a vine. "Come!" he ordered. The rope obeyed and floated over to the agent.
Not trusting his right hand anymore, Artie wrapped his forearm in the rope. Saamp seemed to understand and tightened its coils. Artie walked his legs up to the shelf in front of him until he was horizontal.
This has to work! If I'm lucky I just might survive he thought.
With a jerk Artie pulled with all the strength in him. He heard a series of snaps.
Then suddenly he was falling.