Chapter 27
Louise took charge at once.
"Anne, you're fastest, scoot off to Miss Wilson or Miss Stewart, whichever is nearest and tell them what's happened." Anne took one swift look at her face and then rushed off, faster than she had ever run before.
Louise turned to Gillian, "I'm going to get as close to that hole as I can and call out. Maybe they can hear me. You get behind me and keep tight hold of my legs." So saying, she lay full length on the ground and wriggled as close to the hole as she dared. Gillian braced herself against a rock and kept a tight grip on Louise's legs. Louise cupped her hands round her mouth and called down.
"Jo! Lucy! Can you hear me? Are you ok?"
She waited hopefully, but no answering cry came back. Louise tried again and again and again, with no response. Behind her, Gillian bit her lip in an attempt to suppress her sobbing. She looked around in relief as both Miss Stewart and Miss Wilson arrived at a run, followed closely by Anne. Behind her, the remainder of the prefects were attempting to hold back the other girls, who were now aware that something was badly wrong.
"Gillian! What has happened?" exclaimed Miss Wilson sharply, as she caught sight of Gillian's tear-streaked cheeks.
"It's Lucy and Jo, Miss Wilson," sobbed Gillian. "They were standing just here, and the ground seemed to give way underneath them. They're down there, down that hole. Louise has been calling and calling to them, but they don't answer!"
Miss Wilson's lips set in a grim line. "I see," she said and turned to her colleague.
"Con, we need men and a rope, probably several lengths of rope. Send Simone to the Gasthaus to get help."
Miss Stewart nodded and beckoned to Simone who came running over at once. Miss Stewart spoke to her briefly and then sent her running to the Gasthaus with her message. She was to ring up the school also and let them know what had occurred.
Miss Wilson bent over Louise, who was still calling desperately into the hole. By now, reaction had set in and she was shaking and sobbing as she continued to call out to Lucy and to Jo to answer her. Miss Wilson said nothing but pulled the girl to her feet. Gillian came forward and took Louise from the mistress and helped her to sit down against a big rock.
"Simone has gone for help," she said, "the men will be here in no time."
Louise shook her head hopelessly. "They didn't answer me," she whispered hoarsely. "I called and called, and they didn't answer me."
Gillian sat next to Louise very quietly, trying to ignore the cold fear that was beginning to take hold of her. Lucy had to be all right. She just had to.
There now came a cry from behind them and Gillian turned to see Susan fighting to get through. She had just realised that Lucy was missing and had realised something had happened to her. Frieda and Marie were attempting to hold onto her, but she was fighting them off and sobbing as she tried to run forward to Gillian and Louise. Miss Stewart acted at once.
"Frieda, take her to the Gasthaus and look after her. Yes Joyce, you go too," as Joyce broke away from the group and rushed over, to comfort her friend. Between them, they began to drag Susan away and towards the Gasthaus.
"Lucy!" screamed Susan "Let me go, she's only little, I have to find her. Let me go!" She began to struggle again, but Frieda was firm, and Susan found she had to go with her. Miss Stewart watched them go in relief and then turned to the other girls.
"Girls, I ask that you form yourselves into lines now and go back to the school. The prefects will take charge of you and I know I do not need to tell you how important it is that you be sensible. Go at once to your common rooms school and when you are back at school Matron will see to you all."
The Middles and the remaining Seniors, very subdued, formed themselves into lines and began to make their way back to the school, led by Sophie and Louise. Simone's phone call from the Gasthaus had alerted Matron and she was waiting for them. All the girls found themselves marched off to hot baths and then dosed with warm milk. Louise, who was still deeply shocked, was sent straight to bed. Anne and Gillian had remained behind with the mistresses, as had Marie and Simone.
There was another shout and the little group turned to see a group of men running towards them, followed by a breathless Simone. The first few men carried stout sticks and thick coils of rope and flashlights. Marie recognised the last two men running behind them. It was Peter and Edmund. They had been enjoying a quiet afternoon at the Gasthaus and had been there when Simone had rushed in with her pleas for help. Thinking that they might be of some use, they had rushed after the men to offer their services. They had passed Frieda, Susan and Joyce on the way and so had heard that it was their sister who was in trouble, perhaps gravely injured.