Part Four
Dave slowly explained the situation to the two men, sending one up the embankment at a lightening speed to collect a fireman with ladder and either Dr. Carter or Dr. Kovac, no one else Dave had stress this immensely.
The other man left standing below Dave had stayed to catch the children that Dave was going to pass out through the window. Dave had made the decision that the least injured of the children must get out of the train before it moved again; he knew he was risking a lot but rather that than they die in this metal cage.
"Denise Walker" The last name was called. but wait that was only eighteen or was it maybe that Dave had not heard a name while he was talking to his two new helpers.
"Is that it? Anyone else." Dave waited for a moment but no reply came. He didn't have time to double check the number he would count again as he passed them out.
"Ok time for the game I promised! Right." Dave was stuck he had chosen the word 'game' to catch the children's attention but now he had no idea how he was going to make this into a game.
"We're all adventurers trapped in a witch's tower and the only way out is to jump into the arms of a Prince waiting outside." Finding level ground between a girl's fantasy and a boys was hard but Dave settled on this story line.
"So who wants to go first?" Silence. "Ok how about you Denise you can have the pleasure of seeing what the Prince looks like first." Dave put on his widest grin and scooped up the fair haired girl before she had a chance to protest, he just needed one to go without any fuss and he was sure the rest would follow.
Denise wiggled in his arms unwilling to be his guinea pig. "Please," he whispered, "it wont hurt I promise just be a brave girl for me."
"Ok hear comes the first one. Are you ready?" Dave called above the ear splitting noise of the outside world which was such a stark contrast to the eerie silence inside the carriage.
"Yeah sure thing Doc just lower her gently because she has a long way to gather speed."
Dave couldn't help but laugh at the mans last statement, he gripped Denise's wrists tightly and leaned over the window edge until her weight was taken off him by the contact her feet made with the mans hands.
"See Denise was brave, now she has met the Prince and is on her way home to tell her Mummy and Daddy all about her adventure." Dave's heart was lifted by the successful escape of the little girl if she could make it out they all could.
"So Amber you're next, then Conner everyone else form a line behind Conner. There we go. Amber you have the pleasure of meeting the Prince lets go."
Relief came over Dave as he watched Amber trot over to Denise and begin to chat happily he looked up, caught site of the runner he had sent returning with several firemen, a sturdy looking ladder and a very worried Luka.
"Hey you're a bit late with that; we've found our own way down." His big child like grin returned as he pointed to the ladder.
"Dave this is no time for jokes, are you alright? I told you not to wander off alone and now look at the mess you've gotten yourself into." Luka scolded but the relief was clear in his voice.
"Hey if I didn't 'wander off' we won't even know these kids were here so just keep your comments to yourself." Dave was annoyed at Luka; he had done a good thing here why couldn't he give him a break.
"Sorry but Carter and I thought something had happened to you. What's the situation up there?"
"Seventeen kids no major injuries but the teacher is unconscious so I'll need a hand to get her out. Put the ladder up so I can get these kids out. The trains already moved once I don't want them getting hurt." Now Dave was not alone, the responsibility was not all his - he lost control and the panic he had buried deep down rose to the surface.
"Dave, Dave listen to me you've down a great job so far just stay calm the train won't move again." Luka glanced awkwardly up the tracks at the tunnel which was now only supported by the roof of their carriage. The bricks were crumbling away he knew it wouldn't be long before they gave way, he couldn't let Dave see the situation he had to stay calm and in control. He just hoped that they got everyone out in time.
Dave slowly explained the situation to the two men, sending one up the embankment at a lightening speed to collect a fireman with ladder and either Dr. Carter or Dr. Kovac, no one else Dave had stress this immensely.
The other man left standing below Dave had stayed to catch the children that Dave was going to pass out through the window. Dave had made the decision that the least injured of the children must get out of the train before it moved again; he knew he was risking a lot but rather that than they die in this metal cage.
"Denise Walker" The last name was called. but wait that was only eighteen or was it maybe that Dave had not heard a name while he was talking to his two new helpers.
"Is that it? Anyone else." Dave waited for a moment but no reply came. He didn't have time to double check the number he would count again as he passed them out.
"Ok time for the game I promised! Right." Dave was stuck he had chosen the word 'game' to catch the children's attention but now he had no idea how he was going to make this into a game.
"We're all adventurers trapped in a witch's tower and the only way out is to jump into the arms of a Prince waiting outside." Finding level ground between a girl's fantasy and a boys was hard but Dave settled on this story line.
"So who wants to go first?" Silence. "Ok how about you Denise you can have the pleasure of seeing what the Prince looks like first." Dave put on his widest grin and scooped up the fair haired girl before she had a chance to protest, he just needed one to go without any fuss and he was sure the rest would follow.
Denise wiggled in his arms unwilling to be his guinea pig. "Please," he whispered, "it wont hurt I promise just be a brave girl for me."
"Ok hear comes the first one. Are you ready?" Dave called above the ear splitting noise of the outside world which was such a stark contrast to the eerie silence inside the carriage.
"Yeah sure thing Doc just lower her gently because she has a long way to gather speed."
Dave couldn't help but laugh at the mans last statement, he gripped Denise's wrists tightly and leaned over the window edge until her weight was taken off him by the contact her feet made with the mans hands.
"See Denise was brave, now she has met the Prince and is on her way home to tell her Mummy and Daddy all about her adventure." Dave's heart was lifted by the successful escape of the little girl if she could make it out they all could.
"So Amber you're next, then Conner everyone else form a line behind Conner. There we go. Amber you have the pleasure of meeting the Prince lets go."
Relief came over Dave as he watched Amber trot over to Denise and begin to chat happily he looked up, caught site of the runner he had sent returning with several firemen, a sturdy looking ladder and a very worried Luka.
"Hey you're a bit late with that; we've found our own way down." His big child like grin returned as he pointed to the ladder.
"Dave this is no time for jokes, are you alright? I told you not to wander off alone and now look at the mess you've gotten yourself into." Luka scolded but the relief was clear in his voice.
"Hey if I didn't 'wander off' we won't even know these kids were here so just keep your comments to yourself." Dave was annoyed at Luka; he had done a good thing here why couldn't he give him a break.
"Sorry but Carter and I thought something had happened to you. What's the situation up there?"
"Seventeen kids no major injuries but the teacher is unconscious so I'll need a hand to get her out. Put the ladder up so I can get these kids out. The trains already moved once I don't want them getting hurt." Now Dave was not alone, the responsibility was not all his - he lost control and the panic he had buried deep down rose to the surface.
"Dave, Dave listen to me you've down a great job so far just stay calm the train won't move again." Luka glanced awkwardly up the tracks at the tunnel which was now only supported by the roof of their carriage. The bricks were crumbling away he knew it wouldn't be long before they gave way, he couldn't let Dave see the situation he had to stay calm and in control. He just hoped that they got everyone out in time.