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I might be a little bit evil! I do love a good cliffie…
Chapter 16
The tension is building as Aldridge explores the roof. I can tell Steph is getting scared again, but I'm not sure how to reassure her. When Aldridge steps off, he explains that he cannot see an obvious answer for the car falling, and presumes it is electrical. That would seem to make sense. When he is explaining his process and reasoning for releasing the emergency brake, I am quite impressed. He has a calm demeanour and explains things in layman's terms without sounding condescending. He seems like a good person in a crisis.
I knew we would have to be on the floor for the manoeuvre, but it only serves to increase Steph's nervousness. As Aldridge offers for the fire officer to find something for us to sit on and lie on, I am amused to see the flicker of consternation on Rodriguez' face. It's clear he does not really appreciate being directed about, but it is also obvious that Aldridge is the one in charge here, and I am pleased to see Rodriguez' quick compliance.
As he is handing in the blanket and cushions, I realise I am relieved. Although I am not bothered by sitting on the floor, I am concerned about lying on the floor when he starts to move the elevator. Despite Aldridge's reassurances, I don't think it will be a particularly smooth trip and if there are any sharp jolts or stops at least the cushions will prevent our heads banging on the floor. The blanket is less necessary to me, sitting on the floor has already meant we will need to have our suits cleaned.
Steph seems to pick up on my satisfaction at the cushions and, unsurprisingly, questions it. Still, I decide not to share all my concerns with Steph when she asks me. She is already very tense, and I don't see the point in increasing her concerns. Thankfully, she lets the topic drop.
As they open the lower doors, we can begin to see the rest of Rodriguez' crew working to secure the outer doors and assist Aldridge to set up more lighting. I catch the flash of a captain's badge and realise something I had overlooked. Rodriguez is not in charge of this crew. He mentioned speaking to his captain earlier, but I had missed the implication. I guess it makes sense in retrospect, Rodriguez looks pretty young, but I wonder why he was delegated to coordinate the initial contact with us and assessment. Perhaps he is being trained for a specific role? I suppose it doesn't really matter, but I am curious. I don't know much about fire department organisational structures, so my speculation is ultimately pointless.
Rodriguez, Aldridge, and another officer return to the first floor above us, and Aldridge explains final details before starting to put on his safety harness rigging. I decide to rearrange the blanket and cushions so we can lie down quickly after shutting the doors. Rodriguez and his partner kneel, and I am relieved that they are going to help me open these damn doors again. I try not to show it, but my muscles are pretty much screaming at me as we work to open the doors wider. Steph moves up like a pro to grab the pipe and pull it in as quickly as possible, and we all let go for the doors to slam shut.
I turn quickly and pull Steph down, taking the pipe and securing it under the blanket. I position Steph against the wall to give her maximum protection and lie down beside her. I can feel her very slight trembling, and I am not that surprised when she asks me to hold her. I can't say the opportunity is unwelcome anyway, and I move swiftly to comply. I try to reassure her that we will be fine.
We feel the elevator shudder as, I assume, Aldridge releases the emergency brake.
But then we feel it drop. Rapidly.
Oh FUCK!
It's a thought in my head. But it's also a loud shout that penetrates from above.
The thought barely has time to register in my mind before we feel a sharp jolt, hear a metallic screech, and the elevator car stops falling in four swift jumps and comes to a stop again. Our heads bounce against the cushions as our bodies are jostled by the fall and shuddering stop. This was what I had feared, and I am again glad for the cushions. I hear an inarticulate cry from Steph, panic and fear clear in her voice, and she clings to me. I pull her tightly against me and we brace for whatever comes next.
I am not sure how far we fell, but whatever Aldridge did limited the fall I think. My mind is racing with questions, "Why did we fall? Has the brake failed? No, it can't have completely failed because we stopped again. Why has he stopped lowering the car?"
There is shouting outside. Some close by, some more distant. Above us and below us. Other than occasional words from Aldridge, I can't make out words, but it's back and forth between Aldridge and the NFD officers. Even muffled in broken sentences, I can hear the strain, fear, and effort in Aldridge's voice, "Brake." "Holding it." "Need help."
Nothing seems to happen as seconds stretch to minutes and we lay braced and worried on the floor of the elevator. Steph is shivering in fear and shock, and my own mind is racing with worst-case scenarios and consequences. "If we fall, will we survive? How many levels below us? If we are injured, will they be able to get us out quickly? Should I pull Steph on top of me, so I can absorb the impact more?"
More loud exchanges, slightly calmer but still urgent and I make out a few more words, "It's holding." "Can't leave it." "Doors…wedge." "Something else." "Get them out fast."
It's not reassuring.
More minutes tick by, and we hear equipment noises and someone steps onto the roof of the elevator. I cannot stop a rush of primal fear, worried that the additional weight will cause us to fall again, but it seems to hold, just a small bump. More noise, low murmurings I cannot make out, and faint metallic clinks. Finally, we hear more louder exchanges, "It's helping." "We can hold it." "Harness." "Another wedge." Another minute. Two. Three.
Suddenly, we see the inner doors of the elevator part. Noise and light flood in, and we crane our heads to look out at the controlled chaos we can barely see. Rodriguez seems to be hoisted onto another officer's shoulders, and they are both braced to hold the doors open a couple of inches. With the door open, we can now see about two feet of the bottom outer doors. We seem to have fallen only a couple of feet, but that does not provide much comfort, as the expressions on both men are tense and their calm appears forced.
Rodriguez' voice is also calm, but the underlying stress and tension is still evident. "Sorry folks, bit of a hiccup." Understatement much? I cannot help the sarcastic thought running through my head. "When the emergency brake was disengaged, it caused the elevator car to fall again, as I'm sure you guessed. Sorry about that, but we are working on a solution as quickly as we can."
He pauses, apparently considering what he should say, and then continues, "Aldridge and Prentice are now holding the brake engaged. They are both harnessed in above you, and not resting on the elevator car, so don't worry about them causing any problems with the car. They are confident they can hold the brake as long as needed, but we have to get you out of there as quickly as we can. There's enough space to pull you out here now, but we need something to wedge these doors wide enough. That pipe is not long enough or sturdy enough, and we don't have a third hydraulic, so we are looking for an alternative."
A random thought rushes through my mind as I listen to him, I wish I had my own men here! Tank would be safer holding the brake; his strength is impressive, and I know he would not let go. I just hope Aldridge and this other guy are just as committed. Marco and Santos could probably come up with a solution quicker too. I pull my attention away from my pointless meanderings and back to Rodriguez.
He gives what I'm sure is meant to be a reassuring smile, but it just looks strained and perfunctory to me. "Stay where you are and hold tight. As soon as we have a wedge, we'll get you right out of there." Yeah, like we're going anywhere! I realise these sarcastic thoughts are not really helpful, but at least I'm keeping them to myself.
He waits a moment as I nod in acknowledgment, and then he and the other officer release the doors. The jolt as they slam shut causes another shiver to run through Steph. I cannot think of anything to say to provide more than token, and probably ineffective, reassurance, so instead I focus on holding her and we cling together on the floor, hoping desperately they will re-open the doors soon.
Seconds. Become minutes. Become more minutes. Five minutes. Ten minutes?
Steph starts to weep silently. I can feel the tears soaking into my shoulder. I know she is thinking that the elevator will fall again, and we will die. It's not as if the thought has not crossed my mind as well. I struggle to find something, anything, that I can do or say to give her comfort.
Nothing comes to mind, except strangely, a lullaby my mom used to sing to me in Spanish. "Arruru mi niño, arrurú mi amor. Arruru pedazo, de mi corazón." I croon it to her softly, somewhat glad she cannot understand the lyrics. I don't have any kind of singing voice, but I can hum and sing a simple tune. At the very least, I hoped it would distract her. "Este niño lindo que nació de día, quiere que lo lleven a la dulcería."
I hear her take a shaky breath, and the tension seems to ebb slightly from her shoulders.
But not completely. We are still braced and waiting.
Arruru mi niño (Canción de cuna)
"Arruru mi niño, arrurú mi amor. Arruru pedazo, de mi corazón."
"Este niño lindo que nació de día, quiere que lo lleven a la dulcería."
Hush-a-bye My Baby (Lullaby)
Hush-a-bye my baby, Hush-a-bye my love. Hush-a-bye little piece of my heart.
This pretty baby who was born during the day, wants to be taken to the candy shop.
Mama Lisa's World International Music and Culture.
According to Mama Lisa, this is a Cuban lullaby! I think Steph probably does want to visit the candy shop! Don't you? :)