Hi there guys! I'm glad to hear that this story is being enjoyed! It's made my day. I was actually worried how people would take to it, coz it seems to take a while before it actually goes anywhere.
So, here we go. The next chapter.
Previously- Karol and John have been alerted to an accident that has taken place involving the kids they had just met. They soon realise that the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous as the tide is forcing water into the Danger Zone. As a final attempt, Karol bravely volunteers to be lowered into the blowhole in order to retrieve the young boy who has fallen through. However, the rope has snapped and the water is rising. And to make matters worse, Karol has been knocked unconscious by the force of the water. Will help get to them in time?
Disclaimer: if only (drifts off into dream land).
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Jake was really starting to panic now. Karol was slumped against the wall, unresponsive, and the water was rising rapidly. To make matters worse, there were rocks falling from the roof of the cave, splashing the foaming, freezing sea water up over them.
"Miss Tracy! Miss Tracy! Wake up! Please!" Sobbing, he pushed on her shoulders, slapping her face, anything, just to wake her up. From above the roaring and the crashing of the waves, he could hear the woman's brother calling to them.
"Karol! Jake! Can you hear me?"
"Mr Tracy! Karol won't wake up! What are we going to do!?" Tears mixed with the foam as he cried from panic, fear and pain.
"Just hang tight, little man, we're calling for help!"
Up on the sodden grass and limestone surrounding the area, John was trying to calm the young boy's sister while preparing to call for help.
"Mr Tracy, who are you going to call? The coastguard?" John shook his head.
"They won't get here in time. But I know someone who will?" Sylvia froze.
"Y-you don't mean…" John pulled the antenna up out of the casing.
"Calling International Rescue. International Rescue, can you hear me?"
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Alan was bored. How on Earth did John put up with this? Nothing was happening, really. A couple of storm reports, a few music broadcasts, nothing categorically exciting. He was just about to turn in when the emergency call came through.
: Calling International Rescue. International Rescue, can you hear me?:
"That's John!" As quickly as he could, the youngest Tracy reached for the receiver.
"This is International Rescue. What's the problem?" he was very tempted to say his name, but his older brother must be with someone else.
: My name is John Tracy. I'm in Nova Scotia, just south of the New World Theatre. There's a young boy trapped down a blowhole in the East facing cliff. We think his ankle is broken. My sister, Karol went down to get him, but the rope snapped and she is currently unconscious. The tide is rising fast, and they are in great danger of drowning unless we find a way to get them out. Please, we need your help: In the background, Alan could hear the sound of a young girl crying. It must be her brother who was trapped.
"Ok, J-Mr Tracy, we'll be with you as soon as we can. Just keep him talking and tell him to, if he can, wake your sister and climb as high as possible."
: That's another thing. The cave roof sounds like its beginning to collapse. We don't have much time: Alan cursed under his breath.
"Alright, Tracy. Just keep everyone with you as calm as you are. We'll be with you as soon as possible." The radio clicked off. "Thunderbird 5 to base."
The residents of Tracy Island were busy with their own business, blissfully unaware of the problem that the twins were facing. But that was about to change.
Jeff was sat at his desk talking to Scott when they were interrupted by the incoming call. Looking over to Alan's portrait, they noticed the eyes blinking.
"Go ahead, Alan."
: Father, I've just received an emergency call from John:
"What's happened? Is he alright?"
:He's fine, but it's Karol. There's a young boy trapped down in an underground cave with what sounds like a broken ankle. It sounds as if it's a cliff side cave, because the tide's coming in and it's flooding. Karol went down to get him, but the rope snapped and now she's trapped too. And she's unconscious:
"Alright, Alan, thanks for letting us know. We'll get onto it right away." The call ended. "Alright, Scott. Away you go."
"Right, father. Better get Virgil and Gordon. Sounds like we'll need Thunderbird 4."
"FAB, Scott." Scott stepped onto the hidden rotating platform as Jeff hit the controls. Within seconds, he was in Thunderbird 1's hangar. Virgil and Gordon ran into the lounge.
"Father, we heard the call. What is it?" Virgil asked.
"You'd better take Thunderbird 4. Scott will give you the details on the way."
"Right, dad. Let's go, Virg." They ran to their positions.
"And you'd better hurry." Virgil nodded as he was tilted backwards and down the hidden chute that led to his own Thunderbird. "Please hurry, boys. I don't want to lose anyone else out of this family." He looked to the picture of Lucille Tracy on his desk before looking up to the portraits of his two second oldest children.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Down in the cave, the water was rising rapidly. Karol groaned, coming too.
"Miss Tracy! Miss Tracy! Mr Tracy, Kit's waking up!"
"That's good to know, Jake! How does she look?" John called down, his voice only just being heard over the rhythmic roar of the tide as it crashed into the crevice.
"Erm…"
"I'm ok, John. A bit dizzy, and a great headache, but I'm ok."
"Alright, Kit, I've called for help, they won't be long." Karol very nearly slipped as she pushed herself up. Jake grabbed her arm, making sure he didn't put any weight on his injured ankle.
"Thank you Jake." A wave crashed into the ledge they were standing on, causing a large amount of rock to crash down from the ceiling. "Look out!" she pushed the boy against the wall again, throwing herself in front of him as a shield once more. By now, the water was reaching their feet.
"Miss, I'm scared." Karol pulled him into a comforting embrace.
"I know, Jake. So am I. So am I."
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"Mr Tracy, do you think they'll get here in time? The water is rising quickly!" John looked to the teenager, making sure to hide his own misgivings.
"They'll be here, Sylvia. I promise." At least, I hope they will. Mentally batting the thought away, he looked back to the young girl. "We can't just sit here and do nothing. Do you think your parents will be back yet?" She looked thoughtful.
"Honestly, I don't know. They could be gone for hours."
"Do you have a phone?" She nodded, reaching into her pocket. She gave a cry of dismay.
"I left it back in my room!" John sighed.
"Ok, ok. Listen to me. Run back and get it. You have to contact your parents and let them know what's happened. Understand?" Sylvia nodded and dashed off across the soaked grass. "That'll keep her busy for a moment, anyway. Karol? What's the situation down there?"
"Not good, John. The tide is rising fast. And it doesn't look like there's anywhere else to go. The rock fall is getting heavier, too." As calm as she tried to sound, John couldn't help but notice the slight tremor in her voice. Whether it was due to the cold water or fear, he couldn't be sure. He quickly calculated how much time it would take for the boys to get there. Almost half an hour.
"How far up is the water?" he called.
"Well, judging that we must be down about five metres and saying that the cave is almost ten high, I'd say about just under four metres. And still rising." John nodded. If they could get higher, then they would just have enough time before the water engulfed them completely.
"Karol, you have to try and get both of you higher. It's the only way."
"Believe me, John, I'm working on it." And she was.
In the cave, Karol was desperately looking for another ledge higher than the one they were standing on. It had been fifteen minutes since the call had been made, and the freezing sea water was at her waist, which meant it was almost up to Jake's chin. The rock fall was worsening, with larger, heavier rocks and a couple of stalactites cracking and giving way to the mighty force of the tidal waters. In fact, so many had fallen that they were narrowinf the cave, forcing the water into a tighter space. Karol kept tight hold of the boy, the currents threatening to drag them both off and into a watery grave. Another wave and another tug on them both.
"Hold on to me Jake!" She fought with the current, the child crying out in pain every time his injured foot was caught on something. There! A ledge not too far up. It was narrower than the one they were on, but it was just big enough, at least for Jake to stand on.
"Alright, Jake, I need you to be brave for me now and try and get on to that ledge. I'll lift you as far as I can." Jake nodded, gripping onto his protector as another wave crashed into them. He shivered from the intense cold of the North Atlantic Ocean. Taking her chance, Karol swept the boy up and lifted him as far as she could up to the ledge.
"Jake, you'll have to grab on! I can't lift you any further!" He did as told, and only just in time. A large wave drove into the cave, completely covering Karol. Grabbing her arm, he held onto her, feeling the powerful current threaten to drag her out with it. She came up coughing and spluttering, shivering from the freezing temperatures.
"Miss Tracy, are you alright?" She heard the fear in his voice.
"I'm ok, Jake, just a little chilly." Letting go of his hand, she pushed herself further into the wall. The water was rising fast now, the narrowed cave forcing it to reach upwards for space.
"C'mon, Miss Tracy! You too! You have to get up, too!" he pleaded.
"No, Jake. There isn't enough room for me. You be a good boy and stay there where you're safer."
"But, Miss…"
"No Jake. You have to be brave. Help is coming. They shouldn't be too long now." Please hurry guys. I can't take much more of this.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
"Thunderbird 1 to Thunderbird 2. Approaching Danger Zone. What is you're ETA, Virgil?"
: ETA about eight minutes, Scott: Scott looked out at the bleak weather. The tide was really crashing into the cliffs.
"Ok, Thunderbird 2, just make it quick. We don't have much time."
: Will do Scott: Cutting the radio, the oldest of the Tracy siblings prepared for final decent. Through the monitor, he could see John crouched near a visible hole in the grpund, a young girl running up to him. John waved him down, protecting his face from the blast as the rocket plane came in for landing. Scott almost immediately regretted it, as the weight of his craft caused the ground to sink and rumble. Immediately, he took off again, pulling away as cracks began forming in the ground. John grabbed the girl, pulling her away from them before she too fell through.
"Virgil, we have to watch where we land! The ground is weak from all the erosion over the years!"
: Right, Scott. Thanks for the information. ETA 6 minutes: Scott drove Thunderbird 1 around again, this time aiming for the roadside.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
And that's that chapter. Next chapter, the rescue. Will they get them both out before they drown? Stay tuned to find out!