Sam stayed home the next day, relaxing a bit and getting a fair amount of cleaning done. Jack worked out in the barn for most of the day. After dinner he turned on his ipod.

"May I have this dance?"

Sam took his hand. He gave her a quick spin that ended with her in his arms pressed against his chest. They swayed and turned in a couple circles.

Sam whispered in his ear. "I wonder if I will ever stop feeling like we're breaking the rules."

"It adds a bit of excitement, doesn't it?"

"I guess." Sam giggled.

After two songs Sam went over to the ipod and did some searching until she found what she was after.

"Is that beach music?" Jack grinned.

"Yes."

He wiggled his eyebrows. "You want to shag?"

"Yes and yes, but let's start with this first." She started dancing and Jack joined her. Two beach tunes were followed by another jazz tune. The music continued but neither of them was listening.

Sam left just as the sun was rising the next morning. Her first stop when she got to town was Marl's. "Good morning, Marl."

"Fine day to you Samantha. How can I help you today?"

"Jack and I have been talking and we'd like to get a truck. I was told you might be able to help us."

"There is a truck salesman in Otif. I would be happy to help negotiate for you. A new truck in Otif will be very expensive."

"Do they sell used trucks?"

"Sometimes but they are much less common."

"When will you be going to Otif?"

"I usually go a few weeks before the first planting, about the time we first met. You're welcome to join me if you'd like to pick out your own truck."

"Hmmmmm. I was hoping for something a bit sooner. Do you know of anyone closer who might be interested in selling?"

"Not really. Trucks around here are usually driven until they die."

"I've noticed."

"Actually now that I've said that I realize Jorl has two dead trucks. I don't know if he uses them for parts but I know neither of them works. You could probably get one of them working. You might need parts but I could get those for you in Otif."

"Jorl, huh."

Marl's laughed. "Hopefully his interest in you will work in your favor."

Sam scowled. "I wouldn't feel right about that."

"I didn't think you would but I couldn't help but tease you a little, especially since he has been so obvious about liking you."

"He has?"

"He talks about you often and he comes to town much more than he did before you arrived."

Sam shook her head, "He is nice but I'm afraid I don't feel the same way."

"Which is your right. I'm sorry I teased you. If you or Jack wish to travel with me to buy a truck you will be welcome. The company would actually be appreciated."

"We'll talk about it. Thank you for the offer."

After work Sam went home and told Jack about the options. They decided the easiest option was to talk to Jorl. Sam volunteered to approach him about the truck. She wasn't looking forward to it but she didn't think Jack would be able to sweet talk Jorl.

Three back to back snow storms kept Sam home for five weeks. Jack did a lot of woodworking while Sam read and worked on some small motors she had brought home. The lack of sun was making it hard to use their solar charger to keep all their electronic items running so she also started working on new charger and battery ideas. Jack was glad she was experimenting again.

It was her third day back at Jamale's when Jorl came in to see her. "Good day Samantha. I hope the snow did not cause you any harm."

"I enjoyed it actually. Thank you for asking."

Jorl leaned down on her workbench. "Do you like snow?"

"I think it's beautiful. Jack and I even built a snow man one day."

"A snow man?"

"Yes." Sam smiled at the thought. There had also been a snowball fight that ended with both of them lying in the snow laughing. "We had fun."

"Fun is good."

"I'm glad you came by today."

Jorl smiled, "You are?"

Sam nodded. "Yes, I wanted to talk to you about your trucks."

Jorl's brow knitted. "My trucks?"

"I was told you had a couple trucks that no longer run. Jack and I have been talking about buying a truck and I hoped you might be willing to sell one."

Jorl grinned. "I have two trucks that don't run any more. They wouldn't really do you much good."

"I know it would be a risk but I'd like to see if I could get one of them to run. Jack and I have enough to make it all winter and get started in the spring but we don't have enough money to really buy a new truck right now."

Jorl nodded. "Why don't you come over for a midday meal and look at both trucks. After you've looked at them we can talk about whether they might meet your needs."

"Jack and I would be happy to come over."

"Jack doesn't need to bother himself with making the trip out to my farm. I'm sure you can examine the trucks on your own."

"I wouldn't feel right leaving Jack out since we would be buying the truck together."

Jorl pushed up from the bench. "Perhaps we can work out a way for you to afford a truck on your own. I hate for you to be so dependent on Jack."

"Jack and I are a team and I like that we can depend on each other."

Jorl folded his arms. "I've been making a fool of myself haven't I?"

"No, of course not." Sam shook her head.

"Are you or are you not in a relationship with Jack?"

"Jack and I recently did enter into a deeper relationship." The fingers on Sam's right hand lightly traced the bracelet on her left wrist. Jorl didn't miss the movement.

Jorl reached out and grabbed her wrist. "You are wearing a token of his affection?"

Sam pulled her arm back. "Yes." Jamale heard Jorl's voice get louder so he stepped into the main working room of the shop.

"String? He gave you strings as a token?" Jorl's arms were waving in the air and his face was red.

"It has a great deal of sentimental value to both of us."

"I am well off. I could give you real tokens of affection but you take a man who gives you strings."

Jamale stepped forward. "No one has seen you as a fool but if you keep acting like this we might change our opinion."

Jorl turned on Marl. "You knew as well didn't you? You let me keep on so you could laugh at me."

"There have not been any laughs, my friend. I know this stings your pride but nothing was done in cruelty."

As Jorl stormed towards the door a truck horn started to blare outside. Sam, Jamale, and Jamale's son rushed outside behind Jorl. A boy of eleven or twelve was sitting behind the wheel of a truck that had run into a tree beside the road. Sam and Jamale ran over the truck and helped the boy get out. He did not appear to be injured.

"Our house." The boy was screaming. "Our house is in a hole. I tried to get to my mother and the girls but the hole got bigger."

Sam squatted so she could look the boy in the eye. "Slow down and explain what happened."

The boy took a deep breath. "My brothers and I were playing in the woods when we heard a loud noise. The whole house had been swallowed by a huge hole. I could hear my mother yelling at us to stay away but I tried to get to her any way. When I tried to climb into the hole the sides fell away. My brother almost fell in as the hole got bigger. I moved them back and came here for help."

Sam nodded. "You did the right thing." Sam looked at Jorl. "Can you take this young man to the clinic?"

The boy squared his shoulders. "I'm fine."

"And the clinic will verify that. You also need to let them know what happened so they can send help to your farm."

The boy pouted. "Fine."

"I will take him, alert the staff, and meet you at the Moril farm."

"Thank you."

Sam turned to Jamale's sons. "I need you to take your dad's truck to my farm." Sam went into the shop, wrote a note, and brought it to the boys. She came back out and handed the note to the boys. "Give this to Jack and then get to the Moril farm."

Sam turned to Jamale. "We need to round up a few supplies and get to the farm before everyone else."

"What supplies do we need?"

"Rope, gloves, and tarps. Jack should bring the rest."

"I will get what I have in the shop. You go to Marl's."

"I'll meet you back here in a minute."

Sam ran through the front door of Marl's store. "Marl!"

Marl stepped out from the back. "Samantha?"

"The Moril boy says their house fell into a hole. I need all of the rope and gloves you can spare. I also need at least five or six tarps. You can put it all on my tab."

"A hole?"

"Yes, I'm in a big hurry Marl."

"Right, right. Come on to the back."

Marl helped her carry the supplies to the Moril truck. Jamale was already waiting on them and the truck was running.

"I will close up my store and follow you."

Sam climbed into the passenger side of the truck. "Round up a few more people if you can. We'll need help." Marl nodded as Sam closed the door and Jamale sped off.

The sinkhole wasn't as large as Sam has feared but it was deep. It encompassed the whole house and extended to the edge of the barn which meant the barn wasn't safe. There were three boys, all younger than their brother, standing a few feet from the hole. The youngest two were crying and the oldest was doing his best to remain calm while holding his brothers hands. Sam went over to the boys.

"I'm Sam and this is Jamale. We're here to help you. I need you to step further back from the hole, just to be safe."

The oldest of the boys nodded and followed Sam back to the truck.

"Are both of your parents in the hole?"

The oldest boy nodded, "Our sisters are too."

"How many sisters do you have?"

"Two."

The youngest of the boys lifted his tear streaked face, "But they're both babies. I'm not a baby anymore."

"I can see that you aren't. What's your name?"

"Hob."

"We're going do everything we can to get your parents and sisters out of the hole." Sam turned towards the sinkhole and called out. "Can you hear us?"

She heard a woman's voice. "Yes, yes, I can hear you."

Sam looked over at the boys. "Is that your mother?" All three boys nodded. "Are the girls with you?"

"Jan is with me. Cami is to my left but I can't reach her. Every time I move we sink a little further in."

"Don't move. It is going to take us some time get everything set up so we can get you out."

"I won't move."

Sam turned back to the boys. "Is Jan older or younger?"

"She's the baby."

Sam turned back to the boys. "Are there any animals in the barn?"

The boys all nodded.

"Okay. We're going to get the animals out because the barn is too close to the hole. Once we get them out we'll need your help taking care of them. Will you be able to help us?"

"Yes." All three boys agreed. "I want you to stay here until we come back with the animals. If others show up tell them to wait here. Tell them I said not to go near the hole."

"Okay."

Jamale followed Sam as she walked around the hole staying far from the edge. She went to the back of the barn to see if there was a way in but was disappointed to see solid walls. The only entrance was on the edge of the sink hole and she wanted to avoid getting that close.

"We need to break in through this back wall."

Jamale looked up and down the wall. "We'll need some tools but we can make that happen."

"We better make it happen quickly. I'm worried that hole is going to get bigger."

"We might be able to put some of this wood to use too."

"Good idea."

They got back to the boys and the truck as Jorl, Leila, and Marl pulled up. Jorl had hammers in the back of his truck. Marl, Jamale, and Jorl went back to the back of the barn and started tearing down the wall. The three younger boys joined their older brother who had returned with Jorl. Sam started making harnesses from the ropes and tarps. Leila checked out the younger boys who were now crowded around their oldest brother.

Leila put all four boys in the back on their truck and gave them some juice and snacks, to try and ward off the worst of the shock she knew they were experiencing. The men got the horses, pigs, cows, and chickens out of the barn. None of the animals were happy about leaving their warm barn for the cold snow but the men didn't give them a choice. The animals were tied to the trucks and the chickens were placed in crates in the back with the boys.

"Nara, we're going to be doing a lot of work up here for a bit but I need you and the girls to stay put!"

"We aren't going anywhere! I can't see my husband!"

"We'll be looking for him! I want to get you and the girls out first!"

Sam got all of the men to begin tying the ropes together. She had decided to anchor one side of the ropes to the trucks and the other side to a couple trees that appeared to be far enough from the sinkhole edge to be stable. She was ready to start hanging the ropes when Jack arrived. It took nearly two hours for them to get the ropes secured.

Sam put on her vest, which Jack had brought per her note. She placed pulleys on the ropes and secured her harness.

"I should be the one going." Jack pulled on her harness.

Sam sighed "We aren't going to discuss it again. I'm lighter."

"Fine." He locked his eyes with hers."Be careful."

"Always."

Sam hooked herself onto the ropes and pulled herself out over the edge of the sinkhole. She made slow but steady progress. She was tethered to Jack with an extra rope that he was letting out slowly as she moved away from him. As she moved out she could see Nara and the baby. She kept scanning for Cami and Nara's husband, Hilner.

As Sam got close to Nara she saw Cami's leg far to Nara's left.

"I'm going to come back for the baby in a minute but I'm going to go get Cami first."

Nara nodded, "Yes, please save her. She stopped crying a while ago."

Sam moved past Nara. She placed her feet down when she was parallel to Cami. Her right foot sank down through a part of a wall. She caught herself and shifted her weight to her left. Jack tightened on the rope. Once she was steady he slacked off on the tension. She nodded her thanks at him.

She pulled her right leg out of the hole and got her feet firmly planted. She slowly moved towards Cami. She saw the child's leg move and breathed a sigh of relief. She felt better knowing this was a rescue not a recovery mission.

"Cami, sweetie, my name is Sam. I'm here to help you." Sam didn't get a response. Sam lifted a piece of wood off of Cami's leg. The child didn't move but she did moan. Sam released as much of her rope as possible but she could only just touch Cami's right leg. She pulled against the rope to which the pulley was attached but she was unable to get close enough to the child to pick her up.

Sam looked over at Jack. He knew what she was going to do before she mouthed sorry.

He couldn't let go of the rope tethered to Sam to grab his radio so he screamed instead. "Don't you dare! Sam!"

Sam unhooked from the carbine that attached her to the guide rope across the sinkhole. Jack tightened his grip on the rope that kept her tethered to him. She pulled hard on the rope and he gave her a small amount of slack. He slowly fed her more rope as she crawled over shingles to reach the child.

"Cami? I'm Sam. Can you hear me sweetie?" Sam was kneeling beside the girl. She placed her hands under the girls head and her little brown eyes opened. "Hey darling."

"Hey."

"Are you hurt?"

"Yeah."

"Can you tell me what hurts?"

"No."

"Ok, that's ok. I'm going to pick you up and get you out of here."

"Ok."

The girl cried in pain as Sam lifted her. That was enough to convince Sam that her plan to have the girl ride on a harness attached to Sam's back wasn't going to work. She placed the child in the papoose bag lying across her stomach. She had planned to use that for the baby but she would find a way to make this work. She tried to calm the child as she stood but the shingles gave way under her. She held Cami and rolled so the girl stayed up, away from the shingles Sam found herself lying among. Jack pulled the rope taunt. Sam lay still for a second. She could hear him screaming but she had to catch her breath. The fall had scared Cami and she was crying again.

Sam shifted, sat up, and gave Jack a thumbs up. She toggled her radio, "We're fine." Jack nodded but kept a tight grip on the rope.

"It's ok sweetie. I'm sorry I scared you." She rubbed Cami in the papoose bag. The child whimpered but stopped screaming. Sam decided it was best to scoot back over to the rope. It took longer than she had hoped but she got there and was happy to hook back up to the rope. She knew Jack breathed a sigh of relief also since he gave her a bit more slack.

Sam moved back over to Nara. "I have Cami."

"Is she ok?"

"I think she'll be fine but I want to get her out of here. I'll take the baby at the same time and come back for you."

"Did you see my husband while you were over there?"

"No, I'm sorry. Can you hand me the baby?"

Nara kissed the little girl and lifted her just enough for Sam to pick her up. The baby was very quiet. Sam placed her in the papoose bag with Cami. The baby curled up against her sister. It was a tight fit but Sam thought the girls would be able to stay safe until she got them to the trucks.

"I will be back as soon as I can. Just stay still until then."

"I won't go anywhere." Nara smiled despite her fear.

Sam tried to pull herself and the girls up with one hand and hold the girls with the other but she couldn't manage it. She had to use both hands to lift the three of them off the pile of rubble. Sam locked her pulley and pulled on the rope. Jack and the other men started pulling Sam and the girls to the edge of the hole.

It felt good to put her feet on solid ground. Leila was the first person to reach out for Sam and the papoose bag wrapped tightly in her arms. Sam handed her the baby first. Leila looked the baby over quickly and handed it to a young girl who was there to help her. Cami started crying as soon as the baby left the papoose bag.

"She says she's in pain but she can't tell me where." Sam's face radiated her concern. Jack was standing behind her looking over her shoulder. Leila gently cradled the crying girl.

"We'll find out what's wrong won't we baby girl?" Leila took the girl back towards the line of trucks.

Jack put his hands on Sam's shoulders. She turned to face him. His neck and face muscles were tense. "Don't you ever do that to me again. If you need the guide rope moved just tell us. All we have to do is move the truck."

Sam looked over at the truck to which one side of the rope was anchored. "I didn't think about that. All I was thinking about was getting Cami. I'm sorry."

Jack's face relaxed. "Even after all these years you're still the same woman who didn't leave Cassie alone at the bottom of that silo."

Sam knew she was forgiven. She looked down to her right and gave a tight grin. "True."

"So are you two going to just stand around exchanging love poems or are you going to get Nara out of there?" Jorl's arms were crossed as he leaned against his truck.

Jack stepped around Sam. "Back off." Jorl pushed off the truck and stalked over to where Leila was working on Cami.

"He's right. Do you have a harness made for Nara?"

Jack turned around and bent down. "Right here."

"She thinks her leg is broken. Can you add a leg sling to the harness?"

"It will take me a few minutes."

"That's fine. I need to talk to Leila any way." Sam headed off as Jack started modifying the harness. Sam ignored Jorl as she got close. She watched Leila checking Cami for a few minutes. Leila sent all the kids to the clinic with two of her assistants before turning her attention back to Sam.

"Are you ok? You took a hard fall. I really should check you out."

"I'm fine but Nara thinks her leg is broken. Do you have an easy way for me to stabilize her leg?"

"I might." Leila opened a couple bags before she found the long hard split. She handed the splint and a wrap to Sam. "Will this work?"

"I'll give it a try. Thanks."

As Sam headed back towards Jack three more vehicles arrived. As people piled out Jorl went over and told them it would be best to move their vehicles further back. He came back with his arms loaded with food and drinks. "Supplies have arrived. Would you like something to eat or drink before you head back out?"

"Yes, thank you." Sam took a cup of juice and half a sandwich.

"I'm sorry about earlier."

"I understand. It's fine."

Jack walked up and took the other half of the sandwich. "The harness is ready."

"Good. Let's go get her." Sam walked back over to the truck serving as the rope anchor. "Have any of you seen Hilner?" Jorl, Jack, and Jamle shook their heads no. "We need to find some way to get an idea where he is in this mess."

Jamle looked up at the trees behind him. "I will send the boys up the trees. Maybe they can see something from up there."

Sam reached into a pocket on the left breast of her vest. "Give them these."

"What is it?"

"Binoculars." Sam unfolded the small binoculars so they could be used. "Tell them to look for clothing or anything that just doesn't look right. He's probably partially buried under debris." Jack pulled a pair of binoculars from his vest and handed them to Jamale. Jamale folded and unfolded the binoculars as he walked off headed towards his sons who were taking advantage of the food and drink that had recently arrived.

"Time for me to go get Nara." Sam turned back towards the sinkhole.

"Would you like us to nudge the truck a bit?" Jack tilted his head towards the truck in question.

Sam looked from the truck to the area where she left Nara. "One or two meters that way," Sam pointed to her left, "would give me more leeway to work."

"We can do that." Jack went over to Jamale and within five minutes the truck had been moved and Sam was hooked back up. She made her way back out to Nara, who had not moved since Sam left.

"I'm back." Sam was swinging above and to the right of Nara.

"How are my girls?"

"Leila sent all the kids to the clinic so they can be checked over, fed, kept warm, and entertained. Now it's your turn to get out of here so you can get to the clinic and see them."

"But they're alright?"

"They were very happy to see their brothers. I bet they will get along really well for a few days after all this."

Nara snickered. "Hours maybe but days might be a bit optimistic."

Sam grinned as she lowered herself. She slowly put more weight on her feet, testing the structural integrity of the collapsed wall upon which she was standing. Once she felt sure it would hold Sam put all her weight down and let out some rope so she had some leeway to move around. Sam bent down beside Nara and pulled out the harness Jack had assembled.

"I'm going to place this around you. It's going to wrap under your arms."

"Alright."

Sam wrapped her arms around Nara and tightened the upper portion of the harness around her. "Now that I have you secured I'm going to clear some of this debris off of you. That will let me get the rest of the harness around you."

"You just tell me what I need to do and I'll do it."

Sam lifted some boards off of Nara's abdomen and three logs off of her legs. When she lifted the first log Sam could see that Nara's leg was indeed broken. She untied the splint Leila had given her.

"You were right about your broken leg."

"Oh good." Nara grimaced.

"I have a splint but it's going to hurt for me to put it on."

"Figured."

"You'd rather have it on while we move you."

"True." Nara slowly let out a breath. "Go for it."

Sam laid the splint beside Nara's mangled leg. She hoped to be able to slide it under her leg in one swift movement but the break was so bad that Sam had to keep Nara's leg up longer than she had hoped. Nara screamed as Sam worked. Nara continued to pant after Sam laid her leg down on the splint. Sam gave Nara a moment to compose herself before she tightened the splint around her leg.

"The worst of it is over. I know it was bad but you'd rather have that on as we move you."

"I know." Nara's tear streaked face and gasps made Sam feel awful even though she knew she was helping her.

"Now that we have your leg stabilized I am going to wrap the harness around your waist and legs."

Nara just nodded. Sam shifted back up closer to Nara's head. Nara leaned forward as Sam tied part of the harness around her waist. Nara lifted the unbroken leg so Sam could thread part of the harness under her leg and up to the part of the harness around her waist. Sam was thinking about the least painful way to get the harness under the broken leg when she heard the creaking. Sam looked up at Jack and saw Jack was looking at the barn.

Sam shifted her focus just in time to see the front of the barn starting to collapse as the sinkhole opened further. Sam felt the tether attached to her tighten as the world under her fell away. She had loosened the rope that attached her to the pulley so she fell as the sink hole opened. Nara fell also but since they were both in harnesses they were left hanging over the now larger pit.

Jack was leaning back and keeping tension on the tether that tied him to Sam. Jorl was holding the rope that went to Nara's harness. Thankfully Sam had gotten enough of the harness around Nara so she was hanging lopsided but the harness was holding her above the void. Sam calmed her breathing while righting herself. Once she was right side up she looked over at Nara who was hanging with most of her weight on her hip. Nara looked very uncomfortable.

Sam pulled on her rope and lifted herself higher. She locked her rope in the pulley. She pulled herself closer to Nara.

"I'm going to help you get turned around the right way. Hopefully we can get the rest of this harness on you so they can pull you to safety."

Nara was holding on to the ropes around her chest. Her eyes were closed and she was shaking. Sam grabbed one of the dangling parts of Nara's harness to steady Nara's swaying. She pulled Nara close.

"I need you to hold this rope instead of the harness."

Nara furiously shook her head. "I can't let go."

"Just one hand at a time. " Sam touched Nara's left hand. "Let go."

"No."

"You have to do this. Now let go." Nara did as told and Sam moved her hand to the rope attached to the pulley.

"Good. One down. One to go." Sam put her hand on Nara's right hand and guided it to the right rope. Nara was still shaking but holding to the main rope instead of the harness was helping her sit a bit straighter in the partially connected harness. Her eyes were still closed so Sam wasn't sure Nara fully appreciated her steadier orientation.

"I'm going to try and get the rest of the harness attached so your ride out of here is smoother."

Nara nodded her head to acknowledge Sam. Sam took one of the freely hanging harness straps and wrapped it around Nara's leg. She was struggling to get it hooked as Nara began to cry.

"Nara?"

"It hurts?" Sam stopped what she was doing.

"What hurts?"

"My leg." Sam looked down at the dangling broken leg in its splint.

"Let me get this part of the harness attached and I will try to get your leg steadied." Sam pulled even harder on the last part of the waist harness. She got it up to the hook and finished getting Nara strapped in.

"That should help you feel a little better."

Nara just nodded again. Sam spun Nara slowly so she could have better access to the last part of the harness down near Nara's legs. Sam reached out as far as she could but the last part of the harness was beyond her reach. She tried three times and was about to give herself some more slack when she saw the men at the side of the sinkhole waving. She decided to take their advice and quit wasting time on the harness. Nara's trip to the side would be more painful with her broken leg hanging free but getting her there now was more important than her comfort.

"I can't get it Nara and they are ready to start pulling you. This going to hurt but it will be over soon."

"Right. Thank you."

"Keep your hands where they are. Don't reach up towards the pulley." Sam gave them a thumbs up and they began to pull Nara. "They'll get you to safety soon."

Sam breathed a sigh of relief as the men pulled Nara away. She was sobbing in pain but holding tight as she moved away. Once Nara was safely at the truck and being helped the men pulled Sam towards them. She was glad to get back on solid ground. Leila and two assistants were helping Nara. A woman brought Sam a drink as she sat on the ground catching her breath.

"Thank you."

Jack was sitting beside her. "I'm glad you emptied the barn."

Sam looked over at the destroyed barn. "Have the boys seen any sign of Hilner?"

"Not so far but they're still looking."

"If he was near the barn we'll never find him."

"I know." Jack rubbed Sam's back. "You did really well out there."

"Thanks." Sam finished her drink. Jorl came over and stood beside Sam.

"Thanks for saving Nara and her girls. I doubt we could have gotten them out if the two of you weren't here." Jorl walked away without waiting for a response.

"Your boyfriend is a weird guy."

Sam slapped Jack's arm and grinned. "Stop."

The men were setting up multiple fires around the perimeter because the sun was going to set soon when the boys came down from the trees because they had seen something in the pit on the side furthest from the barn. They weren't sure it was Hilner though.

After a brief discussion Sam and Jack decided they should both go out to explore the far end of the sinkhole but it meant moving the anchor truck and guide ropes. It took forty minutes to get everything moved and set up. Sam had a snack and paced while Jack shouted orders. Once everything was ready they both put on harnesses and headed out over the massive unstable pit. They had lights attached to their vests so they could occasionally stop and search the area as well as see where they were going.

The boys had climbed up on top of the truck and were using the last of the sunlight to wave Sam and Jack towards the general area where they thought they saw some clothing that might belong to Hilner. It took an hour of searching but Jack saw the red fabric the boys had spotted. He directed the truck to move three meters so he and Sam could get close enough to explore near the red color. They positioned themselves on opposite sides of the area they planned to search.

Jack lowered himself and lightly put his feet on the tree branches that littered this region of the pit. The branches collapsed under him as soon as he put a little weight on them. He shifted forward and tried again but got the same result. Sam was able to put a little weight on the pile of branches on her side but as she added more weight the branches gave way under her also. Her harness caught her but it was still a hard fall.

"Sam? Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. This isn't going to hold either of us."

"Nope, I guess we just have to dig while hanging."

"Right, easier said than done." They both leaned over and tossed back the branches they could reach. They saw Hilner's shirt at the same time. They both moved closer and saw a large tree trunk was lying across the man.

Jack met Sam's eyes. "Ideas?"

"Not off the top of my head. Let me think." Sam looked around. She and Jack didn't have enough leverage while hanging to lift the tree. "I think we can use the smaller tree over there as a lever. If you put your weight on it that might lift the larger tree enough for me to pull him out."

"Ok." Jack signaled for the truck to be moved so the rope would let them both get into position. Jack lowered himself and put part of his weight on the smaller tree. Sam positioned herself near Hilner. As Jack put more weight on the tree truck the larger tree lifted slightly. Sam grabbed Hilner and pulled but he didn't budge. Sam lowered herself further and put more of her weight on the branches below Hilner. She assumed if they were holding him and the large tree the branches could support her weight as well. Once she was set she pulled again. Hilner moved enough for Sam to be able to get a rope around his chest under his arms. She felt better having him secured.

"Do you have all of your weight on the tree?"

Jack couldn't see Sam any longer but he could hear her screaming her question. "Not yet."

"Give it some more."

"Gottcha" Jack put more weight on the smaller tree and the bigger tree shifted again. Sam pulled again but Hilner was still stuck.

"Put all your weight on it." Jack did as he was told and the smaller tree lifted again. The larger tree rolled and Sam was able to move Hilner a little but not enough. The lower half of his body was still trapped.

"Is that as far as it's going to go?"

"I'm giving it all I've got."

"Ok. I've got another idea but you've got to stay put."

"I'm not going anywhere. You be careful."

"Will do." Sam bent down beside Hilner and began digging out below him. She hoped if she could make a small hole below him she would be able to pull him out. She stomped on branches to break them and then pushed them down. She made a nice sized depression behind Hilner's back and was about to pull him again when her last stomp set off a chain reaction that sent Sam, Hilner, and the large tree falling. Sam and Hilner were caught by their harnesses but it was another hard fall. The tree crash removed the counter weight on Jack's tree so it came down and threw him up. He was caught by his harness as he dropped back down.

Sam felt Jamale pulling her safety rope. Hilner didn't have the luxury of a safety rope so he swinging freely below Sam.

"Sam?"

"I'm fine. Are you ok?"

"Yeah. Do you have him?"

"I can get to him. Head this way and we can take him in together." Jack did as instructed. He lifted himself up to the guide rope and pulled himself closer to Sam and Hilner. Sam was trying to get Hilner more securely harnessed in when Jack arrived. With his help Hilner was secured and moved up closer to the guide rope. Sam lifted herself higher and they signaled the men to pull them. It took less than fifteen minutes to reach the side once they started moving.

Leila got Hilner out of his harness as soon as he arrived. He was barely breathing and looked awful. She got in the back of a truck with him and called back over her shoulder, "I want to see both of you at the clinic tonight."

"We're fine." Sam yelled at Leila as she rode past her.

"Tonight!" was the last word Sam heard as Leila raced away with Hilner.

"I like her. She reminds me of Janet." Sam rolled her eyes at Jack's observation.