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Kerrie and I checked the group's equipment, making
sure all the headlamps worked perfectly. The, I
thoroughly explained all the precautions that needed to
be taken and all the dangers that can be found in
Devil's Sink. I could tell their attention was waning,
so I ended my speech, and started towards the mouth of
the cave. The small crack on the face of the limestone
quarry was almost completely covered by thick
undergrowth. One by one, they wriggled into the crack
and disappeared into the darkness. Kerrie and Marian had
gone in first, while I brought up the rear. A thick
coat of mud covered the floor of the cave, and cool
water dripped from the ceiling. Ahead, an enormous
pillar of calcium caught the group's attention. Moving
to the pillar, I explained how it had formed. We slowly
advanced tot he next room and gathered around a
magnificent gallery of stalactites, stalagmites, and
other limestone formations. Some of the members started
snapping photos, knowing that they could not remove
anything from the cave. Most of the group were hungry,
so I directed them to another room for lunch.
Suddenly, an ear-splitting scream echoed through the
chamber. Someone shouted that Liz had slipped on some
mud, and fallen through a crevasse in the floor.
Quickly, I tied a rope around my chest, grabbed a
flashlight, and gave the line to Kerrie. She tied the
line to a stalagmite and I jumped into the crevasse. I
fell for a long time. Bracing myself for the shock that
should come, I held the rope. It snapped taut, and I
bounced like a puppet on a string. I examined my
surroundings. Black water swam at my feet. Looking down,
I saw Liz floating face down in the water. I untied the
line and plunged into the icy water. I swarm to Liz and
turned her over. Liz's face was a white as death.
Suddenly, tremor tore through her body and she coughed
back to life. I knew that the cold
water had saved her from terrible injuries, but it would
soon be her killer if I didn't work fast. I
made a seat for the rope with my shirt and tied it on. I
placed her in the harness and yelled to the group to
start pulling her up. Slowly, the line worked its way up
and she soon disappeared from sight. When she emerged at
the top, a cheer rang through the cavern. Then a
gurgling sounded on my left. The water was receding !
Soon, my toes were barely covered with water and I was
sinking into the deep cave mud. The rope fell from the
darkness above and I grabbed on, pulling myself from the
mud. Hand over hand, I hoisted myself up the rope, sweat
dripping from my face. Then, suddenly, the rope
snapped. The group screamed with horror. I was so
scared, I could not respond to their calls. I hung
there, dangling with one arm. I knew I had to climb up
the rocks, without the lien to help me. Slowly and
carefully, I picked out my way, reaching out for rocky
protrusions, the taut muscles in my shoulder burning in
protest. After a long time, I finally emerged in an
opening, twenty feet from the crevasse where the group
was waiting for me. I trudged towards the groups, silent
except for the "slosh, slosh" of my muddy boots. I tried
to call out again but it was no use, my voice was gone.
As I neared them, I managed to let out a sigh. The
group of scared youths turned at my sigh, half screamed
and cried. They rushed to me. I was surrounded with
dozens of smiling faces, all cheering for my courage. |
