THIS TIME, THEY BOTH screamed.

The rope caught about five feet later, and the wheelchair came to a jerking stop. Oscar slipped off the platform and grabbed wildly for something to hold on to, managing to wrap his hand around Dot’s right wheel.

“Oscar!” Saige yelled.

“Hurry!” Oscar shouted back. “You have to hurry; let out more rope!”

Oscar’s mouth and nose and ears were filling up with water as he struggled to keep his head elevated. He looked downward, but they were still too far from the end of the staircase; if he let go now, he’d be seriously hurt. He tightened his grip on Dot and prayed that Saige could unravel the rope fast enough.