Chapter Sixteen

May 1999

Every part of her body ached when she woke again. The girl kept her eyes closed, listening. She carefully straightened her legs and stretched. Sharp rocks dug into her back. She opened her eyes and gazed at the lantern above the metal door.

She had to do something. Mama always said you don’t get anything done just sitting around. Mama worked so hard, even after she got sick. And now she’s hurt.

First thing, see if there’s another way out of here. She sat up so fast she got dizzy, then waited, listening. She listened for the sound of running water. She didn’t hear it now. She started on one side of the door and worked her way along the wall of the cave. That’s what it was. A cave. She’d been in one before, just a little way, on a field trip. This smelled the same.

She stood on tiptoe to assess how high the uneven wall was, then squatted to gauge where it turned to floor. Don’t think about being underground. How could anyone ever find them? She explored cautiously, feeling sharp rocks jutting from ceiling and walls, jagged holes in other places. She peered into the darkness. The lantern was far away. It was all she could see. How big was this place? How long had she been exploring? It seemed as big as her classroom, but she couldn’t tell if she’d already covered this section. She wanted to be back in school. But she wouldn’t be there anyway, now, since she and Mama had to leave home. They’d been together on the bus, Mama talking in her sweet soft voice. Then something happened. Something bad. A man hit her.

The floor sloped sharply where the wall and ceiling met. She had to crawl to continue. She paused to listen. There. Running water, just a trickle. And air, fresh air. She lay down and reached under a rock ledge.