“Eeeeee,” Carl said, descending into the abyss, holding tight to his harness, feet dangling, his mini-headlamp shining into the darkness.
“Remember, you’re looking for the tablet,” Diesel called to Carl. “I’ll pull you up when you get the tablet.”
I stood back a couple feet and manned the Maglite. I was trying to illuminate the ground below, but it was difficult to get the beam of light past Carl.
“He’s on the ground,” Diesel said. “The rope went slack. I think he’s walking around. “Hey, Carl!” he called down. “How’s it going? Do you see the tablet?”
“Chee,” Carl said, his voice very faint.
Moments later, there was a tug on the rope. Carl wanted to come up.
“Did you get the tablet?” Diesel asked.
“Chee.”
Carl had something in his hands coming up. Impossible to see what it was—my light was throwing shadows. Diesel lifted Carl out of the hole and swung him toward me. Carl had a dead rat.
“Eeep?” Carl asked, holding the rat out for me to see.
“Dude, that’s not a tablet,” Diesel said.
Carl dropped the rat, and Diesel kicked it over the edge into the hole.
“Back you go,” Diesel said, sending Carl down, down, down.
“Eep,” Carl said.
The rope went slack and then played out.
“He’s walking around,” Diesel said.
Diesel leaned over the edge to see better, and the dirt gave way.
“Oh crap,” Diesel said, tumbling into the hole.
WHUUUMP! Diesel landed on his back far below me.
“Omigod,” I said. “Are you okay?”
“I think I landed on the rat.”
“As long as you didn’t land on Carl.”
Carl jumped onto Diesel’s chest and gave me a big monkey smile and a finger wave.
Diesel got to his feet and looked around.
“Do you see the tablet?” I asked him.
“Yes,” he said. “It’s partially covered by dirt. It’s no wonder Carl couldn’t find it.”
“So what are you going to do now?” I asked him. “How are you going to get back here?”
“I’m not. There’s no way.”
“But I’m here,” I said.
“You’ll have to go back by yourself, and I’ll find my way out.”