Catalyst Read Online Free PDF Page B

it hopeless, Chuck?"
    Chuck Nguyen frowned. "I don't think so. The two
levels we explored have dropped away. Level G is impassable but it
was only a narrow access route."
    "Meaning?" the sergeant asked.
    "Well, Gary. Too much soil between the levels has
disappeared. If it had stopped at level G, it would have backed
right through F and even E but didn't. There's a massive hole down
as far as G."
    "So where did it go?"
    "My guess is that there's another cavern further
down. It would have to be big to take the whole landslide. Now, if
that is the case there could be extra space as well."
    "So there could be survivors?"
    "Exactly but we won't reach them from here." Chuck
walked to a cross section map of the cave unrolled on a table. He
pointed to the bottom of the map. "That's where it has all gone.
Now if you place this beneath the topographical map..." He rolled
the sheet aside to expose a second map. "The slip is under Eagle
Point Plateau."
    "It would be a long way down, Chuck," one forest
ranger said.
    "Yeah but the quickest way in is straight down. We
need to get one of those drilling rigs."
    "Right. I'll see what I can do." Gary McKnight
respected the old man's knowledge and would lay pretty good odds
that he was dead accurate in his suggestions.
    ****
    "Excuse me, Sergeant."
    McKnight looked up to see a young national park
ranger standing at the tent flap. "Yes, Stephanie."
    "There's an old guy out here who says he's the father
of one of the missing women. He's distressed and wants to talk to
you," Stephanie Jelgersma replied.
    "What's his name?"
    "Bonnett. Jack Bonnett. Poor guy is half paralyzed.
His daughter, Renee, is one of the four missing." She grimaced. "I
tried to put him off."
    Gary was about to say he was too busy but saw
Stephanie's face. "Okay. Give me ten minutes to get my calls
through, then show him in."
    ****
    "So what are my daughter's chances, Sergeant?" Jack's
chin quivered with emotion.
    "Better than I would have thought an hour ago, Mr
Bonnett. There's a massive cavern beneath the explored passages.
Your daughter and the others could very well be down there."
    "And how do we find out, sergeant?" Jack leaned his
dominant arm on the small table.
    "The military have satellite images available and are
getting a computer enhanced readout produced."
    "Image," muttered Jack. "What good will that do?"
    "The satellite takes infrared readings, so a large
cavity beneath the present cave would show. We can compare the
latest readings with those taken before the landslide. We can
pinpoint the size and position of any cavity there."
    "So if we find this new cavern, how does it
help?"
    "We're bringing in a bore to drill. When it reaches a
cavity we can listen for sounds of survivors or lower a speaker. If
we find survivors, we can send water, food and medical supplies
down."
    "But getting them out? They can't climb up a six-inch
hole."
    "We'll go in through the existing caves. The computer
readouts may find a natural entrance to the lower cavity. We'll
find them, Mr. Bonnett."
    "Dead or alive," Jack whispered.
    "Yes," the sergeant replied with empathy. "There's
nothing more you can do. Why don't you go to the other tent? A
canteen has been set up and you're welcome to a hot drink. As soon
as information comes through we'll tell you."
    "Thank you, Sergeant," Jack turned, leaned on a
walking stick, swung his malfunctioning limb in front of him and
limped out.
    "Poor guy looks heartbroken," Stephanie commented
when Jack was out of earshot.
    ****
    Renee's eyes were showing a vision of red. She knew
she'd been asleep but this wasn't a dream. She forced her eyes open
and gasped. A dazzling light filled the cave.
    Courtney screamed in excitement.
    Lem heaved a sigh of gratitude and gently shook her
shoulder.
    "They've found us, Renee. That was a flare."
    Seconds later, darkness returned. No, it wasn't
completely dark. The glowworms had switched off but way in the
distance was a twisting spiral of white. When the second