There ain't no such thing as waitin' patiently in those circumstances. Minutes ticked by like a crippled snail limpin' sideways 'crost the road. Fears replaced hope. I thought, What if the rescue team gets trapped too? The rock slide could'a caused others. Help might never arrive. A million thoughts crossed my mind. None of them was good. Did ya know ya can fret yourself inta despair?

I sat beside Ren tryin' to calm my breathin'. It was cold enough to make a frog hibernate, but I was sweatin', not so much from the work of movin' rocks, but the effort it took ta curb panic. Ren was dead still, but his breathin' seemed steady. I took that as a good sign.

I suggested ta Freck that she might try to get some sleep—if she could. Help was comin'. It was. I knew it. Or did I really?

We waited...and waited...and waited. Stretched out hope thins, it gets weaker, like the cigam light in my palms. The power was drainin' and with it the numbed pain in my head and arm was returnin' for round two. The lights in my palms slowly diminished. My batteries was poopin' out. Before it was all gone, I got Freck a couple mouth fulls of water. Then I braced her leg with rocks ta hold it steady. At the last faint glow, I crept over to help Uncle Ren. I was able to clear almost all the rocks off him before we plunged back inta total dark. I gotta say, blackness this absolute has a texture. Ya can feel it, brushin' 'gainst you, keepin' you scar't to the bone. It's like bein' in water at night and knowin' a shark is circlin'. Ya cain't see it, but a fin, or tail bumps inta your shiverin' skin just ta remind ya. Ya knows your gonna feel those wicked teeth sink right inta your flesh, slicin' off sumpin'. That must be why we's afraid of the dark. It's not the dark itself, it's expectin' some unseen horror ta grab ya. This inside-the-cave-black-blindness was so deep, it messed with my mind. Ya get's the feelin' that no monster's bite could be worse than this. Ya'd almost prefer an attack over the torture of endless anticipation.

I thought, cigam had made me feel much better and lit up my palms so's I could see. I attempted ta start it up again. Even concentratin' real hard didn't spark nothin'. "Gee," I called to him, "why cain't I get the cigam ta work again? I'm puttin' all my energy inta rechargin' my palms, but there ain't nothin' happenin'."

Gee reminded me of what Grandma Chrys explained to us. "Cigam does not come by thought alone."  He explained, "You can only access it when every cell in your body is in total harmony with your mind."

I had to admit when I froze that panther in mid-leap, and also now, when my injury got miraculously better, it was comin' more from desperation than thought. Cigam is a difficult skill to master, I decided. I remembered that Ren said he practiced everyday, and even though he is a Keeper, he couldn't do things like pull food out of the air. Gee could, though. And Gee told me that both Freck and I would be able to control it in time, given the right experiences.

"Gee what's takin' so danged long?" I whimpered.

He tol' me, "They are trying to find a safe way in. The entrance is filled with rocks. No one wants a repeat of what happened, so they have to work very carefully to prevent another slide. Be patient."

This was scarier than a striped haint as Gramma used to say. I asked her what a haint meant. She told me haint was another word for haunt, like what ghosts do. Why striped, I wondered. She just shrugged.

I knew by the sound of Freck's breathin' she'd fallen asleep. I should prob'ly do the same, but I couldn't. I was too wound up.

I sat there by Ren, chock full of anxiety. In an effort to relax I pushed some rocks away to smooth a spot on the ground. When it was as rock free as possible I laid back with my arms under my head and tried to breathe slowly while countin' backwards from 100. Against all odds, I drifted away.

I don't know how long it was. Without light, time is meaningless. I woke up ta the sound of rock splittin', but since I couldn't see nothin', I didn't know where it was. It could be our rescuers or, heaven forbid, it could be water shatterin' the rock wall. What if it opened up and spilled a dam-full of water into this cavern? We would surely drown. My worst fears were happenin'. The crackin' sound was comin' from the rock face I could tell 'cuz my shoes were gettin' soaked. I stood up. It was already up ta my ankles. Ren was still out cold. I would have ta raise his head ta keep it above water. Freck was higher up, and hopefully not gettin' wet--yet. I grabbed Ren by the collar and put my arm under his head. He was soon floatin'. The water was now up to my calves.

Freck called out, "Hey, what's happenin'?"

I yelled over the roar of the gushin' flood, "Freck can you scoot higher up? I knows your leg's killin' ya, but I hafta keep Ren's head up or he will drown!"

The frigid black water was knee deep before I saw flashlight beams. A half-dozen keepers, in yellow jumpsuits, ropes, and other rescue equipment rushed through the openin' they made. One already had a hold of Freck and was carefully pullin' her toward the exit. Before I knew it, another grabbed me under the arms. Someone else took charge of Ren. I knew we was finally saved. The salamander's wish grantin' was still workin'. Bein' lucky doesn't mean ya won't never get harmed, instead it means ya will survive.

Sloggin' against the current ain't easy. My Keeper's feet slipped a couple times on the wet rocks. He didn't fall though, and even if he did, I noticed the rope around his waist was attached ta another Keeper who was well outside of the risin' flood. No one was goin' ta die, I believed. They was well-equipped and experienced rescuers. I knew I could trust 'em.

One by one they pushed and pulled us out of that death trap. Just as we were freed, there was another loud CRACK! I knew that the valiant cave wall was defeated. Even solid stone is no match for relentless water. Thar was a thunderous roar as boulders, gravel, and debris broke loose, crashin' into and over each other. Mud stirred up by the rushin' flood was sucked into the great yawnin' abyss below. The ground shook. Staying upright and walkin' proved nearly impossible.

"This will be difficult, but we have to hurry. We do not know what the collapse of the cave wall will do to this chamber we are in now. Can you walk, Wishes?" I was asked.

"I can at least enough to get away from that ragin' river over there." But, I said, "Freck has a broken leg and maybe a broken hip too. She cain't walk. Ren probably has broken ribs at the very least."

"It is okay, Wishes. We can carry them out on body boards. It will be bumpy and uncomfortable. But we will take care of all of you. I pledge on the Gardener. You just relax and leave it to us."

They didn't know how relieved I was ta hear those words. I don't know which is worse, the physical pain of injury, or the responsibility that comes from bein' the only one who can help in a calamity. For awhile, I was our only hope. At thirteen I wasn't at all ready for the responsibility. That's what grownups are for--right?

▫️▫️▫️

I raised the back of the hospital armchair recliner. Freck and Uncle Ren were on other recliners in the same hospital room. Actually the Keepers hospital is like nothin' ya ever seen. There ain't no walls. It's just a big open meadow with a lazy creek runnin' through it. The first time I was here I thought I was out of doors. I heard the sound of the gurglin' water. I saw the blue sky, fluffy white clouds, birds chasin' each other, and many multi-colored dragonflies. It smelled fresh as a late spring day.

It was a perfect place for relaxin'. That's what Keepers do. They create places for guests that make them feel at home. This truly warn't anythin' like the Burns Hospital. I looked everywhere and didn't spot no IV poles, hazardous waste containers, or cabinets stuffed with creepy medical tools. In fact I didn't even see any doctors, nurses, or orderlies scurryin' around anywhere's. There warn't no jarring alerts, or alarms. No crackly overhead calls for code blue, white, green, or whatever. It was just these three comfortably padded recliners, that didn't even look like hospital beds, sittin' in a lush meadow on a warm spring day.

It turned out that I broke my forearm and suffered a severe blow to my head. That's why I felt blood on my cheek. There was a bump about the size of a caterpillar that I explored with my fingers. My arm was in a crazy kinda cast. It was clear. I could see right through it. Also it didn't weigh much more than the sleeve of a jacket.

My head, even though I couldn't see it 'cuz there ain't no mirrors in a meadow, I guessed it was bandaged in that same invisible stuff too. I was feeling pretty good, so I got off my chair to check on the others. Wooo . . . I was too dizzy. Maybe they gave me somethin' ta quiet the pain. I flopped right back down. As soon as I did, a woman in a daisy print house dress showed up. I'd seen her when I was here last time. She was a nurse and the spittin' image of my Gramma. She even talked the same. "Wishes," she greeted me, "It's so good to see ya. Are ya feelin' better? Don't get too antsy ta get up. It's bett'ah if'n ya stay down for a bit."

"I was just goin' over ta see Freck and Uncle Ren." I explained.

"I'm sure that yer real concerned 'bout 'em. Y'all got purty banged up in that cave. Just so's you know, Freck's leg was broke in three places. Ren's got broke ribs, a fractured hip, and a severe concussion because of a blow to his head. All of you are doin' very well and we don't expect it will take longer than a mite b'fors you are up and about. Do ya want sumthin'? Are ya hungry? Thirsty?"

I had to admit I could use some food and somethin' to drink. The keepers who rescued us made sure we got a little to eat and drink in the floater. I warn't starvin', but a cheeseburger and a cola would go down real easy right now.

I didn't have long ta wait. Before I knew it Gramma nurse was right back with my order. "Now Wishes just sit back. I'll set up this tray for ya. When yer finished eatin' just wave."

There is somethin' very special about keeper food. It plain tastes better. The cheeseburger, with lettuce, tomato, pickle, on a soft as a marshmallow bun was the best I ever had. No onion, though. They must have known that I ain't particularly partial ta onions. I almost hated ta dob my face with the napkin. It was so good that I didn't want to waste anything even the juices. I took a sip of the cola. Wow. Wow, and tripple wow. If there was anythin' more perfect than that drink, I don't what it is. I took my time as I enjoyed every chew and slurp.

When I was finished, I waved. Gramma nurse ambled over along with my momma, Rotel (who was known as Jacob Foster in Burns), Mizzus Anderton, and Stuman, head of the Solvers, and my grandfather on my mother's side. It must be visitin' hours. Gramma nurse retrieved the tray and left Momma with me. Rotel and Mizzus Anderton went over to check on Freck, and Stuman was lookin' in on Ren.

"Hi son," Momma said to me. "How are you feeling?"

Of course I told her that I was feelin' okay, but a mite woozy. I asked her if Daddy knew what happened.

"Yes, Wishes, your father was continually informed. Even though he was worried sick, he was confident that you would be all right. He knew that the keepers would do everything they could to rescue you. When they found you, he was more delighted than anyone. He wanted to come here, but this is not a very good time. Once you and Freck get better, we will send you Topside so you can finish recuperating.

"The tragedy is well known throughout the Kingdom. The progress on your recovery is front and center on everyone's mind. It was a big relief to know that you were found and brought back. You two are very special, probably more than you know. "

"Wow." I didn't know what else to say. "Freck," I called out. "Did you hear what Momma said?"

Freck responded, so I knew she wasn't sleepin'. "I like knowin' we're goin' home for awhile. I'm sure my new mother, Mizzus Anderton, got a fright and I don't even know how much my daddy knows. He's been to the Kingdom and now understands why we are spendin' our summers here, but he might not of been told about our accident, yet. If not, he's in for quite a shock when he sees me in a Keeper's cast."