The B Girls - By Cari Cole Page 0,59

It wasn't about gender it was about compassion and caring. But dammit, Lucy would never forgive herself if something happened to Belle.

"Are you sure?" Lucy asked.

Jane nodded. "We can debate sexism in survival situations later."

Lucy frowned.

Jane quirked a brow at her.

Lucy laughed. "You're quoting Jurassic Park? Really?"

Jane managed a little chuckle. "It seemed appropriate."

"Let's do it," Lucy said.

"You can't be serious?" Mae said.

"I think I am. I can't take the chance that Belle's going to get hurt," Lucy said.

Mae frowned.

"What do you say?" Jane asked.

Mae looked from Jane to Lucy and back again. "I must be losing my mind. Okay. If we're going, let's get moving."

They spent the next ten minutes repacking all the important gear. They tucked one space blanket around Jane and folded up another to pad the pack they put under her head as a pillow.

"We'll move as fast as we can," Lucy said. She gave the pack a final pat and made sure Jane had a water bottle in easy reach. "Are you sure about this?"

She smiled, weak and painful though it was. "Just be careful. I'm going to lay here and take a little nap."

Lucy nodded and turned back to Mae. "I'll go up first. You stay away from the opening in case another rock falls."

"Are you sure you're feeling steady enough for this?" Mae asked.

"Oh yeah," Lucy said. And it was true. Maybe she had a mild concussion, or maybe it was seeing Jane acting so brave, but the fear was gone at least temporarily. She was just determined to see this through and get Jane out of here with nothing worse than a broken arm.

Lucy started climbing, slow and steady, testing every hand and foothold before trusting her weight to them. It was an easy climb. Jane must have been unlucky enough to grab the one loose rock in the shaft.

Three minutes and she was at the top. She found a sturdy formation to tie off the rope and tossed it down to Mae with a warning it was on its way.

With the security of the rope to back her up, it only took Mae two minutes to reach the top.

She unclipped her harness and gave Lucy a look. "Are you sure about this?"

"As sure as I'm going to be. Keep an eye on the time. If we get much past an hour, hour and a half and we're still not near the end we'll turn back."

Mae nodded. "Let's move as fast as we can."

###

The passage they'd climbed into was the easiest one they'd encountered since the first rappel. Almost wide enough for outstretched arms and with ceilings well above their heads, even a big man would be able to maneuver without trouble.

Still, Lucy moved with careful deliberation. According to the map there was some sort of shaft or hole in the floor ahead that she didn't want to step into.

They found the hole about twenty yards down the passage. It was filled with water that dripped from a stalactite with a slow, steady, plop.

The hole was about four feet across and looked deep. It wasn't much more than a giant step, just a little jump and they'd be across. But the consequences of not making it or of falling back when landing made the gulf seem larger.

Lucy looked around for someplace to tie off a safety rope. Of course, the walls in this area were smooth because nothing about this could actually be easy. There was a narrow ledge between the right hand wall and the pool, maybe four inches of damp rock that looked slippery.

What to do? Jump? Or edge around the right side?

"What do you think?" Lucy asked Mae.

She pointed to a lip of rock, like a ripple a few feet back from the edge of the hole. "If I sit and brace my feet on that, I can belay you while you tiptoe around the edge. You can find a spot to do the same for me on the other side."

"Do you really think you can hold me if I fall?"

She shrugged. "It's not like you're going off a cliff. The water will give you some buoyancy."

Lucy looked at the hole again. Mae was right, the water would be cold an uncomfortable but Lucy probably wouldn't get hurt and Mae would only have to help haul her out if she couldn't find a hold to pull herself out. "Good thinking."

They set up the rig and Lucy eased out onto the ledge with her face to the wall. Good thing