Faith ran outside and untied Fezzik from the post. She mounted him and kicked him into a gallop, riding hard towards the Ridge. The rain poured down in thick sheets of water, a kind of monsoonal rain she’d never imagined she would see here in this dry and dusty land. The trail she’d ridden down only a week before was the beginnings of a stream. She urged Fezzik faster.
If Darcy was in town, he wouldn’t get there in time, Amy’s car would get bogged, which left her and Matt. And she was the closest. The Ridge loomed in front of her and Fezzik slowed as he clambered up the side. At the top, Faith’s heart stopped. The water ran in streams down the slopes, coalescing in the bottom of the gully which already streamed south like a river, but was still a metre from the cave entrance.
She urged Fezzik to descend the path she’d travelled with Darcy, and at the bottom he was ankle deep in the water. He baulked at going further. A movement on the opposite bank caught her attention. Starlight paced up and down as if wanting to cross but uncertain.
Faith snatched the radio from her belt and dismounted. “Matt, I’m near the cave. Starlight’s here, and Fezzik won’t go further. I’m going on foot. The river’s ankle deep.”
“Careful Faith, the torrent can get swift. Be as fast as you can.”
She slapped Fezzik’s hindquarters to send him home before striding into the water and immediately felt the pull downstream. She headed for Starlight, who had spotted her and pawed at the ground. The horse should be heading to higher ground, the way Fezzik had already done behind her. By the time she’d reached the other side of the gully, the water reached her calves. She took Starlight’s reins, murmuring to her and pulling her downstream towards the cave and the path up to the top of the ravine. When they reached the path, Starlight jerked her head, pulling the reins out of Faith’s hands. Faith lunged towards her, but her hands slid right off the wet saddle and Starlight bolted up the slope to higher ground. Faith sighed. At least she’d be out of the flood.
Another movement further up the slope proved to be rock wallabies, sheltering amongst the rocks. If they weren’t in the cave, did that mean it wasn’t safe?
“Lara!” Faith stumbled on the uneven, rocky ground towards the cave entrance, reaching it as the rising water did. She blinked to adjust her eyes to the dim light. “Lara!”
The walls of the cave dimmed the noise of the rain, and a muffled yell came from the back. Wishing she’d brought her phone with her for light, she hurried forward. A rock jutted out, and behind it she found Lara sitting up, her wrists cable-tied together, ankles tied with rope which attached her to a rock. She desperately rubbed the rope against the rock, and it was already halfway frayed. Clever girl.
Relief filled Faith, and she pulled the gag out of Lara’s mouth. “I’ve got you.”
“Faith!” Lara sobbed. “I’m sorry I got mad and wouldn’t let you come with us. Jay tied me up and left me here.”
“I know. We need to get you out of here. Let me find a sharp rock to cut the ties.”
“I’ve got Jay’s knife in my pocket,” Lara said. “He let me hold it on the ride, but I can’t reach it.”
Faith dug it out of Lara’s pocket and flicked the knife into position. Quickly she cut through the cable ties. Lara groaned. “It hurts.”
Faith rubbed her wrists. “You just need to get the circulation back into them. Rotate them while I cut the rope.”
The rope took longer and she rubbed Lara’s ankles before tucking the knife into her pocket. Something cold touched her foot, and she spun around. The water had already crept into the cave. Time to move. She held out a hand and pulled Lara to her feet. The girl hopped around, rubbing her wrists and arms.
“Come on. We need to get to higher ground.” She kept her hand in Lara’s as they waded into the water. The current wasn’t strong in the cave, but they were already knee deep. Outside, the gully had become a frothing, debris-filled river. Faith moved as close as possible to the cave walls before stepping out into the current. It slammed into her, almost taking her feet out from under her. She let go of Lara’s hand as she fought to stay standing.
“Faith!” Lara yelled.
“I’m all right.” She shifted her body weight forward as she took stock. The ground outside the cave sloped and rocks hid under the surface of the rushing water. It was rising fast.
Her radio squawked.
“Faith, do you read?”
It sounded like Darcy. “Yes. I’ve got Lara. We’re at the mouth of the cave, but the river’s running pretty fast. I’m trying to figure out the best way out of here.” As she spoke, she examined the outside of the cave. Lara might be able to climb onto her shoulders and on to the rock above the cave.
“We’re about ten minutes away. Hold tight.”
They didn’t have ten minutes. With the water rising so rapidly, they’d be waist deep by then, and the pull of the river would be too much. “Matt, how far away are you?”
“The river’s cut us off,” Matt replied. “I’ve got to go the long way around.”
They were on their own. She tucked the radio back on her belt and examined the cave again. “Lara, can you climb up there if I give you a leg up?”
Lara shivered, her face pale.
Faith wrapped her arms around the girl to share body heat. “La La, I need you to be brave. See that rock there?” She pointed and Lara nodded. “When I give you a boost, grab on to it and then haul yourself up as if you were mounting Starlight, OK?”
“What about you?”
“I’ll climb up right after you,” she lied. It was too far out of her reach, but hopefully Lara wouldn’t realise. “Come on now.” She cupped her hands in front of her. “On the count of three.” Lara placed her foot in Faith’s palms. “One, two, three.” She used as much force as she could to lift Lara. The girl grasped the rock and swung her legs towards the overhang. She wouldn’t make it. Faith pushed Lara, almost like pushing a barbell above her head, giving her support so she could scramble up.
