Thank god...
Satisfied, he dropped and slid out of the fireplace’s hearth.
He popped back to the surface in the study.
“There’s a way out,” he announced. “But it’s not going to be easy.”
11:59A.M.
Jason climbed behind Anna. She shivered—both from cold and terror. Wearing only a bra and underwear, she looked naked. Still, she showed no concern or embarrassment. Like all of them, her focus was on the arduous ascent, on clinging to the hand- and toeholds along one side of the chimney.
The passage was tight. Rock rubbed Jason’s back if he leaned out toofar to raise a knee or reach an arm. But it was manageable for someone of his small stature. Overhead, Gray struggled a bit more as he led the way.
Luckily, Kowalski wasn’t with them.
He’d never have fit through here.
Still, another teammate strained for a different reason.
Below Jason, Yelagin wheezed and coughed. The elderly bishop fought for every yard gained, but so far, he was managing the ascent. Mostly due to the thoughtfulness afforded them by the engineers of this exit. Every thirty feet, a side cubby had been dug out. It allowed for two people to sit, perched above the drop, and catch their breath.
At each spot, the group had allowed Yelagin to relax with Bailey—while everyone else braced their backs against the chimney wall and pinned themselves in place and waited.
“There’s another rest stop up ahead,” Gray called down.
They had reached this one quicker than expected. The last cubby was only twenty or so feet below them. The gaps between the rest stops must be getting smaller, which was a merciful boon. In the shine of flashlights looped to the men’s belts, Yelagin’s face had gone deathly white, his eyes pinched from the exertion.
Jason returned his focus above. “Anna, do you need to take a break? Maybe sit for a spell with the bishop?”
“I... I’m okay. I can keep going. For now, at least.”
Anna stared up the endless chute. Though she didn’t ask it, he knew what she was thinking.
How much farther do we have to go?
With no way of knowing, they continued the ascent in silence. Despite her assurance a moment ago, Anna looked longingly toward the cubby, but she climbed past it.
Jason couldn’t blame her. By now, his fingers were crabbed, and his shoulders ached. It was actually a relief when Bailey shouted under him.
“I’ll help Bishop Yelagin get seated. We may need to rest a bit longer this time.”
Sighing, Jason pushed his back against the opposite wall and pinned his legs to a toehold. He felt secure enough to let go with his hands andmassage his fingers. Anna did the same. Past her, Gray looked anxious to keep moving, but there was no rush.
The rising waters below had stopped pursuing them for some time, indicative that the library must be fully flooded by now.
Under his legs, lights jostled as Bailey helped Yelagin into the cubby. The bishop thanked him, collapsing heavily in exhaustion. As he did, a loud metallic snap sounded, echoing sharply from the two men’s position.
Oh, sh—
It was another boobytrap, likely meant to rid the chute of any trespassers who stumbled upon it, those who failed to note that this cubby was not like the others, positioned differently from the regular run of rest stops.
A wall of heavy water burst from the rear of the cubby, surging out a hidden door. The bishop’s body was slammed against the chute’s opposite wall, crashing into Bailey, who still clung to the stone ladder. The two men tangled, with limbs thrashing, then Yelagin fell away, vanishing into the torrent.
Bailey managed to keep one handhold. His legs flailed under him, scrabbling for a purchase. But the surge was too fierce. He looked up in a panic, as if recognizing the inevitable.
Jason refused to accept this and headed down. “Hang on!”
Bailey choked on the downpour. “No... you’ll be pulled with me!” The priest looked below. “I’ll try to reach—”
