Desperation

Ralph looked doubtful but said nothing.

“Everybody all right.” Joh

“What’s going to happen.” Mary asked. “I mean, what’s the plan.”

“We do what God tells us,” David said. “That’s the plan. Come on.

It was David who led, going up the slope sidesaddle to keep from falling. There was no wide gravel road here, not even a path, and the ground was evil. Joh

Yet he felt good. Everything was simple now. That was sort of wonderful.

David was in the lead, his father behind him. Steve and Cynthia next. Joh

“Why have you still got that motorcycle helmet.” she asked.

Joh

She gave a small, breathless laugh. “You’re nuts.”

If it had been forty yards uphill instead of twenty, Joh

Don’t weaken now, he told himself. You’re into the final straightaway.

He made himself move a little faster, suddenly afraid that David might simply turn and go into the shaft before he could get there, It was possible, too. Steve thought the boss knew what was going on, but in fact the boss knew precious little. He was being handed the script a page ahead of the rest of them, that was all.

But David waited, and soon they were all clustered on the slope in front of the opening.

A dank smell issued from it, chilly and charred at the same time. And there was a sound Joh

“We ought to pray,” David said, sounding timid. He held his hands out to either side of him.

His father took one of his hands. Steve put down the.30-.06 and took the other. Mary took Ralph’s, Cynthia took Steve’s. Joh

They stood in the darkness of China Pit, smelling the dank exhaled breath of the earth, listening to that faint roar, looking at David Carver, who had brought them here.

“Whose father.” David asked them.

“Our father,” Joh

The others joined in, Cynthia, the minister’s daughter, first, Mary last.

“-thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.”

Through the amen, Cynthia continued on: “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever, amen.” She looked up with the little twinkle Joh

David was looking at Joh

“Help me do my best,” Joh

David shrugged and shook his head. “Said it already.” He let go of the hands holding his, and the circle broke.

Joh

“Do what.” Mary asked. “Do what. Will you please tell me.”

“I’m supposed to go in,” David said. “Alone.”

Joh

David looked at him uncertainly and wet his lips.

Joh

“My dad-”

“Right behind you. He’ll catch you if you fall.”

“No,” David said. He suddenly looked scared—terrified. “I don’t want that. I don’t want him in there at all. The roof might cave in, or-”

“David! What you want doesn’t matter.”

Cynthia grabbed Joh

Can’t you quit badgering him.”

“I’m not,” Joh

He looked at David. The boy muttered something under his breath, far too low to hear, but Joh

“That’s right, he’s cruel. But you knew that. And you have no control over the nature of God anyway. None of us do. So why won’t you relax.”

David made no reply. His head was bowed, but not in prayer this time. Joh

“If we have to go in, I want to go in with Steve,” Cyn-thia said.

“Okay, fine,” Joh

“Who put you in charge, anyway.” Mary asked.

Joh

She shook her head, confused.

“Easy, boss,” Steve murmured.

“I’m easy,” Joh

“Want me to take those bags, Joh

“I’ll be fine. It’s not far now. Is it, David.”

“No,” David said in a small, trembling voice. He appeared not to be just holding his father’s hand now but caressing it as a lover might do. He looked at Joh

Joji

For a moment he didn’t think Steve would do it. Then he pulled the flashlight out of his back pocket and handed it over.