Despite the map, once again I could not find the cave. The tracks were almost obliterated in the mud as water poured downhill. I found myself back at the copse of trees again, borderline hysterical by this point. To my relief, Victoria had marked the copse on the map, and I was able to get my bearings at last. I almost screamed with joy when the rocky outcrop appeared.
I crawled into the cave and swept the interior with the flashlight, which didn't do much good, given it was only a penlight. There was no one there, but I remembered Gordon's instructions for Rory. "Gordon," I said. "It's Lara. I'm alone." Nothing happened. My heart was in my throat. He was dead. I hadn't gotten there on time. "Gordon," I said again, this time a little louder. "It's Lara." I waited, holding my breath. Seconds ticked by. No one came.
In a panic I started scrabbling away at a pile of rocks to one side of the cave. Lo and behold, an opening appeared. I shone the pathetic light into it, and saw it was a shaft of some kind. It had been used by humans because there was a length of rope that hung down into it by a couple of feet, held there by another rock on the floor of the cave and covered with smaller stones so that it couldn't be seen. The shaft looked longer than I was tall, and even with a couple feet of rope, I didn't think I could go down there. But then I heard what I was reasonably sure was a groan. "I'm coming," I called.
The shaft was too narrow for me to even crawl on all fours, and I knew I'd have to wriggle my way in. Headfirst was not an option, because if I got stuck, I'd be there forever. Even with the penlight, I could see that the tunnel curved in such a way that if I went down on my back, I wouldn't be able to make the turn. So I lay flat on my stomach, stuck my feet into the downward tunnel, grabbed the rope over my head, and started to slide, using my elbows to brake the descent.
My feet hit rock on the turn when I was only a few feet down. I had no way of telling what lay beyond, and had a minor panic attack. For some reason, this position was very frightening for me. I know I'm uncomfortable with heights, but I've never known myself to be claustrophobic, never, that is, until then. The rock surface was only about four inches from my nose, and the lower I went the narrower the shaft seemed to be, although it was possible my imagination was in overdrive. I felt as if I was going to choke, and I was terrified that I wouldn't be able to pull myself back up lying on my back with my arms over my head.
I just couldn't go any further. I did manage to pull myself up to floor of the cave again and just sat there, breathing heavily. Then I heard the sound again. "Gordon?" I shouted into the shaft, and I was almost certain I heard a reply. If he was down there, then this had to be doable. I took a deep breath and went back into the shaft. This time, when my feet touched bottom, I swung them out into the space. I didn't know if it was another shaft like this one or the entrance to the abyss. Frightened, I decided I just could not do this, no matter what, and began to push myself back up.
But it was too late. I started to slide around the turn in the shaft, and then I fell a foot or two. I landed in a shower of stones on rock. I was in another shaft, mercifully horizontal this time and larger, enough for me to simply crouch over and make my way along. The flashlight was broken, but it didn't matter, because I could actually see light ahead of me. I thought at first that Gordon must have turned his flashlight on for my benefit, but when I stepped into a larger chamber, one in which I could actually stand upright, I realized that dawn was breaking, and there was a window at the far end of the cave. Just enough light was coming in that I could see Gordon sitting, his back to the cave wall. The first thought I had was that he was dead, sitting as he was, just like Jasper Robinson, but then he groaned. I'd brought one bottle of water with me, and I was over to him in a flash, pouring some into his open mouth. He opened his eyes immediately, grabbed the bottle, and drank.
"Breakfast," I said. "Sorry I'm late." It was a poor attempt at a joke, but if I hadn't said something like that, I'd have cried. He made an effort to smile.
"I brought mail, too," I said, handing him an envelope from Victoria. "The flashlight has quit, so you will have to go over to the light, while I go back up and get the rest of the supplies." He nodded, but he didn't move.
I had to take that awful shaft back up, but buoyed by my success, I made it quickly enough. I didn't think I'd have the strength to haul myself out too many more times, but I did manage to do it often enough to get the water and the food down there. Gordon was still sitting where I'd left him. It was then that I noticed his arm.
"What happened?" I said.
"It's my shoulder," he said. "I stumbled somehow. I guess I was getting a little impatient and careless, and I've either dislocated it or badly bruised it. The point is, I can't pull myself up that shaft."
"Maybe I could," I said, but I knew I couldn't. I could barely manage hauling myself up, and there was no way I could pull him up, even if I were Charles Atlas, because there wasn't enough room for both of us. This was really not good. I carefully pulled his shirt off his shoulder. I wouldn't know a dislocated shoulder if I fell over it, but there was no question he had one of the worst bruises I'd ever seen.
I made my way over to the opening in the rock and looked out. The storm continued to rage outside, but there was some shelter from the wet in the rock opening. Carefully I leaned out slightly and looked down. Vertigo kicked in immediately, and I staggered back from the edge. Very far below was the sea, churning against jagged rocks. I edged forward again and this time carefully looked up. The top of the cliff was maybe twenty feet up with no path, no toe- or finger-holds that I could see.
"I can certainly see why this was a good hiding place," I remarked, in what I hoped was a casual tone. "Nice and roomy, large picture window, outdoor facilities, though, I suppose."
"You just have to remember not to pee into the wind," he said. "Will you read me the note?" I did. In it, Victoria told him she loved him, that she had called the U.S. Embassy in Santiago, they had recommended a lawyer, and that same lawyer was supposed to have been on that day's flight, which had been canceled because of the storm. She would send the lawyer with one of the family members to get him as soon as he arrived. She said Edith was fine, but missed her papa. She said that they were keeping Gabriela comfortable while they tried to figure out what was wrong.
Gordon closed his eyes for a moment when I finished the letter. He seemed quite overcome. Then he asked about Rory and Christian and I had to tell him why they hadn't been able to bring the supplies. I considered telling him about the San Pedro rongorongo tablet, but I didn't. I didn't think he'd kill anyone, but I wasn't so sure he wouldn't make off with the tablet.
"This is one fine mess, isn't it, Lara?" he sighed. "And it is all of my making. If I hadn't lost my temper up there at Rano Raraku, I wouldn't be here and neither would you. I hope you will forgive me someday."
"Forget that," I said. "Let's just figure out how we're going to get you out of here, and soon." I gave him the little bottle of painkillers I had taken to carrying in my cosmetic bag ever since the migraine and piled the food and water up where he could reach them. He told me he could move about a little, but the shaft was out of the question.