CAVE IN

The men were just finishing their shift and were getting ready to go to the cage that would take them to the surface. Suddenly, above the noise of all the machinery, came an ominous rumble, like distant thunder. "Cave in", shouted Tom Peters, the chargehand. Seconds after the rumble, the whole area was filled with choking black dust, and everyone was confused for a few minutes. Then as the dust cleared, Tom took command. "Right lads, lets have a head count". He counted everyone, then counted again. There was one missing. "Each man answer their name", he said. They did, and Tom realised that young Mike was missing. "Come on lads, to the cave in and see how bad it is, you get back up top John and get a rescue team down here"

Meanwhile, on the other side of the cave in, Mike was lying stunned. As he came to, he realised what had happened and that he was trapped. As he tried to move, he knew he was trapped, so he shone his lamp towards his legs, and saw there was a beam across them. "They'll get me out soon ", he said to himself, but was wondering just how bad the blockage was, and how long it would take to reach him. What seemed like hours passed, and there was no sign or sound of any rescue. Suddenly, he saw a light coming towards him, and his spirits rose. "Hello there young fella, looks like you could do with a bit of help". Without further ado, the stranger lifted the beam off his legs and then asked him if he wanted a drink of water. "Yes please ", replied Mike, "but where did you come from?". "Oh, back there aways", the stranger replied. "Who are you?", Mike asked. "Joe Thompson", the stranger replied, "I'll stay with you, it won't be long now".

Sure enough, not long after, Mike could see a light and hear voices. He called out and then they were with him. He looked round for Joe, but there was no sign of him. As they were getting ready to carry him out he said, "Just a minute, we’ll have to wait for Joe". His rescuers looked at each other, and then Tom said, "There isn't anybody else here son, you must have imagined it". "I wasn't, "protested Mike, "there's his bottle on the floor". On the floor beside him lay a bottle with the initials J. T. on it. "He gave me a drink and got the beam off me". "You must be mistaken", replied Tom, "Joe Thompson died in a cave in twenty years ago, he was never found". Hours later, when all was quiet again, a figure appeared and picked the bottle up.

By Pat Rogers.

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