Page 24

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A fter checking on Maria, Diego, and their newborn baby, the elderly cardiac patient, who appeared more stable than the day before, and the other injured individuals, Doug received an update from Romeo.

Across the massive pile of rocks, mud, and downed trees, he could see multiple military vehicles and dozens of uniformed soldiers had finally arrived at the entrance to the village.

It took about twenty minutes for them to decide on the best strategy for a rescue.

They planned to rig up a traverse high-line, which involved stretching rope horizontally over the area impacted by the landslide.

A trolley or pulley system would then safely transport a person across it, either in a sling or on a stretcher.

A team of soldiers began to scale the mountain to circumvent the area where the landslide had started and bring equipment to help those cut off from the others.

Once the high-line was set up, they would transport those in need of medical care first. Then, Jenn, Doug, and the rest of the villagers would be transferred over to the other side.

It would take the soldiers about an hour to reach them and then a few more hours to rescue everyone.

It was impossible for a helicopter to descend into the area, which lacked a sufficient landing zone, and high winds prevented them from lifting people to safety.

So, the only other option, aside from the traverse high-line, was to climb out, reversing the same route the rescue team had used.

However, most of those in need of extrication were in no condition to make the arduous journey, especially when another landslide could occur.

While waiting for the team of soldiers, Doug and Jenn spent their time triaging the villagers and explaining the rescue to them.

Understandably, some were frightened, but Jenn was able to reassure them that they would be safe.

He was proud of how calm she was and how well she handled the situation.

She was even able to make some of them laugh, despite their circumstances.

The dog that’d slept in the cabin last night followed them around—probably because they shared part of their breakfast with her—while a few others kept their distance.

Doug made a mental note to ask the army if they could somehow supply food and water for the domesticated animals stuck on that side of the village or lead them over to the other side.

He would hate it if they had to be left behind to fend for themselves.

Two more minor aftershocks occurred, but like the three they’d experienced overnight, they hadn’t caused any further damage or injuries. While a few rocks had tumbled down the remains of yesterday’s landslide, the earth and trees didn’t follow.

After the triage was completed and everyone was hydrated, they took some latex gloves from the medical supplies and inflated them, making improvised balloons for the few children awaiting rescue. Doug found a marker in one of the bags and drew happy faces on them, which the kids loved.

When the soldiers finally arrived, Doug was grateful the officer in charge spoke English, so he didn’t have to keep asking Jenn to translate the words he was unfamiliar with.

Several of the men were medics, and Jenn brought them to the victims who needed to be rescued first while Doug helped set up the traverse high-line.

From the other side of the village, a throw-line launcher was fired, sending the initial rope and then another over the debris field.

The soldiers determined the best anchor point was a massive tree about thirty yards from the edge of the landslide.

The ropes were also attached to another anchor point on the far side.

It took over an hour for the rigging to be completely set up, tested, and deemed safe for transportation.

It took a bit of persuasion for Esperanza’s parents to allow a medic to take their newborn on the stretcher, with her strapped to his chest, and carry her to safety.

Diego wanted to do it, but the soldier had extensive experience in that type of rescue and wouldn’t panic if the basket swayed or dipped without warning.

Finally, after a few minutes of assurance that the infant would be in good hands, they tearfully watched as she and the medic were secured into the Stokes rescue stretcher and slowly pulled across the debris field.

Jenn put her arm around Maria to comfort the distraught woman, who cried with relief when the stretcher and its precious cargo reached the other side safely.

One by one, the injured were brought to safety, where they immediately received further medical care, with some being loaded into one of the army's ambulances for transportation to the hospital.

Once the last of the victims who needed the stretcher had been rescued, the crew switched it out for a harness, similar to what is used for zip-line adventures.

That way, people could sit during the transfer, which gave them a better sense of control and stability during the rescue, rather than staring helplessly up at the trees and sky.

It also went a bit faster. The children went first, and each was attached to one of the soldiers as they were moved to the safe zone.

When there were only a few villagers left to transfer, Jenn whispered to Doug, “I have to pee so bad. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

She gestured to the cabin they’d slept in, and Doug checked his watch, then nodded.

It was a little after three p.m. Rescuing everyone had been long and tedious, and at the rate they were going, it was doubtful they would get back to the commune before dark.

“Okay. We have at least twenty or thirty minutes before it’s your turn, then mine. ”

They’d decided to go last, allowing the frightened villagers to join their loved ones first. After that, the few remaining soldiers would trek up the mountain again with their equipment and supplies.

Hurrying over to the rustic home, Jenn disappeared through the door.

Doug watched until she was no longer in sight, then returned his attention to the rescue in progress.

It was a few minutes before the middle-aged man in the harness reached the other side.

He was in the process of being unhooked from the pulley system when the ground began to shake violently.

The aftershock was more substantial than the previous ones, and Doug spun around and raced toward the cabin, stumbling and trying to stay on his feet, desperate to get Jenn out of there in case it collapsed.

He ignored the shouts and yelps behind him, focusing only on one person—Jenn.

As he neared the cabin, he glanced up the mountain, relieved that the quake hadn’t triggered another landslide—at least not yet.

The tremors eased, but then his heart nearly stopped when he heard Jenn scream.

He rushed inside, finding her on the ground with part of the roof collapsed on top of her.

He quickly pushed aside a metal sheet to reach her. “Jenn! Are you okay?”

She was covered in dust, dirt, and fragments of building material, but alive and conscious. Her eyes were filled with a combination of pain and relief at seeing him. “Help! I’m stuck!”

It was then he noticed her lower left arm was pinned under a support beam that had fallen.

With massive doses of adrenaline coursing through his veins, he lifted the beam off her just as two soldiers appeared in the doorway.

One was the officer in charge, the other was a medic.

As the quake ceased, they helped clear the area around Jenn as Doug gently assessed her arm, which was at an odd angle just above her wrist—definitely broken.

“Can you wiggle your fingers?” he asked.

She moved them just enough to reassure him, but winced and cried out in pain. “Ow! Yeah, but it hurts like hell.” Panting, she glanced at her arm. “It’s broken, right?”

“Yeah, but the good thing is the bones didn’t break the skin, so it’s not a compound fracture.”

“Damn it! If Uncle Ian says, ‘I told you so,’ I’m going to smack him silly. I tried to run outside when it started, but I tripped, and then the blasted roof came crashing down. Is anyone else hurt?”

He didn’t know and, honestly, didn’t care at the moment. She was his main priority. Thankfully, the officer responded, “Everyone else is okay, senorita. Let’s put your arm in a splint and then get you out of here.”

They worked quickly but carefully, applying an inflatable splint to immobilize her arm, wrist, and hand.

Doug cringed every time she moaned or gasped in pain.

The medic had given her a shot of morphine before doing anything else, but it didn’t kick in until they were ready to move her.

Then her eyes glazed over, and she began to giggle.

Lord, the woman was cute when she was stoned out of her mind, and it helped ease Doug’s mind just a bit.

He’d feel much better when they could get her somewhere more civilized with an X-ray machine and people with M.D. after their names.

The three men helped her stand and held on until she was steady on her feet. Doug moved to her right side, wrapping his arm around her waist in support. “Lean on me. I’ve got you.”

She gave him a lopsided smile as she swayed into him. “You most certainly do.” Another giggle escaped her. “Wow, that stuff packs a punch!”

“I know.”

“When did you have some?” Her eyes widened in horror. “Oh, that’s right! After you were shot!”

He took a step toward the door, and when she followed, he continued forward.

“Yeah, after the surgery, though. I was unconscious by the time they got me to the hospital.” Why were they talking about the day both of them almost died?

He tried to change the subject to something less morbid. “How’s the pain?”