Freefall by Kristen Heitzmann Page B

wall. If it was open at the far end, he might get inside without fighting the falls. But not without air.
    He pulled to the surface, emptying his lungs as he went. He broke the surface, sucked air.
    Jade grabbed his arm, barely holding her own in the turbulence. “What did you find?”
    Not was there something , but what? Her expectancy shook him. How could she know he’d seen anything?
    “I’m not sure. I’m going to look again.” He hollered, “Stay here.” Then down he plunged with purpose, heading straight for the lava tube. Just wide enough to pull through, it blocked the pounding force of the falls, though the water still surged and tugged. But then he was through and kicking for the surface. If the cave didn’t clear the surface of the pool, he’d have to retrace it all in the same breath. His lungs burned already. Thrusting with his arms and legs, he propelled himself up, shining the light to keep from smacking his head on the roof.
    His face broke the surface under the low dome of the cave. Breathing hard, light raised, he turned a slow circle, saw the ledge along one wall, and the man lying there.

ELEVEN
    Waiting for Cameron to surface, Jade tried with everything in her to remember what had happened. Had someone else gone over the falls? Why would she leave, why let the water carry her out if she’d known? She looked up and imagined her plunge over the powerful falls. She didn’t really remember, but it explained the feeling of falling.
    If she’d hit her head, concussed, lost sight of who she was and whom she was with … Even now she fought the pull toward the rapids where the pool drained. The swift water had swept her along until she’d pulled herself ashore. By then how disoriented had she been? She had trekked to Nica’s without knowing she’d left someone behind. But if they were too late, how would she ever forgive herself?
    She took a breath and dove under the water, whipped white with the action of the falls. She remembered its nightmare strength. Here was her assailant. No person, as the cop had assumed, but the raw power of nature and her own human error.
    She pulled deeper, but there was no sign of Cameron or his light. Where had he gone? What if he’d been trapped, crushed, knocked unconscious? Lungs burning, she surfaced. He’d said not to panic, but this was too long. He couldn’t hold his breath so long. She dove under again, saw his light shining up from the bottom and met him halfway. They pulled to the surface together.
    He grabbed hold and gasped, “I found him. He’s alive.”
    Exhilaration seized her. “Where? How?”
    “There’s a cave.”
    “A cave! Show me. Take me to him.”
    “I don’t know if you can make it.” He started swimming toward the side.
    What? “Cameron. Wait.” She had to see, had to reach her companion, but Cameron climbed out onto the shore.
    “Cameron!” She splashed up with him. “You can’t—”
    He raised a hand. “Hold on a minute.” He bent tight at the waist, wrapping his arms around the backs of his thighs, then down to grab his ankles. He’d either strained something or was cramping. The moments it took for him to get his breath nearly drove her wild.
    At last he straightened. “The only way in is through a lava tube almost under the falls. It’s tight and deep.”
    “But you got through and he’s there. Is he all right? Is he injured?”
    “He’s unconscious. Feverish. His legs are beat up. Pulse is thready.” He rubbed his hand over his mouth and beard. “I don’t know how much time we have.”
    Her heart pounded. “Can we get him out?”
    “Not without air tanks and stretcher.” His gaze circled the basin. “I need to climb up to get a signal.”
    “We can’t leave him.”
    He chewed his lip, causing the narrow line of beard to jut out beneath. “How long can you hold your breath?”
    “Long enough.”
    “It’s more than twenty feet deep, at least twelve along the lava tube, then up. No room for