Valley of Lost Time.

by Robert Turnbull Jr.

  “Sort of...” she sighed as she averted her eyes from the bloody legs lying on the floor. “I wanted to show you...” There were loud clambering sounds coming from below, then shouts from the guys below as they ran up the stairs and into the shattered cockpit.

  “Are you two all...right?” Jim looked at the two legs on the floor. “...or not... Who?”

  “Sergio.” It was all they could manage to mutter. Both women laid their heads on Jim’s shoulders as two more men carried Sergio’s legs out of their sight to bury them somewhere out of the way. These strong women had been pushed to their limits and now showed signs of breaking. Jim gave both them a little squeeze and let go. He turned and headed toward the rear stairs of the plane, stopped and mumbled over his shoulder.

  “You two will be fine.”

  As Jim vanished down the stairs to the area below, Marti turned and glared at Marcy.

  “Oh, so this is how this ‘great’ guy treats women... Why...”

  Marcy giggled, “Don’t you see Marti, Jim thinks the world of me, hell he about killed two men that tried to grab me in a bar one night and sent another to the hospital. They’d made some lurid remark about my cleavage and what he’d like to stick in there.” Marcy laughed louder as she told of that night, the way that bastard fell backward down the flight of stairs screaming all the way to the landing. And how Jim walked down, picked the guy up, and then threw him down the last flight of stairs.

  Marti gasped, “Jim did all that?”

  “Yeah, yeah he did...and more. He picked the limp guy up and carried him to the curb to a police car that was parked there and threw him on the hood. At the time I spoke little Spanish, but the two cops jumped out and said something in Spanish, looked at Jim’s size and pulled their guns. Jim said something to the cops, turned and walked back to me. While the cops shouted and pointed at me, Jim put my arm through his and we just walked away... The cops stopped shouting and that was that.”

  “My God, that’s so cool... but what the hell does that have to do with the way he treated us?”

  That night he walked me back to the room I was staying in, took my hand in his, and grinned. He told me that cop had told him the guy he had just kicked the shit out of, was the same guy that had grabbed my ass two weeks earlier.” Marcy looked sheepishly at the floor as she dragged her toe, making little circles.

  “He grabbed me and I kicked him in the nuts as I swung around. I kicked his face and when he fell, I stomped on his head...”

  “Shit... Really?” Marti giggled.

  “Yeah... Well the cop told Jim that, so back in the hotel when he grasped my hands... he looked me in the eye and smiled.

  “Ok, so now I know you don’t need me to defend your honor, or stick up for you. I know you can handle yourself now...but everyone needs a little hug now and then, just to show them everything is ok. Maybe not perfect, but ok.” He gave me a hug, a wink, and left for his room.

  “And you think that was sweet?”

  Marcy smiled and nodded, “Every time since then, when things got hairy for one of us, the other would give a little hug. It was just to show the other we understand and that sometimes it’s ok to take a second and show weakness... before we actually show how we feel. A kind of consoling with a hug, before one of us broke down...” she smiled at Marti.

  “See, Jim was showing us it’s ok to cry...before we did cry.

  “I wasn’t about to cry... dammit, I’m a strong woman. I fought my way through all kinds of crap just to be the first engineer in my family!” As tears began to form in her eyes Marti proclaimed loudly, “I was not about to cry. I’m sorry Sergio died, but I wasn’t about to cry and...” she sniffed loudly as tears rolled down her cheeks.

  Marcy smiled sweetly at Marti. “Don’t you see, maybe I was, maybe not.” She paused as she wiped another tear from Marti’s cheek, “But I think maybe Jim was... inside. Remember he feels responsible for all this... Marti, I think Jim came to me...us for that little hug. He knows how strong we are...how strong we have to be.”

  Marti now was in tears. “But he’s so strong...he...wasn’t crying.”

  Marcy smiled as she cradled the weeping Marti, “No he wasn’t crying... But now and then everyone needs a little hug to reassure them.”

  Chapter 6.

  Several of the men stayed as those that had been there during the attack headed back to the cave. The girls had vanished below briefly, then carrying a large canvas wrapped crate, loaded up the front-loader and caught a ride back while the men closed up the plane’s hatches to protect the cargo bay from the rising waters, and walked back. They knew the girls were already snug in the cave and they were barely half way back.

  Rex had taken a fall off the shiny, slick aluminum aircraft. Even a dinosaur with a nut-sized brain knew better then to return...or so that was the hope.

  The guys trudged through the knee deep water of the now widening creek. It had now become a very shallow river, that covered nearly the entire rocky floodplain.

  “Well at least the rain stopped.” Will muttered as he sloshed harder to make his point. The others laughed until they heard a shout from upstream. Will looked, and then pointed to the two men running at top speed. “What the hell are they running for? I don’t see any dinosaurs and...”

  Jim grasped Will by the shirt and pulled him along as the rest of the men burst into sprint mode.

  “They’re pointing up stream... water’s getting higher.”

  One of the miners grasped Will’s other arm and pulled him along.

  “I think there’s a flash flood coming!”

  By now Will and his companions were running at a full tilt as they met the men that had gone to bury Sergio’s remains just west of the lift cage, which thankfully, had been completed.

  As the six men got on to the metal lift, they heard a muffled roar and turned to look upstream. A four-foot wall of water was hurtling toward them.

  Jesus screamed and waved frantically for the lift to get going, as the wall of water came closer and just as it approached, the lift began to move. The six men grasped the pipe railing and got into a stooped position and those that believed...began to pray.

  The lift began to pick up speed, just not quick enough. The water slammed into the steel lift cage and shoved it off the steel piping it slid upon. The cage was thrown toward the cliff face and as the raging torrent tried to blast the cage downstream and the small dozer slid sideways a few feet. Now off the protective rails that allowed the cage to move up the cliff face smoothly, they slammed against the hard rocky surface of the cliff. Time and time again the cage hit the cliff as the water rushed over and through the cage. The dozer driver stayed with the machine and shoved the accelerator to the floor, while the cage below was pummeled and the men in it thought they would die.

  The steel cage with six men, plus the weight of the cable was about all the small dozer could handle... Now with the added pressure of the rushing water, the small dozer was barely holding its own.

  With six of the men below and one driving the dozer, Armondo ran from the cave carrying a length of rope and tied it to the slowly skidding dozer’s tow hook on the front blade. The remaining nine people grasped on to the towrope behind Armondo and began to pull on the dozer. As they pulled, they struggled to keep their footing on the hard wet solid rock ledge.

  From somewhere deep inside they found the strength and the small dozer stopped sliding. An inch, then another...then another. They pulled and strained as steam rolled from under the heavy treads of the dozer as it slipped and strained to gain traction.

  Finally, the treads bit into the hard granite and the cage slowly slid from the deadly waters and slammed against the side of the steel pipes that formed the guide rails up. Still not on the rails, the cage began to grate slowly upward toward the ledge.

  Now out of the raging waters below the dozer began to pull the cage up slowly as the people in front let go of the rope and ran toward the side of the ledge. They looked down in horror... />
  There were only three men lying around the cage. One was on the floor, another had been pushed half way out through the pipes that formed the cage’s railings and one was drooped over the four-foot railing, head down. All three were wet and muddy and those above were unsure if any were alive.

  “One moved!” Shouted Marti, “Oh God please let it be Jim.”

  “Another moved... All are moving!” came the shouts as the cage moved closer to the ledge.

  The man that was hanging half over the railing dropped back inside the cage and looked up. Through the muddy water soaked face they could see it was Jim.

  “JIM!” shouted Marcy. “Are you ok?”

  Jim waved as the other two stood. The other two were Jesus and Will... the rest had gone.

  “Paulo fell when the water hit us...” an emotional Jim shouted from below, “...Ramón went some time shortly after...we didn’t even see him go. Luis...I couldn’t hold on to him... I tried...I just...” Jim fell silent as the cage reached the ledge and those on top quickly got the three survivors out of the cage and laid them on the wide rocky ledge. Still sopping wet Jim shouted for the rest to get the cage back into the tracks so as soon as the waters subsided, a search party could go down and look for survivors. His head dropped back down to the hard ledge, Jim, like the others, were exhausted.

  Marti slid to Jim’s head and laid it upon her lap. “He’s passed out.”

  Marcy knelt between the other two, “Yeah, these two as well. They’re exhausted. My God how did they manage to hang on?”

  Armondo slowly shook his head in amazement as he repeated Marcy’s lament.

  “How did these three manage to hang on? Mother of Christ, that river should have ripped their arms from their sockets.” He crossed himself, looked to the heavens, and added, “Thank you Lord for saving those three.”

  Marti smiled softly, “Especially Jim.”

  “Amen.” Marcy muttered as she put her hand on Marti’s shoulder. “Amen.”

  The rains started again and the three unconscious were carried inside and put into the larger sleeping areas, all had suffered concussions! Little could have anyone guessed Jim’s was the worst. He had managed to grasp Luis as the raging waters had sucked him nearly through the railing. Jim grabbed his hand as it tore the man from the cage and held on for dear life. The waters had been rolling and slamming the cage against the cliff face and as Jim refused to let go of Luis, both he and Luis were slammed against the cliff. Jim’s head barely got out of the way as the cage hit the rocky cliff or it would have been caught between the top rail and the jutting boulder it was headed for. One last pull and Jim had managed to swing Luis to the side away from the strike. In doing so the boulder slammed into Jim instead and he lost consciousness ...and Luis. Will had seen it all, but being wedged between the rails by the pressure of the waters, kept him from helping... All he could do was watch the screaming Luis vanish from sight in the muddy floodwaters. Within seconds another cage slam to the cliff caused Will to blackout.

  For a full day, the three lay nearly dead to the world. Will was the first to snap out of it, then Jesus a few hours later. For two days Jim, who had now been moved to the girls sleeping area and the only mattress, was now in a fitful coma. For two days he slipped in and out of his nightmarish delirium. His body writhed as horrible dreams slashed at his mind.

  At times he’d be at peace, other times he’d rant and shout as he fought his way through the non-existing terrors in his head. And all the time Marti stayed at this side. She bathed his sweaty brow and poured cool water over his burning body. She spoon-fed him some dinosaur broth that Armondo had prepared. And on the third day dropped over from exhaustion and was carried to the Captain’s sleeping area which was quiet and isolated. And she slept...for a full day!

  Marti’s eyes fluttered, and then finally managed to get all the way open. As she focused at the cave wall it hit her... “Jim!” she shouted, spun from the mat that padded Jim’s sleeping ledge, and right into the arms of the very man she so worried about.

  “Whoa there missy.” Jim smiled warmly. “Seems someone should have been keeping a better watch on herself, then on some crash happy pilot.”

  “Jim...” Marti threw her arms around his neck and buried her face into his chest. Jim wasn’t exactly sure why, whether it was still exhaustion, or what, but she began to sob uncontrollably. After a few seconds, he slowly moved her so he could see her face.

  “Marcy and the rest told me how you stayed by my side until you passed out from exhaustion...Christ! Are you nuts?”

  Marti gave Jim a huge smile, “No... I’m not crazy... I’m in love!” and with her hands still around his neck slowly pushed her lips to his and with a deep sigh, found his lips parted to accept her kiss. She gave a soft satisfying sigh as he enclosed his arms around her waist as he pulled her to him. Seconds turned into a minute and more.

  Suddenly the entire cave erupted in cheers, whistles, and applause. The startled lovers jumped and turned to see everyone standing below on the cave floor looking up and clapping as they cheered. Both turned beet red and never thought they could blush as much as they did. That is until the grinning Marcy put both hands to her mouth and shouted above the applause...

  “What you two haven’t started bumping uglies yet?”

  Now the cheers got louder and catcalls rang throughout the cave...and the pair discovered they had not begun to blush. Marti buried her face into Jim’s chest to hide her embarrassment. As the noise died down Jim leaned his head down and whispered into Marti’s ear.

  “Oh great you get to bury your face in my chest to hide your embarrassment... Where am I supposed to bury mine?”

  Without any hesitation Marti raised her lips to Jim’s ear and whispered.

  “When we find a place to be alone... I’ll show ya.” She winked and gave Jim’s ear a soft warm blow and pulled away to face those below.

  “Enough fun and games people. We’ve lost a lot of time and we have plans to make. Ten minutes we meet at the fire pit.”

  Those below turned and went about their business as Marti turned to look at her new love. He looked down, gave her a wink and a snappy salute.

  “Yessam!” he climbed down toward the floor, he turned and held his hand to Marti. “Wouldn’t want my girl to fall.”

  On the floor the pair walked over toward the fire pit... arms around each other’s waist. Once the pair sat at the fire, the others gathered... All were smiling at the duo warmly. It was nice to see something positive for a change.

  “Ok so how long was I out?” Jim asked softly, still feeling a bit unsteady.

  “Only a few days.” Marcy replied softly, “But we’re so glad you came back to us.”

  “How many?” Jim insisted.

  Marcy looked at the cave’s ceiling and counted on her fingers, “Ahh, three, then Marti passed out, that was another...”

  Will leaned toward Jim who was sitting across the fire from him.

  “Do you remember the flood Jim?” Jim nodded he did. “Well, the plane was moved by the force of the waters...” Will looked over to Bill, “...what about fifty feet? While you were out, we got the rest of the stuff in the bay and have it stored up here.” Will looked around and chuckled.

  “As you see we kind of crowded a lot of it in here and the rest is outside on the ledge.”

  Spider sat next to Jim and chuckled. “Maybe soon, when you’re better, we can go on our little trip? Until then I’ve managed to trap a few little dinosaurs that came to the creek to drink a bit west of here.”

  Armondo laughed, “They don’t taste too bad either...if they’re fixed right.”

  Jim grinned, “You bet, I want to get off this killer mountain as soon as possible.”

  Marti playfully elbowed him in the ribs. She knew full well that her love would have to go and it was killing her now that she knew how Jim felt about her.

  “I suppose...after a week or so...when you’re better.”

  “Day after tomorrow.
” Jim snorted, “Hell, I’m fine!” he saw Marti showing signs of protest and smiled at her lovingly.

  “Really honey, I’m fine... Thanks to you and everyone else that took care of me and our group while I was... uhh, out?” he chuckled and so did the rest of the survivors.

  Jim’s expression changed and before he could utter a word Jesus spoke.

  “Senor Jim... We did look, but our friends must have been swept over the valley’s crest. It appears they got off this mountain before we did.”

  Armondo nodded and crossed himself.

  “I think maybe I prefer to climb down. Let’s hope there is a way to the west. Maybe senor Jim will find it on their journey.”

  “Journey!” Marti looked at Marcy and jumped to her feet. With a few quick steps she had run across the cave to the tarp that covered the girls sleeping area. Everyone could hear her rummaging around, and then she reappeared lugging a huge canvas wrapped object. She laid it on the cave floor and as everyone turned to look, Marcy got up and joined her.

  Marti unwrapped the top of the package and pulled out two large tanks with some hoses attached. Marcy pulled the nimble Spider to his feet and strapped the tanks to his back.

  “I whipped up a batch of napalm out of the chemicals we carried... It was kind of Marcy’s idea.” She added.

  Marcy laughed, “All I said was, ‘I wished you guys had a flame throwing tank to explore in.”

  Marti grinned, “Well it’s not a tank, but it does throw burning napalm about twenty-five feet and for God’s sake use it only as a last resort. With what we had on hand, the stream of napalm is very weak and in a strong wind, it could blow back on you. I’ve already shown Spider and Will how to use it.”

  She nodded and Spider took the flamethrower off and sat as Marcy began unfolding more of the canvas. As her back was turned the group at the fire they could only see the two girls nicely shaped rear ends as they wiggled one way, then the other as they prepared their next surprise. In the terrific heat of this valley the women had cut off their jeans into ‘short shorts’ and now were showing how nicely rounded their rears were.