“You’ve got to do something. There are two men with guns over there and they are trying to rob the place.” Steve recognized her as the desk clerk that was on duty when he checked in.
“You don’t think they will still try to rob this place after what happened do you?” He questioned her.
“I don’t know but, they are definitely crazy. They were talking about shooting anyone that got in their way. I think they are really nuts. Oh, aren’t you Steve Sidel from the computer company?”
He had shined the light away from her face and she could see his in the reflection of the light from where it was now shining on a half-fallen roof beam.
“Yes I am. It’s Paula isn’t it?”
“Yes I’m Paula. Paula Howard. What can we do?”
“Listen.” Steve spoke very softly. “Help me get this woman over to the ramp and we’ll tell the people over there to alert the police that must be here by now, that we have some dangerous people down here and they can send a couple of officers down here to take care of them, okay?”
Steve helped a very shook up elderly women to her feet. Her diamond necklace shone in the light from the flashlight as Paula held her arm as they started leading her toward the ramp.
When Steve and Paula reached the ramp they handed the women over to one of the twins just as Kevin and Bill climbed back down in the hole.
“We got big problems Steve.” Exclaimed Bill Forham. “The people on the surface said the crack at the lake was getting larger and the whole lake might be pouring in on us in a very short time. We have to really rush if we’re going to save all these people.”
“We got more problems than that Bill. Paula here said she was about to be robbed when the whole place fell in. She said the two men are really pissed off and they are carrying guns. This is getting to be some adventure.”
The three men and the women looked around with the flashlights and Steve said.
“We got to get as many people as we can out of here before the water comes rushing in or those gun wielding jerks come around. Try to tell anyone you see where the ramp is and anyone that is still alive but, cannot go under their own power, tell them we will help them as soon as we can. You two take the one flashlight and head in that direction.” He pointed away from the direction of the lake. “I’ll take the other light and head over there.” He nodded in the direction of the lake. “Paula, you go back to the ramp and climb to safety while we see who we can find.”
“No Steve. I’m not hurt. I’ll go with you to help save anyone we can.” Paula replied. “I think two will be better than one in this situation, don’t you?”
“I guess you’re right Paula but, stick really close to me okay?”
She nodded her head in the faint light from the flashlight and they began making their way toward the front doors of the lobby. They saw a woman staggering around in a very dazed condition and they both recognized her as Tiffany Royal, the movie star.
“Miss Royal.” Paula stated. “Over here. We’ll show you the way out.”
Tiffany Royal slowly made her way over to Steve and Paula and said.
“Thank God someone is here to help. Brandon Miles is lying over there with a big lump on his head and I can’t wake him up. Please help him.”
Steve rushed over to where Brandon was lying and reached under his arms and lifted him to his feet. He groaned as soon as he was upright and almost fell over backwards. Steve walked him over to Paula and Tiffany and handed him over to Paula.
“Paula. Why don’t you show them where the ramp is and the twins can help them get out. I’ll be right by the doors over here so you’ll be able to find me. There are a lot of people over there and I’ll go see what I can do.”
Paula got Brandon and Tiffany to the edge of the ramp and handed them over to the twins and headed back toward Steve when she heard a gruff voice in her ear.
“Stop right there bitch. Oh it’s you again. The broad at the front desk that slipped away when the world caved in. Well honey. We’re back.”
Darwood McKenzie woke up when a squirrel started chattering at him. He had fallen asleep about ten thirty in a remote area about one hundred and fifty yards away from the tennis courts. Dilford Bailey had chewed him out for getting the woman and her dog soaked and he put his tail between his legs and wandered into the woods to be by himself. He was really disappointed that he could not do anything right and he felt really sorry for himself. When he came across a nice soft pile of pine needles laying in front of a large pine tree he sat down with his back to the tree and pondered his future. He sat there for awhile and had finally fallen asleep. The squirrel made so much noise at having this stranger invade his personal space that he had not given up chattering until Darwood got up and moved away from his nest.
Darwood had no idea what to do next. He was probably going to get fired he reasoned as soon as Bailey told his boss what he had done. He really liked his job and he was sorry he kept screwing up. If they give me one more chance I will really be good he thought. I will never make a mistake again. With this added courage he decided to face whatever was dealt to him and he walked back toward the resort. He kept his head down most of the way out of the woods and when he reached the tennis courts he looked toward the lobby. Unfortunately the lobby was gone. A look of terror crossed his face and he raced over to where a group of people were standing in the parking lot. He tripped only twice on the way there and he felt his life might really be on an upswing. When he reached the group of people, he was fascinated by an Indian girl who was helping some hurt people out of the large hole in the ground.
“Let me help you miss.” He directed toward Connie Littlefield as she was helping two elderly people toward a shady tree to sit under.
“Why thank you. I could use some help.” She replied as she looked in the eyes of Darwood McKenzie. “These people are really dazed.” She handed the arm of the elderly man over to Darwood and he gently grasped the man’s arm and walked him slowly over to a tree.
“What happened here? It looks like the whole place sunk in the ground.”
“There was some kind of sinkhole and a whole lot of people are trapped underground.
I’m just trying to help the people they get out of that hole to be comfortable until help arrives.”
Darwood noticed for the first time the bruises and infected needle marks on her arms and for the first time in his life a feeling of wanting to care for someone the rest of his life blossomed out of his heart. He knew she was a few years older than him but he figured she had been through a lot and maybe she would accept the help from someone who really cared. She noticed him looking at her arms and a blush began forming on her face. This guy isn’t looking at me like a piece of meat ready to be used she thought. He looks like he really cares. She smiled from deep inside at Darwood and said in a quiet voice.
“There are some more people to be helped. You’re welcome to come with me if you want.”
Darwood looked her in the eye and the chemistry that shot back at him decided his future.
“I couldn’t think of anything I would rather do miss. Oh I’m sorry. I don’t even know your name.”
“It’s Connie. Connie Littlefield. I’m half Indian.”
“I’m Darwood McKenzie and I’m half-clumsy.”
“Well half clumsy. I’m very glad to meet you.” She smiled. “Let’s go help some