Breaking Out
This is a continuation of The Pit posted May 2nd.
Miles laid out his escape plan, “during the night I’m going to climb out of the mine, but I will avoid the road. It’s likely the road will be watched. I’m going to cut a hole in the perimeter fence.”
“How are you going to do that?” asked Tanya.
“With these,” Miles showed her a pair of wire cutters that he had hidden in his jacket.
“Where did you get them?”
“Remember when we arrived, and Franky cut use loose. He put the wire cutters into his pocket.”
Tanya perked up, “Oh, that’s why you wanted me to pretend I tripped and hurt my leg.”
“Exactly. When he was distracted, I slipped the cutters out of his pocket.”
“I not sure about escaping. It seems dangerous.”
“We can do it, but I’m going to need your help. First, we need to learn the daily routine of the mine. Besides Bruce and the cook, I’m sure there are other guards watching us, so keep your eyes opened.”
“Are you going to tell Gino?”
Miles thought for a moment, “No, not yet. I’m still not sure I can trust him.”
Two long weeks dragged by before they again discussed the escape plan.
Miles took Tanya aside, “Here’s what I’ve learned. Bruce keeps guard over us every evening until about midnight. Then he does a headcount before retiring to his tent. Another guard comes through the camp a few times per night. He does a headcount each time but doesn’t stay around the camp. That gives us an hour or so to slip away.
“Yes, I’ve noticed the same thing. Have you seen the guard patrolling around the top of the mine?” asked Tanya.
“I’ve seen him during the day. I assume it’s guarded at night.”
“So, what’s your plan?”
“I’m going to sneak away tonight and find a good place to cut through the fence. It will probably take two or three nights to get through the fence. Are you coming with me?”
“Of course.”
“Okay, we’ll go after the first headcount.”
Miles laid still on his cot. His grew antsy waiting in the darkness, pretending to be asleep. Finally, Bruce walked through, counting the occupied cots. A few minutes later Miles and Tanya tiptoed outside. When they were convinced no one was watching, they darted across the road and up the steep slope. To Miles, it was like climbing out of a giant bowl.
The loose stone made the climb difficult, and dangerous. Miles held his breath when a falling rock made a clatter in the stillness of the night. No one seemed to notice, so he continued upward. Before long, he reached the lip of the mine. The two friends paused and listened for guards on patrol. Hearing nothing, Miles scrambled to the fence with Tanya right behind.
“Here’s a good spot. The weeds are taller, so no one will see that the fence is cut,” whispered Miles.
He pulled out the wire cutters and went to work, but soon discovered it wasn’t going to be an easy task. He squeezed the cutters as hard as he could, but nothing happened. Even when he used both hands, the steel fence would not give.
“What’s the matter,” asked Tanya.
“It’s not working.”
However, Miles didn’t give up. He twisted the cutters back and forth while squeezed until his hands ached.
Then victory came in the sound of a metallic snap. The next cut took more effort and more precious time.
“I don’t think these cutters were made for a chain linked fence,” Miles was becoming frustrated.
“Let me try,” Tanya took the tool, but soon learned how difficult it was.
She wrapped her sleeve around the cutter handles to protect her hands, and eventually snipped another wire.
“Let’s take turns,” Miles again went to work on the fence.
“We should get back to the camp. The guard will be taking another count soon.”
“One more,” Miles hands shook as he summonsed all his strength to make one more cut.
As soon as Tanya heard the click, she whispered, “Come on. We need to go.”
Miles pushed the weeds against the fence to hide his work, and then ran to catch up with Tanya who had disappeared into the mine.
The work went on for five nights. Finally, the hole in the fence was large enough for a person to squeeze through. Miles and Tanya pulled Gino aside.
“We have a way to escape. You are welcome to come with us.” Miles held his breath as he awaited Gino’s reaction.
“Escape? How?”
Tanya couldn’t keep silent, “Miles has a pair of wire cutters. We cut a hole in the fence. We’re leaving tomorrow night.”
“I don’t know. What about the others?”
“They are welcome to come with us,” said Tanya.
“Yes, of course,” Miles nodded. “But when we get through the fence we can’t stay together. We’d be more likely to get caught. We will have to split into groups.”
“Okay, you can count me in,” said Gino. “I will take Maggie with me, and Tasha should stay with her sister.”
“We’ll let you figure that out,” Miles didn’t need to know all the details.
“I’ll help spread the word,” Tanya had begun to make friends with some of the workers.
“Remember, we have to act like everything is normal,” Miles cautioned.
The night of the escape left Miles on edge. He tossed and turned in his cot. Doubts crept into his mind as to whether he should have told everyone about the planned escape. It would have been safer for Tanya and him to go alone, without the others knowing. “How will twenty people get away undetected?” He wondered to himself. But he had no choice. It was too late to change plans now. Beside, he wouldn’t be able to live with himself knowing the others were still captive in the rotten mine.
Right on schedule, Bruce strolled through the tent and completed his count. The next five minutes felt like an hour. Then Miles leaped out of bed and peeked out through the tent flap. Convinced that all was quiet, so he gave the signal. Nineteen others scrambled from their beds and followed Miles out into the night.
Every little noise pricked his nerves. “Why can’t they be quieter?” He wondered.
Miles was the first to reach the top of the mine. He scanned the opened ground leading to the fence. Nothing stirred, so he motioned the group forward. At the fence he pushed the cut wire back to allow Tanya to squeeze through.
With Miles on the inside and Tanya on the outside, they helped the others crawl to freedom. Miles was the last one to go. He pushed the wire in place to conceal the hole.
“Leave it,” Tanya tugged his arm.
They hadn’t taken a dozen steps when the sound of a police whistle rang out from deep in the mine.
“They know we’ve escaped,” said Miles.
To be continued