Randall stopped and looked directly at the captain. “But there are people up there, rescuers and the like. How did they get up?”

      “They had help. Just like you.”

      “But someone had to be first. Someone had to be able to get out first in order to help the others. Who was the first one to get out?”

      “I was.”

      “Well, who helped you?”

      “God helped me.”

      “Oh, come on, now.”

      “It’s true. God got me out, now I help others get out.”

      “Oh, honestly!” Randall wriggled free from the captain’s grasp. He looked up to the open top of the pit. “So you were the first one to make it up to the top.”

      The captain looked up also. Beyond the pit’s opening he could see the stars already gleaming in the black sky. As he listened to Randall’s words, his heart began to sink within him.

      “I think I just need to study the walls more closely. There’s got to be some path there that’ll get me to the top. Maybe along this other side… I haven’t really tried that side. Well, not much, anyway.”

      “Randall, please come with me now.”

      “I’ll need to study it more in the daylight. But I’ll rest for now.”

      “Randall…”

      You know,” said Randall, shuffling over to a low, flat rock, “I think that’s what went wrong. I’m tired. I let myself get run down.” Randall sat down on the flat rock. “I’ll rest for a day or two and study the best way out. I was trying to push it and got desperate. That’s what happened. I let myself get run down and everything looks worse when you get run down.”

      The captain stared at him sadly in the lamplight and said nothing. He had heard the words before, or words just like them, and he knew that the chance had passed. He turned his head to where the ropes hung against the wall. They couldn’t be more than twenty feet away. He looked back at Randall.

      “Well, thanks for coming down,” continued Randall. “I’m sorry to have wasted your time.”

      “You’re never a waste of my time.”

      “Yeah. Well, thanks anyway, but I’ll be all right. I’m just going to rest a little while and then go again. I think I’m going to get it this time.” Randall smiled broadly. “Then I’ll take you up on that helicopter ride!” Randall eased himself down into a sleeping position on the rock. He yawned. “I’ll see you in a couple of days.” Then he closed his eyes.

      “You call me if you change your mind. I’ll always be right there.”

      “All right,” said Randall, yawning again.

      The captain stared at him for a few moments longer, then turned and walked toward the ropes. He took the radio from his belt and pressed the key. “I’m ready to come up.”

      “Is he with you?” asked the first assistant.

      “No, I’m alone.” The captain attached the end of the second rope to his harness and tugged on it. “Okay. Winch me up.”

      The rope became taut and then effortlessly lifted the captain upward. He rose swiftly, walking along the wall. He looked up and could see one of the assistants silhouetted against the expanding circle of stars. The winch slowed as the captain neared the edge of the pit, and then it stopped completely as he reached the top. The two assistants reached down to help him out. The helicopter’s engines had shut down, but the rotors were still free spinning rapidly causing a cloud of dust to blow over the rescue team. The strobe flashing through the dust had caught the captain’s eye just as the pilot opened the door and stepped onto the sand. The assistants helped him out of the harness, and then one of them hauled up the first rope while the other re-stowed the gear. The captain stepped away from the tripod and sat down on the sand near the edge of the pit. The dust from the helicopter had nearly settled again and all was quiet except for the sound of the assistants readying the gear for another descent. The pilot walked over and squatted down next to the captain.

      “He still going to hold out?” asked the pilot.

      The captain nodded.

      The pilot looked at his watch. “Why don’t we all go back to town and get a bite to eat?”

      “Thanks, but I just want to stay here for awhile.”

      The pilot patted the captain on the shoulder and straightened up. “Do you guys want to into town and get a bite to eat?”

      “Sure,” said the second assistant, “if it’s okay with the captain.”

      “That’s fine.”

      “How about you?” said the pilot, gesturing with his head toward the first assistant.

      The first assistant glanced over toward the captain. “No, I’ll just stay here, just in case. But can you bring us back something?”

      The pilot nodded. “Sure.” He jerked his head toward the helicopter. “Come on, Rescue Man.”

      “We’ll be right back,” said the second assistant. He trotted over to the pilot and the two walked briskly to the helicopter.

      The first assistant sat down next to the captain and they both closed their eyes as the helicopter powered up and took off. It turned away from them to the west, then turned north toward the town.

      When the dust had settled sufficiently, the first assistant turned his head to see the helicopter flying swiftly away, invisible except for the strobe that flashed against the tapestry of stars. He turned his head back and looked up toward the southern sky. “It sure is a pretty night.”

      “Yes, it is,” whispered the captain. But his eyes never looked up to see the stars. Instead they remained directed downward, into the empty blackness of the pit.