Rivers of Fire (Atherton, Book 2) by Patrick Carman Page B

pulley mechanism. As he tossed them up they flew over Vincent's head and Dr. Kincaid retrieved them.
    "Such a resourceful boy, don't you think?" asked Dr. Kincaid.
    "You'll find the wall is a little wet," said Edgar. "It might be slicker than you expect."
    This seemed not to interest Dr. Kincaid and Vincent as the two men found a rock big enough to pound the stakes through the rope and into the ground. They did it quickly, but even as they did, they could see that it wouldn't hold for very long. The Highlands were slowly descending, and the rope was tightening from the weight of the basket.
    "Go!" cried Vincent, nearly pushing Dr. Kincaid from the ledge. The old man took the rope, clearly worried that it would not hold his weight, and he threw his legs over the ledge. Soon
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    he was shimmying down the side of the wall, the rope growing tight and stretching in his hands. When he was far enough along to make room, Vincent started down. He didn't realize he'd be falling on top of Dr. Kincaid if the rope snapped free.
    Edgar had stayed on the wall, working his way down next to Dr. Kincaid, helping him to choose places to put his feet. The two of them were about ten feet from the bottom when the rope began to make a tearing sound from above.
    "Hurry!" yelled Vincent. "It's going to snap any second now!"
    Edgar looked down. The basket that had been lying on its side was now upright and weighing heavily on the rope. Dr. Kincaid looked at Edgar in a panic. The rope was about to snap in two.
    "Let go of the rope and hold on right here," said Edgar, his voice calm but filled with authority. Dr. Kincaid followed Edgar's lead.
    "Now here," said Edgar, guiding the old man free of the rope and out from under Vincent. They were only five feet from the bottom, but a fall that far for a man of Dr. Kincaid's age could easily be a bone-breaking event. Vincent was closer to ten feet above the ground, and when the rope snapped in two he fell down the rocky face of the cliff. Dr. Kincaid was just barely out of the way, and he watched the descent of his protector as he flew past, arms and legs flailing, as if in slow motion.
    Vincent landed in the basket with a crash. The rope followed, coiling inside on top of the fallen man as the basket
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    leaned to one side and toppled over. When Vincent did not emerge right away Edgar feared he'd been injured. Vincent was by far the strongest among the three, and there wasn't much hope of an old man and a young boy traversing the threatening world of the Highlands without Vincent's help.
    Edgar looked back at Dr. Kincaid and saw that the old man's grip was beginning to falter.
    "How far to the bottom?" asked Dr. Kincaid.
    "Only a few more feet," said Edgar. Dr. Kincaid looked down and saw just how close he was to the bottom, a little embarrassed to have been so afraid. He was able to navigate the remaining small distance without any help from Edgar.
    The two went directly to the basket and peered inside. Vincent wasn't moving.
    "Why's he not moving?" said Edgar.
    "I don't know," said Dr. Kincaid, concern rising in his voice. "Maybe he stabbed himself with one of his own spears."
    There was movement from under the rope as Vincent came to. He moaned as he lifted his head, and when his face came into view, blood was pouring out of his nose like water.
    "What happened?" he said, smearing the blood around his face, not realizing what a mess he was making.
    "He's broken his nose," said Dr. Kincaid. When Vincent heard this, he felt the bulging arch of his nose and winced in pain. He rolled out of the basket and onto his feet, then threw his head back and held his nose shut.
    "Thith ith going to thwell up really big," said Vincent.
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    Edgar felt himself wanting to laugh unexpectedly. Even though it wasn't really funny, he experienced a rush of giddy relief after their harrowing descent to the Highlands.
    "It already has," said Dr. Kincaid. "Nothing else feels broken?"
    Vincent glanced at Dr. Kincaid and saw that