Hidden (Final Dawn) (Volume 2) by Darrell Maloney

Author:Darrell Maloney [Maloney, Darrell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781494268954
Amazon: 1494268957
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Published: 2013-11-25T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 22

It was August 14th. They’d been in the mine almost exactly three and a half years now.

Before the freeze, on the outside of the mine, this would have been one of the hottest days of the year. Scorching hot. One of those days when people tried to fry eggs on the sidewalk.

The crash of Saris 7 changed all that. On this day, at exactly 2:05 in the afternoon, a group of nine curious people stood around the control center at the front of Bay 8, opposite the mine’s entrance.

They’d come running from near and far the minute they’d heard that the outside temperature was nearing 32 degrees. The point at which ice begins to melt.

A Christmas morning-like excitement permeated the air. Smiles were the order of the day. All eyes were transfixed on a particular monitor in the upper corner of the security array. It was the monitor assigned to the camera at the front of the mine. Camera number 1. The one mounted on the outside of the mine face, aimed directly at a thermometer mounted on a snowy post outside the mine’s entrance.

The thermometer that was reading 31 degrees.

The group grew one or two at a time. The teachers at both of the small schoolhouses let their young charges go early to watch. And all of them stood in rapt anticipation for what they hoped beyond hope was going to happen.

Then the thermometer ticked forward, ever so slightly. A roar erupted among those assembled. It was no longer Christmas-like. It was like Christmas and Easter and every birthday they ever had, all rolled into one.

Several of the assembled even found tears. It was that joyful.

It was a tiny step forward, of course. In a few hours the temperature would drop below freezing again. And tomorrow there was no guarantee it would rise to the magical mark again. But here, now, it was a symbol of hope. It was the first time in three and a half years that the world was warm enough to start thawing. And that first baby step toward eventual freedom from the mine was enough to brighten everyone’s spirits.

Bryan, out of the blue, lowered his head. As he began to speak, others followed suit.

“Lord Jesus, we thank you for watching over us for all this time. We have been blessed, where many others have not. We have faith that you have delivered us this far, and that you will continue to protect us, until we can break free from the bonds of this earth and do your good will once again. Thank you for the sign of hope, oh, Lord. And thank you for reminding us that with you as our savior, all things are possible. In your name, Amen.”

Several of those present echoed the last word, almost in unison.

John, the chief of security, was the one sitting at the console when he noticed the temperature rising to the magical number. It was he who’d sent a runner around the mine to alert the others about what was to happen.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.