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Stubborn Mayan "Okay I proo on a diet later"

Ga to the second sapling and gradually put her weight on it The rung held Reaching up for higher rungs so as to spread her weight, she began to cli that they lance

About six rungs up she stopped "The air is cohtly "Once we're at the top we should be home free"

She took another step The ties snapped on one side, and the end of the sapling cale Ga else fell As slowly and deliberately as a tree sloth she resuotfurther stress on the suspension Another log snapped free and dangled off to one side One horizontal support came completely loose and crashed to the cave floor She was sure the ladder was about to collapse Yet it stayed intact When the swaying stopped she resumed her climb

She could have been on the ladder fifteen minutes or fifteen hours It was hard to tell But she ress without s fro down The ladder ht froo From where she was perched it looked like a distant star

Gareat relief felt stone instead of tree bark Evenfree, she slithered over the rim to safety She lay on her back and offered thanks to the Mayan ladder builders, then rolled over on her stomach and called softly down to Chi

The torch waved back and forth and went out Chi was on his way up and would need both hands free She didn't really think he'd have any problem until she heard the noise

Calunk Then clunkityclunk

In her s break loose and tumble to the bottom of the ladder She expected that would be the end of it, but then she began to hearsound, because it indicated that the incident hadn't ended with one log A chain reaction was under way If she had weakened the vines with her weight it would require only a slight pressure to snap the supports and send the rungs crashing to the floor More thurew louder It was evident fro

She lit the cigarette lighter and held it over the edge Maybe the tiny flame would show Chi how close he was to the top That is, if he weren't buried under apile

Chi's voice called out Hard to tell against the racket how far away

"Your hand!"

She reached over the riement

Soers She had no idea he was that close

"Grab hold!" she yelled