Page 52 of Chasing Sunsets

“Bicker later,” Sadie interrupted. “Others will catch up soon.”

“She’s right,” Uri agreed. “Will you be able to get yourself to the mining area? I can’t help you once we start our individual tasks.”

“I’ll be fine,” Lowell answered through clenched teeth.

“You want to wait for the paramedics or do you want me to wrap your ankle?” Sadie offered.

“With what?” Lowell tried to stand without help, then crumpled back to the bench.

Uri and Zack checked their backpacks but found nothing to use.

She grinned. “What about your shirt? You show your chest every chance you get.”

“He does, doesn’t he?” There was no heat in Uri’s sarcastic words. “It’s odd he’s so tight-assed, you’d think he was easygoing.”

“Is that so?” Lowell crossed his arms. “Then let us use yours.”

Uri didn’t hesitate as he tore his t-shirt down the front and off his body.

Clearly surprised, Lowell smiled. “I didn’t know you had that in you.”

“You’re frustrating as hell. Your attitude gives me un-tapped strength.”

“We want it in long strips,” Sadie instructed.

Uri lifted the shirt to his mouth and tore a piece with his teeth before ripping it the rest of the way. He handed the scrap to Sadie and started another strip.

Moments later, Lowell’s ankle wrapped and back in the shoe, the men got him to his feet as two couples came along.

Sadie reached out and squeezed Zack’s arm. “Be careful.”

~

Zack froze when Sadietouched him. He wanted to ditch the race, take her hand, and wander back inside. When they’d stopped and studied the cave earlier, her wonderment as she marveled over the inside made him want to explore it with her.

He placed his hand over hers. “You too.”

“Give me the backpack. It will be in your way as you rappel.

He handed it over, and the next instant she ran to the right.

Zack followed Uri to another cave, light still on his head. Upon entering, he realized they didn’t need the headlamps. Lights in this cave were on and bright. Signs led them to steps. He went through the motions, Sadie occupying his mind.

When he emerged from the cave, he was given a torn sheet of paper that read 29.711621. He went inside the air-conditioned gift shop/restaurant and sat with the other contestants who were waiting for their partners to finish their tasks. Everyone was looking at their papers and discussing what they meant.

“It’s a GPS coordinate,” Jude said.

Zack was thinking the same thing.

“They can be written in either DMS, DMM, or like this,” Jude waved his paper, “DD. Our partners must have the longitude degree.”

Distracted, listening to Jude and the other contestants, Zack didn’t see Sadie until she helped a limping Lowell inside. Sweaty, dirt smeared on her face and hands, she assisted Lowell to a bench.

Zack met her and held out an ice-cold water bottle.

She handed him a piece of paper and took the bottle. He pulled the paper he’d received after rappelling from his pocket and matched it to hers.

Together they read 29.711621, -98.125665.

---