Page 362 of Hidden Depths

The man pulled himself higher.

Ward raced onto the broken walkway.

It twisted violently beneath him.

“Storm!”

I kicked again.

The man’s grip slipped.

I reached for the lever.

My fingertips touched the handle.

The man dragged me backward.

Then a hand appeared from the water and seized his wrist.

Nathan.

He had entered the flooded chamber from the lower ledge.

He wrenched the man away from me.

The kidnapper fell into the current.

Nathan caught the rock with one hand.

“Nathan!” Mom screamed.

Ward reached my side.

I grabbed the blue lever.

He grabbed Nathan’s arm.

I pulled.

The gate slammed downward.

The cavern shook.

Water exploded through the shrinking opening.

Ward hauled Nathan onto the ledge seconds before the metal gate crashed shut.

Silence followed.

Not complete silence.

Water still dripped from the rocks.

The old machinery still groaned.

But the terrible roar had stopped.

Mom crossed the walkway with Ben’s help.