A friend of Evan had been out-of-town. He hadn't heard of Evan's mom passing away. When Jake called to ask a favor, Evan found it too painful to talk about the loss of his mom ...so he agreed to help his friend.

Jake's dog was really sick, and he wanted to take Rex to the veterinarian ...but Rex was unable to settle into the truck, so Jake needed assistance.

Evan helped settle Rex as Jake drove.  But they hadn't gotten far when Rex began vomiting all over in the truck.

Jake pulled over to let Rex vomit along the side of the road. Neither of them realized it was a holiday, and the veterinarian would not be in ...but Rex apparently no longer needed a vet. Rex appeared to immediately perk up after vomiting, and saw a rabbit.  He chased after the rabbit, and they chased after him.

They just happened to be near the mine, and that rabbit ran right into that mining tunnel ...with Rex bounding after the rabbit.

Rex and that rabbit must have had a dandy of a chase ...as Jake and Evan walked a good distance into the mine without any sign of Rex, or a rabbit.

It was too dark to see anything, and they could only gauge their path by the feel of a rail beneath their feet. They had just turned around to head back out ...when they heard some loose rock fall and a small shaft of light penetrated the darkness.

In that very instance, a flash of white bounded out the hole ...and they heard a bark as Rex scampered up the loose rock, barely fitting through the small hole. 

Jake ran a few yards ahead to call out to his dog.  Suddenly, more rock gave way.  

Evan heard a groan.  He ran toward the shaft of light ...and tripped on a pile of rock, hearing another groan.

Evan began digging desperately to get Jake free.  It seemed like it took forever, but he got Jake from beneath the pile of rock. Jake was alive, but no longer conscious.

Evan had to get Jake to a hospital quickly, but it was so dark and Jake was much bigger than him.  

Evan had been confused by the path they had taken.  The rail beneath their feet just before the first cave-in seemed to go in two directions, and there was something huge that felt like iron ...that when he had leaned against it, it had moved slightly. Evan's first reaction was that he had caused the cave-in ...but now, his hope was that he was wrong.

Evan spoke aloud, "It's just got to be!"

Quickly, Evan located it again ...and felt around its base.  He was right ...it was an ore car!

With all his strength, Evan carried Jake to the ore car.  He was so relieved, as he knew there was no way he'd have been able to carry Jake out. 

Evan carefully lifted Jake into the ore car, then began pushing. At first, he didn't know if he was going to be able to push it, but after the first few inches it began to roll easier.  And it was a good thing, because there was a slight incline here ...but Evan knew that if he could push it just a little further, it would begin going downhill.

Evan could tell it was beginning to level off, and he was so relieved because that slight incline had exhausted him.  But, soon it would become easier ...he felt it already, as it began to wheel with only a fraction of the effort.

Suddenly, Jake groans, "Evan ...Evan ...where are you?  What's happening?"

Evan continues to push, as he doesn't want the ore car to loose its momentum, "It's me, Jake ...you are going to be okay.  You got caught in a cave-in, but I dug you out and I'm going to get you outta here.  I was able to get you into this ore car.  I know you're hurt bad, but try to enjoy the ride."

Evan doesn't hear anything. Maybe Jake had lost consciousness again.  No matter, the main thing is to get him out of here and to a hospital.

Suddenly, more rock begins to give way.  One rather large rock hits Evan in the back and knocks him down. But he's not thinking of himself, and in spite of his own pain ...he quickly gets up and continues pushing the ore car.  More rock falls, and hits Evan in the head.  He is a bit dizzy, but it seems the ore car is almost traveling on its own.  This must be the stretch where the walk was significantly steeper ...but now is thankfully downhill.  And thankfully none of the rock has fallen in front of the ore car.  Each time he seems to have been able to keep just ahead of it.

More rock falls, and Evan does not know how much more he can take. He takes three big strides, and gives a mighty push ...just as his legs collapse from beneath him.  He is not aware of what happens after that.

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Jake had been in a coma.  It is really strange.  He feels he can hear the nurses and doctors talking to his parents, but it seems they are in another dimension.  One thought keeps circulating through Jake's mind though.  It seems he keeps reliving the pain of rock falling on him ...and this wheeling motion, with a rusty iron scraping sound. And the same words keep repeating themselves, echoing throughout his head, "It's me, Jake ...you're going to be okay ...enjoy the ride."

Days become a daze ...there is no concept of time, just repetition.  But, some of the repetition seems to be getting clearer.  Jake thinks he can make out some words ...and the voices appear to be that of his parents, crying and praying.

        ***********************************************************************

One day, Jake comes out of the coma ...and smiles at his parents.  But, he seems unable to talk.  That's okay, though ...he listens, as his parents fill him in on the details of how he was found.

Jake still hasn't talked, and the doctor gives permission for the parents to bring Jake's dog, Rex, into the hospital room.  Jake looks at Rex, and Rex wags his tail ...and Jake seems to laugh, with no sound. Suddenly, Jake sits up and begins to utter unintelligible sounds.  He seems to be straining hard ...then gives up, falling back to his side.  

A minute or two pass, and Jake rests deathly still.  Opening one eye to look at his dog, Jake suddenly speaks, "Did you catch the rabbit, Rex?"

        **********************************************************************

Slowly, Jake recovers, and is released from the hospital.  His parents are very thankful, but also very protective of him.  They don't want him to try to rush anything.  But, there is one thing that Jake feels he must do.

Jake says it is something he not only feels he must do ...it's something he desperately wants to do.  He wants to find Evan's dad ...and thank him for what his son had done for him.  He'd heard that Evan's dad had left town ...because the memories of having lost his wife and son were too painful for him.  But, Jake doesn't care how hard it is, or how long it takes ...he must find Evan's dad.