"No. But where are you, Val? Can't you come to me?"
"Sorry. Un—unavoidably detained," he gasped. "Don't try any crawling or the rest may come down on us."
"Val! What's the matter? Are you hurt?" Her questions cut sharply through the darkness.
"Banged up a little. No"—he heard the rustle which betrayed her movements—"don't try to come to me—Please, Ricky!"
But with infinite caution she came, until her brother felt the edge of her cape against his face. Then her questing hand touched his throat and slid downward to his shoulders.
"Val!" He knew what horror colored that cry as she came upon what imprisoned him.
"It's all right, Ricky. I'm just pinned in. If I don't try to move I'm safe." Quickly he tried to reassure her.
"Val, don't lie to me now—you're hurt!"
"It's not bad, really, Ricky—"
"Oh!" There was a single small cry and a moment of utter silence and then a hurried rustling.