Illusions of Evil Read Online Free Page A

tracks. Lying on the easement and gripping the guardrail with one hand, she reached down toward her friends. Her hand touched the car just behind George’s head, but she could reach no farther.
    â€œHold on,” came a gruff voice behind her.
    Nancy pulled herself back and saw that Rand Hagan had come to her side.
    â€œWhat are we going to do?” Adriana asked tensely as Nancy carefully stood up.
    â€œIf I lie down and lean over, I can reach them,” Hagan replied. “But I’ll need your help. You two have to hold my feet.” He lowered himself so that his stomach was on the metal easement and the toes of his boots were wedged underneath the steel lip of the tracks. Nancy grabbed one of Hagan’s legs with both her hands and held on. Adriana clutched Hagan’s other leg and did the same.
    â€œOkay, kids,” he said, “I’m coming to get you. When I start unbuckling your harness, hang on to the bar. For a couple of seconds, until I can get a grip on you, that’s all that’ll be keeping you from falling. I’ll pull you out just as soon as I can.”
    Nancy could only clutch onto Hagan and hope. The seconds passed like hours, and a thin film of sweat gathered on her forehead. Next to her, Adriana was ashen.
    â€œJust hang on to that bar,” she heard Hagan say again.
    â€œGot it,” came George’s voice, weak but clear.
    Several minutes later Nancy felt Hagan’s body contract as he pulled George up and over the back of the car and onto the tracks. Even as her friend struggled over the edge and collapsedagainst the car behind them, Nancy couldn’t look up. She didn’t dare let go of Hagan.
    â€œYou okay, George?” was all she could say.
    A feeling of relief shot through her when George replied, “Yup.”
    Nancy could feel Hagan’s body jolt when he caught hold of Ned. She knew his job couldn’t be easy—Ned weighed about one hundred and seventy pounds.
    â€œGot him,” the ride manager called, panting, then slowly hauled Ned up. Shouts of joy rose from the crowd below. Nancy stood up, threw her arms around Ned, and held tight.
    â€œWe made it,” Ned said faintly. “I thought we might be goners for a minute there.”
    Nancy touched the cut on Ned’s forehead gently. “What happened?” she asked.
    â€œHe hit the bar,” George explained. “What a klutz, right?”
    Ned laughed, and Nancy swung around and hugged George. “What about you? Are you okay?” she asked.
    George smiled bravely and said, “I might have done something to my foot, but I’m not sure.”
    â€œWe have to get these two to the hospital right away,” Adriana broke in.
    â€œI won’t argue with that,” Ned said, touching the wound on his forehead. “But tell me one thing—how do we get down?”
    â€œRand will lead the way,” Adriana said firmly,then touched the ride manager on the shoulder. “I don’t know how to thank you for what you did.”
    Hagan only nodded before leading the way down the tracks.
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    Two hours later Nancy was still in the emergency room of Conklin Falls General Hospital, waiting for her friends to finish with their examinations. Adriana had just arrived, and the two of them were sitting on hard chairs, watching the late news on the television in the waiting area. A local news team had arrived during Ned and George’s rescue and had taped the whole thing. Seeing the segment replayed before her eyes made Nancy’s stomach twist.
    Shots of Adriana conferring with the Conklin Falls sheriff and fire chief followed. They’d arrived just as the group made it down to safety. Then the reporter held the microphone to Adriana. “How do you explain this terrible accident,” the man asked.
    â€œI have no idea,” she responded firmly. “My chief engineer checks everything every morning.