said Chris. “She was leading us out of the mine when a minor cave in blocked the tunnel. She and I were able to move enough rocks for the five of us to crawl through, but she could not fit through the opening. She told us to run as fast as we could. We were barely out of the mine, when there was a rumbling deep within the tunnel and then, the rest of the mine tunnel collapsed. Mara is trapped behind tons of rock. We have to get her out.”
Eddie’s mother was looking at him and his brother with anger in her eyes. “How could you put your cousins in danger like that?” she asked. “Now, because of you, an innocent girl’s life is at stake. I have never been so disappointed in you two as I am at this moment”.
Chris’s mother called 911 and told them about the cave-in at the mine. Then, she and her husband and children got into their truck and drove to the mine. By the time she arrived, the police had also arrived. Within twenty minutes, there was a camera crew filming the story for the news.
The reporter interviewed Chris and his siblings, they told him how a girl named Mara had saved their lives, and now she was trapped in the mine, behind tons of rock.
The police contacted the owner of the mine, to find out if there was any other way into the cave. Adam Logan, the owner, was in his mid seventies. His great grandfather was the original owner of the mine, back in the 1860’s.
The news story was quickly picked up by the national networks and was being shown all over the country. Back at the Denver Ritz Carlton Hotel, Mr. and Mrs. Louis were in the lobby of the hotel making party plans when they saw the news special report. When they heard Mara’s name mentioned, they had the hotel limo take them to the cave as quickly as possible. When they arrived, they asked the police for a description of the girl who was trapped in the cave. Chris described her to them. When Mrs. Louis showed Chris a photo of her daughter, Chris said; “That’s her. That’s the girl who saved our lives.”
A news correspondent from NBC was standing nearby. He and his news crew filmed the conversation between Chris and Mrs. Louis, including showing the photo of Mara. The video footage soon went live to stations all over the nation.
A police officer helped Mr. and Mrs. Louis find some place to sit down.
Betsy and Scott were watching television in the presidential suite when the news report interrupted the movie they were watching. When they saw Mrs. Louis crying and heard about Mara, they just looked at each other, not saying a word. They were both thinking the same thing; “Mara’s dream had finally come true”.
They ran to the door and insisted that the secret service agents drive them to the convention center where the president was addressing the governor’s conference. When the car pulled up in front of the convention center, Scott and Betsy got out and ran in with the secret service agents close behind them. Betsy and Scott burst into the hall and everybody turned to look at them to see what the noise was. Betsy and Scott ran up to the podium where the president was speaking. “Dad” said Betsy, “There’s been a cave-in at a gold mine in Idaho Springs.”
Before Betsy could continue, her father interrupted her. “”Can we talk later?” he asked.
“No, Dad” shouted Betsy. “Mara is trapped in the mine, behind tons of rock. We have to help her.”
President Morgan’s face suddenly got very serious. “Are you sure?” he asked.
Scott went over to a large monitor that was hooked up to a television and turned it on to NBC. The network was showing a picture of Mara Louis and talking about the cave-in.
President Morgan turned to the governors in the room and said; “We will have to finish this meeting later. Right now, a very close friend is in trouble.”
Governor Lynch from Mississippi and Governor Stockton from Idaho had the same reaction as the president. “We’re going with you, Mr. President,” they told him.
Before long, the rest of the governors realized that the trapped girl was Mara Louis, the girl who had done so much to help so many people over the years. Using several limousines and state police cars, they followed the presidential motorcade to Idaho Springs. When they arrived, there was already a large group of people removing rocks from the tunnel. President Morgan removed his jacket and began moving rocks himself. Soon, all of the governors were moving rocks as well.
In Albuquerque, Mr. Mendoza learned about the cave-in from the news and he quickly made some calls to some associates in Denver and arranged for some heavy construction equipment to be sent to the site of the cave-in. Then, he ordered his private jet be fueled and ready to fly to Denver.
In Hartford, Connecticut, Mr. Douglas Conway was also arranging for his private plane to fly him to Denver as well.
In Virginia City, Nevada, Pastor Mike O’Brien had been informed of the situation in Denver, and after saying some prayers, he was headed to Denver.
Jeffrey Carter and his wife, Dr. Greathouse were at the airport with their three children, waiting for their flight to Denver, when Heidi showed her dad the text she had received from Betsy Morgan. Betsy had sent a text to all of Mara’s friends. Dr. Greathouse called Dr. Paterson at Northern Arizona University, to inform him of the situation and have his staff start praying for Mara. Mr. Carter called his mother in Florida as well.
Around the nation, as the news reports of the tragedy in Denver were announced, families who knew Mara became very worried and upset. In New York City, Mr. Mark Weiss, the magician closed his magic shop and called the airport to purchase tickets to Denver.
In Houston, Texas, The King and Norman families were awaiting their flight to take off. Judge McPherson cancelled the rest of the court cases for the day and headed for the airport.
In Hollywood, Mr. Gene Fisher was directing a movie when he heard the news. He chartered a private plane and flew to Denver.
People across the country who knew Mara dropped what they were doing, and headed to Denver, including Mr. Anderson, the curator from the Marshall Museum in Charles City, Virginia; Mr. Baldwin, the curator of the Grant Museum in Northern Maryland; Reverend and Mrs. Long from Chicago; John Lincoln and his grandson, Abe Mudd from Detroit; and Mr. Riggs from Hannibal, Missouri.
Jordan Travers and her cousins from Cincinnati were already on their way to Denver with their families as were Bailey Fuller and her mother. Keith Johnson, Margo Green and their families were on their way from Mississippi.
When Alex Phillips and his sister, Marissa heard about Mara, they insisted that their new parents, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy go to Denver to help. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy agreed and a few hours later, they were in a plane bound for Denver.
In Vincennes, Indiana, Mrs. Bradford was on the phone to her six great granddaughters around the country telling them about Mara and asking them to pray for her.
In Baltimore, a message was sent by phone and by email to all of the students of the elementary, middle and high schools, encouraging them to pray for Mara Louis.
In Los Angeles, an elementary teacher named John Gregory thought back to eight years earlier and recalled how Mara had caused him to re-evaluate his life. He was soon on his way to Denver as well.
Pastor Joe said a special prayer at the church, before he made his travel arrangements.
Emperor Motohito had arrived in Denver with his wife and two children. His security detail drove them to the Ritz Carlton Hotel. When the emperor inquired about his five o’clock meeting with President Morgan, he was told that the president had been unavoidably delayed, and the meeting would have to be rescheduled until the next day. The emperor was irritated at first, until his daughter, Princess Katsu showed him the news coverage of the cave-in. When he discovered it was Mara Louis who was trapped in the mine, he ordered his driver to take him and his family to Idaho Springs.
It was beginning to get dark at the mine and portable lights were set up to help illuminate the rescue operation. Mara’s parents were getting more upset. Mrs. Louis tried to call and text Mara, but
no signals were getting through all of the rocks in the tunnel. She and her husband were constantly praying.
Tony Giovanni and his family were in the air. As the plane reached cruising altitude, and leveled off, the pilot announced that the passengers could resume the use of their laptops and cell phones.
“May I please have my cell phone back now?” asked Tony. Mrs. Giovanni looked at Tony and asked, “Do you promise to listen to me the next time I tell you to clean your room?” “Yes, Mom” he replied. “I promise.” Mrs. Giovanni handed her son his cell phone. Tony powered up the phone and started scrolling through the text messages that he had received over the past forty-eight hours, since his phone had been confiscated.
Tony saw a text from Betsy Morgan. When he read the text, he became very upset. “No, this can’t be happening” he said rather loudly. “Tony, keep your voice down,” said his mother. “You’re disturbing the other passengers. What is wrong?”
“It’s Mara,” said Tony, trying to keep his composure. “Betsy Morgan sent me a text. Mara is trapped in an abandoned gold mine, with tons of rock blocking the tunnel. There was a cave-in.”
“Oh no” said Mrs. Giovanni, “Tony, I am so sorry. When did she send the text?”
“About three hours ago” said Tony. He quickly sent Betsy a