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hatch hard. It opened a bit, fresh air rushing in, and increasing the crackling sound somewhere under the deck. “Oh God,” he heard her moan, then she kicked out again, and this time the door creaked wide enough to squeeze through. “Get him out!” she shouted, pushing at Opie wildly.
    With Sam leaning over the seat, trying his best to pull, and Tess pushing from the side, they shoved the semi-conscious man out the door. Sam saw him thump onto the ground below and roll out of sight. Then Sam was over the seat, grabbing at Tess’s arm screaming, “Come on! Come on!”
    He was aware that she had something in her hand as he tumbled backward out the door, pulling her with him. Landing on his back, he cried out in pain, then rolled with her, splashing through the standing water, the mud underneath sucking and heavy. Coming to her feet first, Tess pulled at his hand, shouting against the wind, “Where’s Opie?”
    Squinting, Sam could see a figure staggering a few yards ahead of them. “There!”
    Together they started running as best they could, Tess pulling his arm desperately as they struggled toward the open, higher ground of a field beyond. They’d gone only about 20 feet when the plane behind them blew up, flinging them face down into the mud. Pulling her under him, Sam felt bits of shrapnel slice into his back and shoulder, the heat washing over them. Rolling onto her back, she raised her camera, even as she pushed at him.
    “Down!” he shouted. “Just stay down.”
    “Get off!” she yelled. “Let me see! Let me get it!” Her fist hit him square in the chest, and he fell back with a groan. The whine of her motor drive was almost lost in the roar of flames. Then she rolled up on all fours, crawled a few feet away and threw up.
    Watching her as the rain pounded his back, Sam pulled back onto his knees, then struggled to his feet. Slipping through the slick mud, he grabbed her around the waist, and helped her up, holding his side against the pain. Together they made it up hill and caught up with Opie, who seemed to be wandering in circles. Arm still around her, Sam moved to intercept him, but lost his footing, and they slid down again. As Opie stumbled closer, Sam reached out and grabbed his pant leg, pulling him down beside them. Seeing the shattered face for the first time, Sam muttered, “Oh Jesus.” The young man groaned as Sam turned him up on his side, blood and a couple teeth rolling from his mouth. Then he slipped into unconsciousness. For Sam and Tess, there was no such mercy. Shivering with shock and cold, Sam drew her close and they huddled together in the downpour, silently watching the flames devour what was left of the plane and waiting for the sound of sirens.

Chapter 5
     
     
    The Rapid City hospital kept them both overnight for observation. Opie wasn’t so lucky. Of the three, Tess was in the best shape. Besides being bruised all over, she had a large contusion on the left side of her face and she’d chipped a bone in her foot kicking open the hatch, but it didn’t need to be set or cast.
    Sam also had a gang of bruises and a couple broken ribs. The doctor dug shrapnel out of two places on his back and one on his shoulder, and those stitches were deep. But they left his lip alone. It was swollen, tender and raw but, he was told, it would heal quickly.
    Opie, whose real name they found was Wally Pinser, was taken right into surgery. Broken cheekbone, broken nose, broken upper jaw, broken teeth; he faced a painful recovery and reconstructive work.
    Sam’s cell phone had been in his jacket and his wallet in his pocket. Other than that, everything went up with the plane. Neither had a change of clothes, and all the Trib’s equipment they’d carried was toast, except for the camera Tess held onto.
    It was late when they used Sam’s phone to call their families. Tess spoke to a brother, unwilling to wake her father in Florida with upsetting news. Sam found Judith still at her law office.