Dance Till You Die by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page B

downward sloping, narrow ledge that ran underneath a sheer wall of rock at the edge of the pit. Looking at the rock walls, Nancy could see long, grooved striations in the rock. “That’s where we drill down to put in the dynamite,” Tom explained. He suddenly turned his head, listening. “I think I hear my dad calling. Just a second.” He turned and retraced his steps along the ledge until he was out of sight.
    â€œWhere’d he go?” George asked after a moment.
    Nancy shrugged. “Let’s not wait for him,” she said. “I can always talk to him later. Right now I want to get back to the car and study these photographs.”
    â€œGood idea,” George said, turning to leave. “I think I’ve seen as much of a quarry as I care to see in one lifetime.”
    A sharp, cracking sound came from somewhere overhead. Nancy and George stopped and looked up at the rocky outcropping. To her dismay, Nancy saw that part of the face of the wall had dislodged and was sliding down into the gravel pit. A large boulder was jarred loose by the falling earth and began tumbling down the wall. Tumbling straight toward Nancy and George!

Chapter

Seven
    L OOK OUT, G EORGE !” Nancy cried out. The boulder was almost upon them. She sprang forward and pushed George ahead of her on the ledge. Jagged pebbles bit into Nancy’s palm as she and George fell into a sprawling heap on the gravel.
    The boulder landed with a sickening thud just inches behind Nancy’s heels. A cloud of dust and fine debris rose from the site.
    George was the first to clamber to her feet. “Are you okay, Nan?” she asked anxiously. “It looks like you’re hurt.”
    â€œI’m okay.” Nancy picked herself up from the dusty ground and gingerly tested her limbs. Shefelt a little tenderness on her palm and knees where the gravel had scraped them when she fell.
    The loud, long wail of an emergency alarm siren shattered the air. A handful of quarry workers, some holding half-eaten sandwiches, came running toward the pit. They were led by Tom Kragen’s father. “What happened? Are you girls hurt?” Mr. Kragen’s voice was tight with concern.
    â€œWe’re okay, but it was a close call,” said Nancy, whose pulse was still racing. “That boulder down there almost flattened us.”
    â€œWhere’s Tom?” Anger crept into Mr. Kragen’s tone. “This area’s not safe. Did he let you out here without an escort?”
    â€œI’m right here.” Tom appeared behind the group of men who had accompanied Mr. Kragen. “I was out here with them. Then I thought I heard you calling me.”
    â€œYou never leave visitors alone here! Never!” Mr. Kragen’s voice roared with rage. “These young ladies could have been killed.”
    Tom lowered his eyes and poked at the dust with his shoe. “I’m sorry,” he said, not quite meeting Nancy’s eyes.
    â€œWhat would cause a rockslide like that?” Nancy pressed the elder Kragen.
    â€œWe constantly use explosives, which makesfor a very unstable ground environment,” Mr. Kragen explained. “The boulders you see all around us could let loose any second.”
    As if to underscore Mr. Kragen’s words, the earth under their feet trembled slightly. “Let’s get out of here,” he added quickly.
    Tom remained silent as they walked back to the office. Nancy and George refused Mr. Kragen’s offer of a cup of hot tea and said goodbye.
    â€œWow, that was too close.” George shook her head as they climbed back into Nancy’s car. “Tom’s father was really giving him a hard time for leaving us there alone, wasn’t he?”
    â€œYes, but Tom didn’t seem too upset about it,” Nancy commented.
    â€œI can see wheels turning behind those blue eyes, Nan,” George said shrewdly. “What are you thinking about all