It could have all been over then but for one thing. One man's love for his family and the will to do whatever it took to protect them. Uttering a cry that rocked the hills Eliak bellowed, "Creator give me strength!"
The rope went taut and the crowd sucked in a collective gasp. Eliak remained standing, how I do not know. He was poised on the very edge of the gorge with the rope gripped in his bloody hands. Eliak giving one great heave jerked up on the rope and managed to get it over his shoulder as blood ran freely from his bound hands, where the rope had sawed into his wrists. He turned away from the cliff's edge.
It looked like he would be pulled over backwards for one moment when he turned, but he managed to stabilize himself and then he began to walk. Short step by step the rope inched up over the cliff's edge. Dust rose from each heavy laden step forward, and all that could be heard in the stillness was the heavy breathing of Eliak.
The crowd remained breathless, as they witnessed the super human struggle taking place before them. Suddenly, Dorie was at the cliff top pulled along by her father, as she made every effort to stand and help ease her father's burden. The youngest boy made it over the cliff's edge slowly followed by the second oldest boy. Both boys fought to get to their feet.
Gaining their feet they began to trudge after their father with all their heart. The untested muscles of two boys performing more than many a grown man's ever will. Elim, the oldest boy made it over the edge and got to his feet and added his strength to the line.
Eliak fell heavily to his knees, the life spent out of him, but he still continued to crawl forward, even as droplets of blood sprayed the dust in front of him from lungs that were shattered from the strain of the pull.
Finally Samantha made it to the cliff top, as her lips moved fervently in what I knew were prayers to her Creator. Samantha and her children rushed to their father's side just as he collapsed into the dust of the cliff top. They gathered around him touching him, with their bound and bloody hands praying fervently for his life like only a praying family can.
Tears streamed down my face as I gripped the bars of my cage impotently. I turned my head to glance at Marfoul. All smiles and false joviality were gone and were now replaced openly with a naked hatred that radiated out from every part of his being.