I got closer to get a good look at the small huddle of bodies at the corner of the dried well. As my eyes adjusted to the dark I noticed two small figures cuddled together and crying.
They may have been sent down in the disaster that could have been a total wipeout of their entire town, but someone who wanted them to survive had increased that likelihood by putting them in this well.
"Hey there"
There was no hesitation in my voice as I called down into the well.
A pair of bright eyes looked up at me, glistening in the darkness. Arms shielding another head that tried to pop up.
The intensity of these eyes showed the wariness of one who did not trust easily. They were measuring eyes like deep pools of judgment.
"Do you need help to get up here?"
Although I planned to get them out regardless of an answer. I asked because I preferred to gain trust by choice and not force.
After a moment there was a nod.
"Okay wait a minute for me to figure this out"
I looked up at the winch used to pull water from the well when it was not dry. Noting that the roped bucket had been detached and looking down into the well I could see it to one side as if it had been thrown down with the children.
I looked around for a spare or just some rope, finding a coil of rope tied to a hook on the other side of the well.
I made a slip knot at one end before throwing it up and over the winch and letting it down towards the bottom of the well. Stopping when the knotted end slightly coiled on the dry floor.
"Can you put your arms and chest through the opening so that it's around your chest?"
I watched as conflict arose in the eyes that continued to observe my movements, they looked from the rope to the other little head still being held down. I contemplated after checking the approximate size of them both.
"I'll bring you both up at the same time, can you put the rope around both of you?"
The child looked at the rope for another few seconds before releasing the other little one, crawling over to the rope, once it was in hand they crawled back over and settled while expanding the opening of the slip knot. Once the child got it wide enough they guided the other child to put their arms and head through before doing the same in the space that was left. The children were now chest to chest. The one child then tugged on the rope to signal that they were ready.
"Okay I'll start in a second"
Now that they were secure, I wrapped my end more securely around the winch. I plan to use the rotary of the winch to pull the children up smoothly.
I slowly started turning the lever until I felt the tension increase so I had to put more strength into my arms as I held it steady. After a few minutes of turning my arms were now burning but I could see the tops of their silky heads so I continued until they were level with me before stopping. I kept one hand on the lever and reached out with the other.
"Grab my hand"
When a little hand tentatively touched my open palm I grabbed firmly and pulled while at the same time releasing the lever. The momentum tossed the children into my arms as I caught them.
"Got you, I got you!" feeling their hearts pounding through their backs. I patted their shivering shoulders to calm them down.
I'm my arms were two children, a boy and a girl, their age at around eight or nine years old. Their clothes were made of grey and brown cotton that had streaks of soot on the sleeves. I released them and gently unraveled the rope from around their chests.
My heart reached out to these two children who had most likely been orphaned in this disaster. With no one to depend on anymore but each other. I felt the need in that moment to fill that role. I would protect these two little lives. For as long as I could.