Mama was struggling to breathe. Mina could see the enormous effort it took her to lunge forward and shove the beam. It barely moved. Mina wished she could help as her mother tried again, finally pushing the beam off the unconscious girl. It hit the floor, scattering black chunks and red sparks. Mama hooked her arms under Ana’s and dragged the girl backward to the door. In the distance someone was calling her name.
‘In here,’ she croaked, then tried again. ‘In here …’
With relief Mina recognised her father’s voice. They were safe. Ana would live, and her mother’s leg would not be damaged. Somehow things had changed.
Papa flung the door open and took a step toward the women on the floor. He spoke, but his words were lost in a great groaning as the roof collapsed. Mina looked up and saw th
