LENA SCHMIDT
Lena Schmidt did her best with the flashlight to make sure the children ahead of her could see the path. They had arrived at the second crevasse where a narrower ledge made the danger of falling much more apparent. This time every student gripped the rope without being told, and though a few of them still leaned cautiously over the edge to try to see what might be down there, the darkness shared no secrets. The smallest boy in the school looked terrified.
“Zbrowen?” she called. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, Fräulein Schmidt.” He spoke in a tiny voice. She almost didn’t hear him.
“If you become afraid, let me know, alright?”
The next voice came in loud and clear. “Yes, Fräulein Schmidt.” Katya Ricca, Adam’s younger sister, sometimes answered for Zbrowen. She was bold for a ten-yea
