John indicated the growing crowd at the entrance. Were getting together some of the steadier people. Ill tell them the score, and McGill will advise on what to do about it. He shrugged. Hes the only one who knows.
Youd better do it quickly, advised Pye. Theyre getting a bit restive.
John Peterson looked at McGill who nodded. Right. Lets get to it.
McGill said to Ballard, Ring up Turi Buck and tell him to prepare to play host to a crowd of kids. He stood and joined Peterson and Pye. Well be forming an avalanche committee but its not going to be a talking shop not if I can help it.
It wont be, promised Pye.
McGill nodded in appreciation. Youre on it, Mr Pye; and wed better have a doctor. Now lets go and break the bad news.
Eric Peterson said, So my brother told those people that Mrs Samson had brought in. They didnt believe it at first not until someone came in from the street and said he couldnt get through the Gap. Even then they took a lot of convincing that the town was in danger. He shrugged. It was just like that first council meeting, but on a bigger scale. Everybody wanted to argue the toss.
What time was it then? asked Harrison.
Half past eight, going on nine.
Then it would be light?
Yes and no. In Huka there are mountains on both sides so we dont get direct sunlight until fairly late in the morning. The sky was light enough but there was a thick mist.
Professor Rolandson held up a finger and Harrison nodded. You have said that Dr McGill told you the temperature was falling. And that Mr Warrick queried that because of the mist. I must say I dont understand it myself. I would have thought that, in those conditions, the mist would have frozen out as hoar frost. Was any explanation given for this?
None that I heard.
And was it still snowing at this time?
No, sir, it had stopped. It didnt snow for the rest of that day.
Rolandson leaned back, and Harrison said, How was this situation finally resolved? I mean the convincing of the chosen group.
It was Arthur Pye who did it. He listened to the arguments for a while, then jumped in and said it was time to cut the cackle. He was very forceful about it.
Harrison raised his head and addressed the hall. It is a great pity that Constable Pye cannot be here to give evidence. As you may know, he was killed after the avalanche in a most valiant rescue attempt. Yesterday I was informed that Constable Pye and Mr William Quentin, the union representative at the mine, have been posthumously awarded the George Cross by Her Majesty.
There was a murmur of voices and sporadic clapping which grew quickly into a storm of applause. The Press gallery bubbled and boiled. Harrison let the applause run its course and then tapped on the rostrum. Let us get on with the evidence.
The hall quietened, and Harrison said to Eric Peterson, Can you tell us what Mr Ballard was doing at this time?
He used the telephone, and then talked to Mr Cameron for a while.
He did not participate in any of the arguments?
Not then. He took Mr Cameron on one side and they talked together.
You did not hear what they said?
No, sir.
Harrison looked at Ballard. In view of a certain decision that was made about this time, I would like to hear what was said in that conversation. You are excused, Mr Peterson. Will you step forward, Mr Ballard?
Twenty
Ballard was tense. In Hukahoronui he had made a decision, and now he was called upon to justify it. Because of that decision fifty-four people had died who might now be alive and the knowledge lay heavily upon him. He clasped his hands tightly to prevent his fingers trembling.
Harrison said, Can you give us the gist of the conversation you had with Mr Cameron at that time?
Ballards voice was steady. We talked about Mr Eric Petersons proposal that the mine be used as a shelter. I had already talked with Dr McGill about what to expect of avalanches, and he said that powder avalanches were very fast anything up to a maximum of two hundred and eighty miles an hour. He paused. Thats the translational speed, of course.
You mean the general speed of the advancing snow mass? asked Rolandson.
Yes. But inside the mass there would be a considerable turbulence, according to Dr McGill. There would be a swirling action resulting in momentary gusts of up to twice the translational speed.
Rolandson raised his eyebrows. You mean there could be gusting at speeds in excess of five hundred miles an hour?
So I was informed by Dr McGill.
I see your problem. You were afraid of an organ pipe effect as the avalanche swept past the portal of the mine.
Yes, sir. The suction would be tremendous.
And what of the second type of avalanche?
The wet snow avalanche would come down much more slowly possibly at a speed of thirty to forty miles an hour. As a result of this relatively slow speed it would tend to pile up before the portal, and Dr McGill told me that snow of that nature sets hard into ice immediately. I was faced with the possibility of having several hundred thousand tons of ice of an unknown thickness between hundreds of people in the mine and the outside world. These were the problems discussed by myself and Mr Cameron.
And what were Mr Camerons views? asked Harrison.
Cameron was pungent. Jesus! he said incredulously. You want to put the whole population into a hole in a mountain?
Its a shelter.
Okay, its a shelter I know that but there are problems. So many problems. I dont know where to start. For instance, when is this disaster supposed to happen?
It may never happen.
Exactly. So how long are they going to sit in there just waiting? They might stand it a day, but when nothing happens theyll want out. Do you think you can stop them?
The town council might.
Cameron made a hawking sound at the back of his throat which indicated his opinion of the council. To tell the truth, Im not too happy about anyone being in the mine if theres going to be a fall. A million tons of snow falling an average vertical height of three thousand feet must set up some vibrations.
Ballard narrowed his eyes. What are you getting at, Joe?
Well, you know weve been cutting a few corners.
Ive seen some of the corners that have been cut. In fact, Ive written a report for the board. Ive not been here long, Joe; not long enough to put things right. Im telling you now that its got to stop. Why, in the name of God, did you let them get away with it?
I wasnt high man on the totem pole, snapped Cameron. My immediate boss is that spineless lump of jelly, Dobbs and above him was Fisher with one leg in the grave and incompetent in the first place. And the men were just as bad. That production bonus youve been handing out is goddamn near criminal. The guys are only human and if a shot-firer, say, can earn a fast buck by ignoring a regulation hell go for the dough every time. And Dobbs looked the other way because he got a piece of the cake, too.
And you?
Cameron looked at the floor. And maybe me, too. He looked up at Ballard challengingly. Im not justifying it. Im just giving you the facts. Im not like Dobbs I didnt do it for the money. I did it for the job, Ian. I had to hold on to the job. This is the last job Ill hold as chief engineer. If I lose it Ill be on the way down Ill be assistant to some smart young guy who is on his way up and when you get to my age you cant afford to take chances like that. If I hadnt played along Id have been fired.
He laughed humourlessly and tapped Ballard on the chest. But dont tell me you havent had your worries already. I did my best, I tell you I really did, but those business sharks in Auckland are a tight-fisted lot of bastards all take and no give. I pleaded with Dobbs I pleaded with Fisher for more money to go into safety, to go into supporting structures. All I got was the one answer Make do.
Ballard rubbed his eyes. All thats water under the bridge. Whats worrying you?
Ill tell you. If that lot falls off the mountain wet snow or dry, it doesnt matter its going to make a hell of a big thump. Now, maybe weve been interpreting the rules a mite too freely but I wouldnt want to be in there when it happens. I dont think the supporting structures will take it.
Ballard drew in his breath. Thats a hot one, Joe. Anyone in the mine now?
Sunday maintenance crew. Half a dozen guys. Engineers and electricians.
Ballards voice was as cutting as a knife-edge. Get them out. Get them out now. And bloody well jump, Joe.
He turned on his heel and went to the noisy argumentative crowd near the door. Arthur Pye raised his voice in a bull bellow. Quiet! Lets hear what McGill has to say about that.
McGill turned as Ballard arrived at his elbow. Weve been discussing Eric Petersons idea of using the mine as a shelter. I think its not such a bad idea. I think we can discount the suction effect if Joe Cameron can put a stopper at the entrance. And it will easily hold everyone.
No, said Ballard. Nobody is going in. Ive just ordered the men who are already in the mine to come out.
There was a babble of voices, cut short again by a blast from Pye. He said, Why not, Mr Ballard?
Because I dont think its safe. Mr Cameron has just pointed out that a million tons of snow hitting the valley bottom will make quite an impact. I dont think the mine is safe.
Pye frowned. Not safe?
Its my decision, and Ive made it, said Ballard. As soon as the men are out Im having the entrance sealed.
Well, thats it, said McGill. No need to argue any more about it. He looked curiously at Ballard before he turned to Pye. I want four men, experienced in the mountains if possible. Theyll need ropes and ice-axes, if you have them.
Some of the scouts are good climbers.
Theyll do, said McGill briefly. Wheres the secretary you promised me, Ian?
And thats how it was, said Ballard.
Harrison opened his mouth and then closed it. He leaned back and said to the assessor on his left, Do you have any questions, Mr French?
Indeed I have. French drew his chair around so that he could get a good view of Ballard. You know that I am from the Department of Mines, Mr Ballard?
Yes.
I have followed your evidence with great care. Are we to believe that you ordered the mine sealed because you thought there would be a danger of tunnel collapse in the event of an avalanche?