Bone cracked against stone as Ty's rib slipped from its cut; Jade caught his chest before the shelf could drag it into the ridge.
"Hold him there. My heel's slipping, but I've got him."
Nessa pressed her left forearm against the shelf. Her right hand stayed curled inside its glove, the suit's pull drawing her arm toward the lower track. The recovered field finger sat in her left fist, two West Four punches digging into her palm.
The lower fitting turned beneath the ridge. Three pale channels tightened in order; a separate iron ring followed them, drawing a strip of living tissue through its collar.
"Jade, move him onto the ledge while I can hold this shelf."
"Give me a foothold, then. I can't carry his weight and guess where the rock ends."
Nessa slid her boot along the edge until its toe found stone below. Her cage mapped the collar's turn; Jade needed ground that would carry a body.
"One boot fits there. The ledge narrows after the notch."
