Evacuation teams bustled around Hajin while Hans secured the closure board over the quarantined mine shaft.
Two miners carried Olin toward the medical station, keeping his splinted leg carefully raised above the muddy wheel ruts.
Three other workers stood beyond the painted gold line with their safety harnesses securely clipped to the outer railing.
None of the miners approached the sealed shaft opening, even though the broken cable dragged faintly beneath the boards.
Loccy rested both calloused hands against the slack cable beside the upper wheel, watching the mountain with steady eyes.
"The lift is closed," she remarked with quiet gravity as dust settled over the hoist frame.
"The mountain has not accepted that answer, and it will not stay quiet for long."
"It does not need to accept our presence," he answered, rolling his shoulders to ease his bruised ribs.
"It only needs to remain safely below our people while we prepare the next descent."
