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				HOLIDAY by Katie Oliver Chapter Three: Heartache       Thunderbird Two duly arrived, and Virgil took the opportunity to slip inside. After a long drink, that finally washed the dust from his throat, he changed into his uniform. The first person he met when he emerged was the police officer.       "That explains it," she said. "I thought you were in the army or something, but you're from International Rescue."       Virgil nodded. "You're right, but don't spread it about. We were on holiday here in New Zealand. It was just a co-incidence we happened to be in the square when the quake hit."       "A lucky co-incidence for us. You have already caused the rescue of nearly 70 people, by getting organised so quickly." She paused for a moment. "We? I thought you were alone?"       Virgil sighed. "Another International Rescue operative is under there." He pointed to the remains of the Tourist information Building.       The police officers made an announcement to the effect that International rescue would be searching all three collapsed buildings, beginning with the Tourist Information building. As this announcement was being made John arrived with Thunderbird Two. Virgil watched anxiously as he set the mighty vehicle down in the centre of the square. He need not have worried. She landed as lightly as a feather. Then her legs extended and she rose gracefully back into the air, leaving the pod beneath her like a hen laying a mighty egg. From the pod rolled the Excavator, driven by Brains, followed by the Domo with John at the wheel.       Scott directed them towards the collapsed building from Mobile control. The two vehicles went to work removing the rubble carefully. Virgil was on top of the pile directing the digging operations. Suddenly he called for silence. Immediately both vehicles cut their engines and the diggers listened carefully. A man shouted from near the Domo.       "I can hear someone calling." Virgil scrambled over to him. A woman's voice could be heard crying out for help.       "Brains, there's a woman trapped under here, can you bring the Excavator over, and then we'll use the Domo to move in and lift the stuff off."       "FAB, V..Virgil."       The Excavator cleared a path for the Domo to move in and then John used the suction pods to lift the heavy chunks of masonry. Virgil moved in and checked on the woman.       "I'm with a man, I don't know who he is but he's unconscious, and another man whose dead I'm afraid. Please hurry and get us out of here."       Virgil felt as if someone had poured ice-cold water over him and he shivered despite the heat of the day and the heavy work he'd been doing. Taking hold of himself he managed to call back reasonably steadily. "I think we're almost there. Hang on."       They were. The Domo removed another chunk of rubble and a hole opened up. Virgil peered inside. He could see the woman about eight feet below him.       "Scott, we need some rope and a stretcher," he called.       "FAB"       "Moments later Scott appeared at his side, with the requested items. Working swiftly they attached one end of the rope to one of the Domo's arms and attaching the stretcher to the other end prepared to lower.       "I'll go down," said Scott. He was worried by Virgil. He looked pale, almost sick.       "Virgil caught his brothers arm. "Scott, before you go, she said she is with two men. One seriously injured…and one dead."       Scott swallowed. No wonder Virgil looked like that. "OK, thanks for telling me. Lower away John."       The stretcher with Scott aboard disappeared into the hole. Then Scott radioed back. The others could hear the relief in his voice. "I'm down. Alan's not here."       The injured man was swiftly lifted, and the body of an elderly Japanese tourist followed. Then Scott rode back up, his arms around a shaking girl, about 16 years of age.       The International Rescue team continued to search, finding four more people alive, and six bodies. Then the police officer came over.       "We can hear people calling from the apartments. Can you come?"       Scott and Virgil looked at each other. They still hadn't found Alan, but time was running out for other people. They had searched and searched but had found no trace of their brother. The woman who had lost her children was pleading with them to go on searching, but they knew there was little hope. They had surely found all the pockets where people could be trapped. Now all that was left was a pile of rubble.       "I'm sorry, Virg," said Scott. He felt as though his heart would break into pieces. Every instinct told him to keep searching for his little brother, but he knew other people where trapped. People whom rescuers had located.       Virgil gazed at the pile of rubble. "It's all my fault. I should have kept an eye on him."       "Wouldn't have made any difference, you know what he's like. He's too brave for his own good. C'mon. Lets get to work on the apartments."       They trudged wearily across the square to the apartment building. On to Chapter Four: A Long Night.