Erica opened the metal grate to the back, and stepped into the gap.  She  looked Martin in the eye.  In a low voice intended for him alone: "You're eligible for parole in six years.  Do this right, and I'll make sure the Board knows."  She reached to her belt, for the key to unlock his handcuffs.<br/><br/>"Are you crazy!" Hank shouted, straining to crane his head enough to see Erica.  "You know the rules!  They don't get let go.<i> They stay chained up!</i>"  He almost shouted the last, like it was a religious invocation from a firebrand preacher.<br/><br/>"Would you rather sit there until you bleed out or your leg has to be amputated?"  Erica responded.  "Or maybe until the weight here shifts and we all finish going off the cliff?  We don't have a lot of options here."  Erica undid Martin's leg chain, freeing his foot from the metal bar.  "These men may be criminals, but I'm not just going to leave them here to go off the cliff.  They were sentenced to prison, not death."  She then gestured for him to follow her out the passenger side door.  "The rest of you sit tight.  There's a tow cable, Martin and I are going to use it to secure the van to something so it doesn't risk sliding any further."