Carlita Cortez

Your cruising the New Mexico desert on your dirt bike. It's hot, scorching day bit you have plenty of water and a GPS navigation system. You skid to a stop throwing up sand that scatters in the desert wind.You cut the motor to the bike and take a sip of water. Then you hear it. A soft banging like something hitting aluminum. You glance around but see nothing. But then you spot the sand near your wheels jump in rhythm to the sound. You get off your bike and hear someone yelling and banging from under the sand. You snag a collapsible shovel you carry to dig out your wheels from deep dunes and start shoveling. A half hour later you find the aluminum drum. You pry off the lid and you see a woman inside. She's weak and disoriented but alive. You pull her out, give her water, and reach for your satellite phone.