The end seemed an eternity away. In the semi-quiet of the descent, Erik could faintly hear the snapping of pipes, an unmistakable sound, like ice cracking on a pond on a cold winter’s day. No one was aware of it, but the tower was in the beginning of its death throes. “Step aside!” someone yelled. “Coming up!” New York City firefighters were walking up, struggling against the tide. Erik could see the exhaustion from carrying all their equipment to fight the fires in the upper tower.
