Leah and Justin dismounted and sprinted to Zechariah's side.
"We must shut the gate!" he said.
"What about the town?" Leah shouted.
"It's us they're after, not the town!" Zechariah shouted. "Those things will be right behind Ahlund. We've got to cut them off! Ready: one, two, pull!"
At his order, the three pulled on the lever. It didn't budge.
"It's stuck!" said Leah.
"Again," said Zechariah. "One, two, pull!"
The metal cut into Justin's hands, breaking all the blisters of yesterday and coating his palms with watery fluid. His boots slipped on the stone floor. His arms burned with the effort. He thought he felt the lever move slightly, but it wasn't enough.