rear brake job gone bad

After changing my old frozen up rear calipers, i went to install the %&**# parking brake cable and son of B, all the slack is gone. I did not have much to start with, but there was at least an inch or so. I pulled with all my might and it ain't coming back. I'm guessing the little spring/coil thing up at the handle in the console tightened up me when I was foolin' with the calipers? Nobody touched the handle while I was working on it.
Has this happened to anyone before?
How can I get the slack back?
Thanks for your help.

resolved

In case anyone was wondering...

Took it to my favorite shop (Big B T in Paso Robles) and voila!, an hour later and $95 poorer and my car is fixed. They had to remove the console and release tension on the handbrake to get the cables re attached, all done easier when the car is on a lift.

Lesson learned is that I should not use my repair manual for my '98 when working on the 2001, there must be a difference! Lol