Stretched Horizons Read online

  "Hi, wonderful ladies," Ray said when they came in sight. "We have a wee problem here." He attempted a smile but it became a grimace of pain. "I'm busted up a bit, I'm afraid."

  "Oh my, Ray," Bree said and rushed the last few steps, Jenny close behind. She kneeled down, worry furrowing her brow.

  Ray was caught under a pile of the grey rocks. Only his head, one shoulder and left arm were exposed. Scorings around his free arm showed where he'd tried to dig himself out. Above them was the evidence of a secondary slip that had caught him.

  "I slipped and half the bloody hill came with me." He grimaced. "Something snapped. I think it's my leg."

  "Okay," Bree said. "We'll see what we can do." She and Jenny began scooping debris out of the way. "God, we wondered what happened. I wanted to come earlier but Jenny said we'd never find you. She was right, of course, but when Pattie arrived we..." She flung up a hand to brush hair away from her eyes and continued scraping and rambling on, not even conscious of her own words.

  "Bree," Ray interrupted. "Come here!"

  Bree stopped, sat back and frowned. "What do you mean? I am here."

  "Closer," Ray whispered and winked at Jenny. Bree frowned and bent forward.

  "What's wrong?"' she said and gazed at his face.

  Ray tucked his free arm about her, pulled her close, and placed a tiny kiss on her lips. "Slow down," he whispered. "I'm okay. Really I am."

  Bree pulled back, flushing. "Why did you do that?" she gasped, then noticed the strange look that crossed his face. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean... I mean I'm honoured but..."

  "Bree, we're almost within range," Ray mumbled.

  "Of what?"

  "The mobile phone. That's how I got into this mess in the first place. The light on it flickered and, for a second, stayed green."

  "Where's your mobile, Ray?" cut in Jenny.

  "With the backpack. When I felt myself go, I managed to toss them both away and scream at Pattie to move. It's up there somewhere."

  "I'll look," Jenny said and undid the rope that was still attached to Bree. "Come on, Pattie."

  "Be careful," Bree said. She turned back to Ray. "What's the best way I can help?"

  Ray smiled. "There's a ton of dirt on my chest and it hurts like hell. I think some ribs are cracked. If you could try to remove some..."

  Bree crawled above Ray. She used legs as well as arms to push the grey powdery soil aside until she hit something more solid. "There's a boulder buried here," she gasped. "If we can get that out..." Again she worked frantically to push soil away, then glanced up as Jenny half-slid in beside them.

  "Found it," she puffed. "Doesn't work, though. There's nothing!"

  Bree groaned.

  "Take the battery out and clean the connections," Ray suggested, then suddenly added, "Bugger!"

  "What is it?" Bree said and grabbed his hand.

  "My right side was numb," Ray said. "There's a bit of space there so I moved my foot. Trouble is, when I did, spasms of pain shot up my leg. "

  "That's a good sign," Jenny said.

  "Yeah," Ray said. He spluttered and tears formed in his eyes. "Did you bring any water across with you."

  "Oh my, of course. Why didn't I think..." Bree stood up and reached for their medical kit.

  "Because you're trying to do everything," Jenny said. "Look, have a break and let me do some digging."

  "No, I want to help," Bree said.

  The pair scooped and heaved soil aside. Even Pattie got in the act and did a wonderful job of scratching debris away. As the large boulder came into sight Bree could see what happened. A buried tree trunk formed a small triangular space above Ray's chest and right arm. Further back, his legs were completely covered in soil.

  "You can thank the tree trunk, Ray," Bree panted as she scooped an armload of soil aside. "Without this, that boulder would have squashed you completely. Now if we can lift it from that side it should topple away from you."

  "We could use the rope to help," Jenny added. "I'll dig Ray's legs out first. If the boulder's too heavy to topple, we could wedge something under it, and Ray might just be able to wriggle out."

  "Keep Pattie uphill," Ray said. "I'd hate anything to roll on her." His face was bathed in sweat and every so often he'd grit teeth and swallow saliva.

  "More water, Ray?" Bree asked and held a plastic bottle to his lips when he nodded.

  By the time they had increased the hole around the boulder sufficiently to wedge a small branch beneath, the sun had reached the hilltops and they were in shadow. The cooler temperature was welcome as they worked. Ray became silent and lapsed into a semi-conscious state.

  "It won't work," Bree said a few moments later.

  "Why?" gasped Jenny. She was using her fingers to move soil from Ray's legs.

  "Look," Bree said. "That leg is all wrong. There's an obvious break. If we try to pull him out we could do more damage to his leg. I think the boulder is leaning the wrong way, too."

  "I know," Jenny replied.

  Bree sighed in disappointment as she examined the boulder. If she levered the end with the branch and it slipped, it would fall on Ray's chest, not away from him. The weight dropping on him could crush his whole upper body.

  "It'll be dark in an hour," she said. "I need to do something else." She stood and stepped over to the mobile phone Jenny had placed in a backpack pocket. "I'm going to call for help."

  "But it's not working."

  "So I'll move up the slope until I get into range."

  Jenny nodded. "Take Pattie. I'll stay with Ray, unless you'd like me to come, too."

  "No," Bree replied. "I don't want Ray left alone. You could go and get the tent if it starts getting cooler. We're hot but Ray looks so pale."

  "One, one, one," Ray said in almost a croak.

  Bree spun around and stared at him. "Sorry, Ray. I thought you were asleep. What did you say?"

  "The emergency number in New Zealand is triple one. I think that is different from yours at home?"

  "I'll get help, Ray," Bree whispered, squeezed his hand and walked away.

  WHEN THERE IS A CRISIS the person waiting often becomes more worried than the one doing something. This was how it was with Jenny. She placed a rolled-up bunch of clothes beneath Ray's head and wiped his face with a damp cloth. He smiled, chatted for a while and dropped asleep again.

  She sat watching Bree and Pattie's disappearing forms until the pair were out of sight, then munched absently on an apple as her thoughts drifted back. Suddenly, she jerked up. That man who attacked her at school. She knew him! Well, not personally but she had seen him before.

  It was during the Set One Folk Dance evening held the week before the attack. The Year One, Two and Three classes had this annual event where each class put on three dances, there were a couple of grand items and the evening concluded with a grand dance where parents were asked to join in,

  One dance consisted of two circles with males on the outside. Everyone danced with the adjacent partner and moved on to the next person at the end of each movement. She mainly had her tiny pupils as a partner but there were a few men in the circle. This man was one. She remembered being embarrassed as he'd said nothing but had gripped her far too close as they swung around. She'd been relieved when she moved on to her next partner, one of the little boys from Badger Room.

  Afterwards, she knew the man's gaze followed her, so she purposely retreated to the kitchen where parents were arranging supper.

  "Oh my God," she gasped out loud. "It was all premeditated and Bree had to suffer because of me."

  "What?" Ray asked.

  Jenny grimaced. "Hi, Ray," she said. "You dozed off and I was deep in thought. The guy who attacked me and Bree at school planned his attack on me."

  "Bree told me a bit about it. She said he wasn't caught."

  "That's right. I thought he was a stranger but now I remember..." She told Ray about the dance episode. "During supper I remember he was watching me. It was creepy. Afterwards I was invol
ved in getting all the kids ready to go home and forgot about him. I never even remembered when he came to the door that afternoon claiming he was Jamie's father. Jamie's one of my pupils. But, a moment ago, it all rushed back into my mind." She bit on her lip. "I never encouraged him at all but it'll look as if I did."

  "Why? Did you say anything to him?" Ray replied.

  Jenny paled. "No, not really, but he did speak to me."

  "What did he say?"

  "As everyone left he walked by and said, 'You're a great dancer, Ms Dench. See you sometime.' I remember he stared at..." Jenny flushed. "...more than just my face."

  "Tell the police when you get home. With a description, it shouldn't be too hard to find him."

  "I know," Jenny said, "But I feel even more responsible for Bree getting involved."

  "Don't be," Ray replied. "Bree wouldn't think that for a moment."

  Jenny turned her gaze towards Ray. "You're attracted to her aren't you?"

  Ray looked away. "Just circumstances, Jenny. You know what it's like when people meet in stressful situations." He laughed. "In a hospital I reckon every male patient falls for the nurse who looks after him, unless they're built like a battleaxe, that is."

  "No," Jenny replied. "I think it's more than that, from Bree's point of view, anyway. I've no idea how you feel." She caught Ray's eyes again. "I'm sorry. I'm just being a busy body, that's all."

  Ray grinned. "I don't know how I feel either." He wriggled, grimaced in pain and added. "Have you any water left?"

  "I think so," Jenny replied. She stood and reached across to where the plastic bottle had been placed by the backpack.

  IN FRONT OF BREE AND Pattie, the distant hills looked a dark blue above the grey slip face. A line of dark green undergrowth showed to the right. This was where she decided to go. If she got to the corner it could be in line of site of Whariti Peak, the highest hill in the district. On Whariti was a television transmission tower that also held the mobile phone relay stations. Anyway, that's what Ray had told her earlier.

  She moved on, her gaze darting between the distant trees and the dog. Not once did she glance down into the valley nor did she turn back to view Ray and Jenny. The soil was so loose she sank in up to her ankles and left grotesque footprints behind. She swallowed any remaining pride and sank to her knees. Now half crawling and half 'spider walking' with hands and feet working in unison, she moved diagonally across the slope.

  After twenty minutes, the edge seemed just as far away as when she had left. It was only when she finally stopped and glanced back that she realized that the waving Jenny was way below her.

  "Well, Pattie," she said. "We've come a long way after all."

  Pattie placed her nose on Bree's knees and gazed up with large brown eyes.

  "You've done so much, girl," Bree said and patted Pattie. "You came back to us, led us here, helped us dig Ray out and now you're looking after me." She cuddled the Labrador in her arms and blinked back tears. "I love you, Pattie. Come on!" she said.

  The next section was steep but the ground became solid with stunted shrubs growing on it. It appeared she was now on an older slip. The thick undergrowth and trees were also close but the shadows became longer as twilight arrived. She'd been climbing for close to an hour. If nothing happened within the next hour she'd be stuck on the slip face until morning. It would be too dangerous to return to the others in the dark.

  "Goddamn hills," she cursed and yanked the mobile phone out for the umpteenth time. She pressed the on switch and a green light shone. She stared at it, exhaustion momentarily numbing understanding. "Oh shit!' she gasped.

  Reception. She was in range! She sat down and, with trembling fingers, punched in one, one, one.

  She watched the animated picture show that it was ringing. She placed it back over her ear. Ringing. Ringing. Why didn't they answer! Where were the bastards?

  "Good evening," a precise female voice vibrated in her right ear. "Please state which emergency service you require."

  Bree froze before she mumbled something incoherent.

  The person on the other end must have thought she couldn't speak for some reason. "Don't hang up," the voice continued.

  "Help us, please!" Bree finally blurted.

  "I can help but you'll need to tell me who and where you are."

  "Bree. Bree Ashworth. We're from the aeroplane that crashed on the way to Palmerston North. I'm calling on a mobile phone."

  "Bree, this is Gwen. I can hear you clearly so just relax. Where are you calling from?"

  Bree could hear a keyboard being tapped. "The mountains," she sobbed. "No, I've got it wrong. Ranges! We're on a cliff face under thick forest. Ray's caught in a slip. He needs emergency help."

  "You're doing well, Bree," Gwen said. "Just explain everything. We'll get a trace on you and send out an emergency helicopter. Palmerston North Emergency Services have just indicated they are patched in and, as soon as we get a grid reference, we'll be on our way. First of all ..."

  Gwen's soft voice continued and Bree stopped trembling. Tears rolled down her cheeks but she regained some composure. She told what had happened, what the terrain looked like and spoke to two other people before Gwen came back on the air with more encouraging words.

  "We have a trace, Bree. The rescue helicopter has just left Palmerston North. You should hear it in about twenty minutes. If you have some clothing to wave..."

  "Go to Ray first. I'm okay."

  "We'll get you all, Bree. It's quite a large helicopter."

  "Oh, thank God." Bree couldn't stop her chin trembling as her voice turned to sobs. She glanced up and saw the distant hilltops bathed in sunshine. Somehow, they seemed so friendly. She reached out, found Pattie beside her and just held the dog in her arms. My God, she'd done it. Ray and Jenny would be safe!

  Bree wiped her eyes, hugged the dog and gazed around. She was in the middle of a pile of loose debris but a little above her there was a grass knob where a couple of trees grew. One was the bushy type they'd walked through all day and the other was a tall multi-branched palm tree that Ray had talked about when they were back at the hut. It had the unique name of cabbage tree.

  Her thoughts went from the cabbage tree back to her friends. She stared down but could not see them in the deepening shadows. "Come on, Pattie, we'll go up to that knob and you can relax. A big machine is flying in to rescue us all." She laughed at her effort to explain things to a dog.

  The outcrop provided a little shelter but a breeze had risen. Bree shivered. Her thin clothes offered no warmth and now that she'd stopped moving, a chill crept through her body. Her ribs began to throb. Bree grimaced. Other parts of her body hurt, too. Her face, arms and leg tops burned and there was a distinct line between the white skin beneath her blouse and the bright red skin over the rest of her body. Her legs and arms were scratched and she knew the blisters on her feet had enlarged. But that didn't matter. Help was on its way and that more than compensated for a few physical ailments.

  As the blue sky turned to purple, Pattie cocked her ears up and whined. Suddenly, Bree saw flashing navigation lights and heard a thump of beating rotors. A black dot materialized between the lights, the noise became louder...and there it was. A helicopter was heading up the valley!

  "Oh my God!" Bree screamed. She climbed to the outer edge of the knob and waved frantically.

  The craft slowed, hovered and turned towards her. "Get Ray first!" she screamed She clung to a branch and just stared.

  A chirping ring made her jump in fright until she realized it was the mobile phone. "Hello," she gasped.

  "Bree?"

  "Yes!"

  "My name's Grant. I'm the pilot of the rescue chopper. We can see you and your friends. Are you okay?"

  "Yes, fine." Bee shouted above the engine noise coming through the speaker and from above her. "I've got Ray's dog with me."

  "No problem. Just stay where you are while we manoeuvre in beside you. A crewman will drop in and help. Just wait for him
. Okay!"

  The purple, green and white helicopter with Square Edge Rescue painted along the fuselage hovered in. Dust blew everywhere. Bree grabbed Pattie and watched as a man in an orange life jacket descended from the craft.

  "Hi," he shouted. "I'm Tom. I believe you'd like a lift?"

  Bree didn't know whether to laugh or cry so merely nodded.

  Tom was beside her. "We've got a stretcher coming down," he said. "It won't take long."

  Minutes later, Bree found herself swinging upwards with Pattie strapped in beside her. Wind tore the dog's hair, as the treetops disappeared. Arms reached out, a man grinned at her, shouted something she couldn't comprehend above the engine roar and guided them in. Tom was brought up, the door shut and the helicopter moved forward.

  Tom wouldn't let her climb out of the stretcher. "Just relax, Bree," he said and guided an amazingly placid Pattie to a lead attached to the wall. "There you are, doggy," he said. "I'm in no doubt you've been a great help."

  "Thank you," Bree sobbed.

  "Part of the service." The pilot's voice came back. "I'm Grant. We spoke on the phone a few moments ago. You've met Tom and the doc, James Langton?"

  Bree turned to the third man. "I'm sorry, Doctor Langton," she said. "I never knew you were a doctor."

  "Welcome to New Zealand," James replied in a casual manner, "And where in England are you from, Bree?"

  "London."

  "I think I've heard of the place," the doctor said. There was a distinct twinkle in his eyes. "So let's have a look at you..."

  Bree nodded but her gaze searched through the side windows. The slip dipped away and only the distant ranges and sky remained in sight. She noticed a sole star twinkle above the hills. Perhaps it was a satellite. The helicopter changed direction and the cliff face appeared again. She gasped. There were Jenny and Ray. She could see hair blowing across their faces. Jenny was holding Ray's arm with one hand and waving with the other.

  CHAPTER 11