Category: Writers Block
The descent was hellish sharp needles of snow stung their eyes then froze to the lids making it all but impossible to see Andy was following the line in his head he'd been up here so often picking up the debris of fallen climbers some dead,others miraculously clinging to life,Seamus was just visible to his left and he was slipping badly, his crampons were blunted by weeks of neglect "Jaysus! I'm freezin up are you right there big lad" Andy jumped Seamus' voice had reached out through the curtain of snow, wind and mist, to grip him like a cold hand "....I'm ok! How's your man" he nodded back to Dougie who was barely conscious "he's not to great so,sure we'll be lucky to get away with this" Anja and Garry kept the snowy rope taut with incredible concentration and courage,they lowered the stretcher down a few more feet while their muscles protested and their arms shook with the cold and Dougie's awkward weight.
They were nearly there Bidean A' Ghlas Thuil levels out 1/2 way down to a pass that leads to the lochan below An Teallach Andy was aiming for that but he was barely able to see the break, as the wind whipped up a blinding ground blizzard and he could feel the 1st niggling sings of disorientation he stopped to get his bearings "Seamus! Have we missed the pass...Mick!...Hey..wake up" Seamus came to and answered his colleague with a blank stare "Mick wake up! {No I cant let on to the rest..ok think man..Christ! Your joking in THIS cold} the descent was now in jeopardy Dougie and possibly Seamus,were suffering from hypothermia and they would die while they waited for help, from the Mountain Rescue. "Seamus..Anja.. Garry..how are you 2..here drink up and eat..quick we've not far to go now" the 3 climbers grabbed the hot drinks and chocolate the hot tea scalded their throats,but they hardly felt it "still..Norway..so...cold" Garry heard Dougie's disembodied voice and offered him some tea his lips were blue.
They all avoided eye contact and the guilt settled on them like snow "I've killed the guy you realise that we've all killed him" Anja considered her lover's state of mind and came to a horrfying conclusion they had all been conned into committing a form of twisted slow euthanasia {Dougie had it all planned he's drawn us in with his Irish cheek and persuasion!} She looked at him pathetic dying vulnerable and helpless and hated him for being so selfish and flippant with his friend's lives.She kicked the stretcher hard and he moaned in response to the vibration "Anja? ..Come on its just 100 or so feet I'm sure of it" Anja pulled back and let them into the secret "he meant it this eejit!...And we fell for his idea, he wants to die up here not in hospital wasting away"
Seamus seemed to recover slightly with 2 hot drinks and a slab of chocolate he shook off the snow and his friends became blurrily familiar "sure I don't... blame... the guy" he shivered and stomped his feet, but the ridge was too narrow to allow him to really move and build up significant heat "ok is everybody ready right Mick and I il swap places with you.. and Garry, none of..this is your fault.." he wanted to believe that and also wring Dougie's neck "we're all mad eh? After this.. I'm.. takin up...sunbathin" Andy almost smiled but his facial muscles were stiff as if rigor mortis had already begun,for a superstitious climber, that was an ominous sign. He hustled past on the narrow ridge and checked on Dougie who was mumbling absently about Ireland "Christ!
You picked a good time to get homesick Paddy"
Dougie was slipping though he was nearly submerged in a thick sleeping bag and waterproof survival bag,the penetrating cold was finding loop holes and he had stopped shivering 10 minutes ago "Paddy try to drink some pal..it's good, sweet, just how you like it" Garry carefully tipped up the plastic cup but Dougie's lips were unable to grip "shit!" He cradled his friend head in the crook of his arm and the hot tea burned down his throat "good man..your doin fine..he'd of hated this bein so helpless...that il be why he chose to go out on a hill..." Garry hung his head then composed himself and settled his blinking eyes on the obscured and snow laden scenery. Andy stirred them into action,as any lack of movement, was an open invitation, to the biting cold."Ok we're moving..anyone experiencing any confusion, or coordination problems, keep them to yourself only positive attitudes here right" Andy managed a smile and Anja felt deep respect for this guy who willingly put his life in danger 7 days a week "we'er fine yes I see.." "worse in Norway eh what a place I'll need to take a look so" Seamus grinned fleetingly as his restless black eyes darted around studying the weather.
They organised themselves and began the descent lethal rime frost had spread from the flanks of An Teallach and the terrain was treacherous, Seamus had the worst of it his useless crampons made no impression on the slick snow Garry was struggling also however his problems were emotional, rather than physical, but equally painful the party inched along the ridge looking for the pass but the mountain appeared to have altered shape beneath her deep blanket of snow,Andy was stumped he thought of retracing his steps, but the wind was still howling close to the ground obliterating them,then suddenly the stretcher slewed violently to the right, as someone fell Garry felt the rope tighten, then slacken, and a sick feeling grew in the pit of his stomach "Oi! 1 gone at the back!" He dived across but the wind blew dusty snow directly into his eyes, when his sight cleared, he was stunned, there was no sign of anyone ever having been there!.
He's gone! I ...Seamus!" Anja held the stretcher while the lads shouted for their friend the snow had stopped and they were furiously searching for his bright red jacket against the brilliant white background "where the hell is he eh!" Andy got on the radio to base and reported the accident with a shake to his voice and trembling hands .
"Seamus! Mick! Answer me!" Garry quickly secured 2 ice screws to the wall and climbed into his harness, his heart was hammering in his chest like a drummer "I'll find him if it takes an hour or more people... don't.. just disappear" Andy risked a glance down the near vertical slope and noticed a darker slab of sandstone it was swept clean there wasn't a flake of snow within 200 feet "you had better wait for the guys we'll need the dogs for this 1.." he indicated to the dark brown slab so obvious that Garry wondered how he had missed it "aw Christ!...Your jokin why didn't we hear it" Anja came over and surveyed the slope "the wind it was screeching very loud like...a... banshee yes?" They thought back to 5 minutes ago and remembered how the wind had been,the eerie sound had reminded Andy of a child screaming for attention "bloody hell! Seamus He can't.. just go" "radio Neil pal the guys il need him and eh I'll see if I can find any sign of your man" Garry leaned back and tested the rope, this part always gave him nightmares, then he began the descent his sharp crampons dug in and an ice axe clinked against his spear screws.
Andy somehow found the nerve to inform his partner of what had happened, Neil had been watching and had the engine running as soon as he'd seen the fall, but he wasn't prepared for the rest "Neil eh ...f.ck we'er out of our depth here pal Seamus has fallen, repeat Seamus has fallen! I think the slope avalanched we never heard a f.ckin thing!" Neil sat silent for a while as his brain absorbed the info but he couldn't take it in "are you sure..were you roped up, was he wearing crampons at all,..Mick's aye been a chancer" Andy ran a gloved hand across his forehead he was surprised to find damp patches of sweat "..eh well eh..his crampons hmm blunt as a pig's arse"
"Damn! Where's the other 1, the blonde fella, don't tell me he's playing the hero..that whole hill is libel to go and very soon.. do you want an airlift!?" The M.R man was looking through powerful binoculars and although he was an accomplished pilot Seamus was the expert when it came to the tricky stuff "are you up to it we've got another casualty here he's our main priority" Neil agreed to try and Andy thanked him too many times "see to your patient and tell that mad Viking to get his arse back to where I can see it" "have you ever tried telling a bloo" the message was cut short by a loud shout from 200ft below the and the remaining climbers didn't dare look "Oi! I've found someone!..I think it's Mick!" Anja inched towards the edge and scanned the drop but the sheer unforgiving drop made her head swim "ohh no..wait..there's something red it might be him is he alive!!" Anja pointed to her heart and gave a thumbs up Garry squinted against the sun, then hesitated, and answered her with the opposite
"Shit!..He's only a boy for f..ks sake" she glared at Dougie and cursed under her breath "NEVER will I listen to another Irishman in a wheelchair" Garry climbed back up hacking and kicking with his ice axe and cramponed boots his mind was on his brother and he knew, he'd be dreaming about him tonight,they held out a hand and hauled Garry over the crag, he was exhausted and angry Andy handed over a cup of tea and the last of his chocolate. "His..back's broken at least... he's lyin... funny it.... must have been quick" he gasped for air and shivered as the damp mist crawled into his chest "..jesus! You... know... right now I could kill Dougie" Garry offered his chocolate to Andy who declined with a sad smile "theres a queue..your woman's 1st" Anja's eyes were reminiscant of the blue ice she had seen in Iceland "the eejit will wish he was in hospital if he ever wakes up"
The whine of the helicopter rotors rudely disturbed the silence after the chaos and clamour of Seamus' fall, every minute sound seemed deafening Andy checked on Dougie his white clammy skin and unconscious state,told him there was little chance of a recovery. " This is my last shout I'm giving up and moving to Tiree" Garry relieved himself away from his friends as Anja opened the flask to see how much they had left "there's some yes ..why Tiree?" Andy fixed his slate grey eyes on the clearing horizon and they knew he was trying not to cry, so Garry answered "its as flat as a snooker table borin bloody place" she smiled at the tall climber and he tried to give her what she wanted "you are too nice for the rescue you care too much" he swallowed the tea slowly and refocused his eyes on a far away peak "where's the tea I'm shiverin still Christ! that's good stuff" Garry blew on the cup to cool the scalding liquid Garry went to smile then his eyes strayed to the gully scraped clean of snow
"surely he'd have seen it" Anja searched the seasoned climbers faces and found confusion and "you tell her,while I come up with an explanation that doesn't involve death!" Garry knew it was unlikely that Seamus would have been able to react in time "no he, it comes so fast...and is unpredictable" he looked up and saw the advancing helicopter for a moment his mind replaced Neil with Seamus and his crazy grin, the snapshot was precious and unbearably brief, he wanted to keep it.
The sea king hovered and they expected the mischevious Irishman to take the piss and demand his machine back right away "Jesus! Ok your man's 1st, then you and Anja can go, and no arguing" they nodded and watched as the huge helicopter came closer Bidean A'Ghlas Thuil wouldn't relinquish them voluntarily. Andy and Garry worked together tightening the harness around Dougie his breathing was shallow and raspy "its not long now eh? At least he was spared the fall" A shadow crossed Andy's face and he shook his head then grabbed Garry's jacket "not until he's safely in, not until we all are!" He held the climber and ignored the images revolving in his mind "we'er in good hands man..right...I've endless respect for the Mountain Rescue"
Neil manoeuvred the helicopter closer and prepared to land on a rock free patch of snow close to the pass "if I cant save him ,this is the next best thing" he shone a bright light onto a faint path which lead to the break and landed with a bump "f..k I'm glad that's over" he jumped out of his seat and braced himself to meet his friends,his pain at losing Seamus was acute, it cut and chaffed like a raw running sore. Andy fastened Dougie's harness again and checked it twice,Garry was concerned by this,"man he's trussed up like a bloody turkey, lets go the sky's getting dodgy" he glanced around and saw a sweep of yellow/ grey cloud edging towards the hills,pregnant with snow "damn! I meant what I said earlier" Garry agreed with a wry smile which lingered too long "are we ready to carry him...Anja we can't waste time..they will find Seamus" She hated the thought of walking away and leaving his corpse alone and at the mercy of yet another storm it seemed heartless "your not alone pal I've been dragged off a hill on a shout for the same reason..but you have to toughen up or you'll go mad"
She hugged him and left a kiss if things were different he would have asked for more "are we set 1.2.3 lift" they partly freed Dougie from the snow, but the ice was reluctant to release him "feck!" Andy hauled the stretcher free and swore with the effort, he was furious with Seamus for his carelessness and his eyes darkened to match the mood Anja went to speak but reconsidered when Garry put a finger to his lips ."We need only follow the light to get down ok just think about that" she agreed and tried to place her boots in his footprints where the snow appeared to be deceptively safe
The last 100 meters was heart stopping the frost had turned to pure ice and every step,was a shot in the dark they slipped, slid and fell, as their crampons werent designed for smooth shallow ice. Andy cursed inwardly and changed his position to ease the pain in his back {Christ! I hope the guys give us a good send off}Garry was tiring the climb had been harder than he'd anticipated and his right hand nipped with the initial signs of frostbite,the tricky descent had used up all of Anja's anger she was walking on autopilot they reached the pass and stopped for a breather,the pass was covered in verglas ice which reflected the helicopter's light upwards like a horizontal mirror it was blinding "Jesus we'll.. need to lower.. him down" "hmm yep any takers f..k! I could murder a pint"
"I'll buy you the entire bar except....single malt" Garry smiled half heartedly and sat down in the snow he was freezing and pissed off {if I wasn't so knackered I'd give Dougie good hidin}Anja collapsed beside him and wrapped an arm around his shoulders he met her gaze for the 1st time in hours "we'er a good advert for the fearsome Norse eh?" She sat up and compressed a handful of snow to extract the liquid "I'm so thirsty" Garry grabbed her hand as she went to dink "no! Don't you'll end up..with severe stomach cramp ...I did it on the.. Eiger feck!" Andy backed him up and she threw away the melting snow "we should have brought gas going Alpine style has never appealed to me" they jumped as Dougie stirred he exhaled, then seemed to hold the breath before inhaling, the effort was clearly draining him Andy dug around in his jacket and found a stray bar of chocolate "he can taste it if nothing else"
"Maybe we should say somethin but I'm not the religious type" Anja and Garry broke off a square and put it Dougie's dry lips "he needs a drink..badly I imagine him asking for a pint or 3" "hmm hmm and eh a 2nd helpin of food then Irish coffee and bloody mints!" they laughed and looked at their dying friend "do you think its better to die where you love than in hospital..." secretly Andy agreed with Dougie's decision but his professional training was invariably at odds with his need to be free."Eh if your not writhing in pain then yes, he made his choice and its a brave 1...did he ever speak about what he wanted" Garry couldn't answer nothing could have prepared him for watching his friend die needlessly on a freezing mountain, when they were within reach of the M.R.
A bitter NEly wind and a fresh heavy fall of snow,forced them to move Andy stood up slowly to avoid straining his back "I'm sure we have about 50 feet to go and no more" Garry turned into the wind which scraped across Loch Sealga and covered the ridge in a solid white fog "feck! Eh 50 ok seems about right..well done pal" he held out a hand to Andy who was zipping up his jacket "oh aye cheers your welcome" they lifted the stretcher for the last time and followed the now dim light of Neil's helicopter "how much fuel will he be burnin..with that" Andy placed 1 foot onto the verglas ice as if it might bite him "if he didn't we'd be doing this blind" his front points gripped reassuringly and he placed his whole foot on the ice "all right we should be ok" he was trying to convince himself, as well as his friends "you have the best gear big guy, that ice axe, so gorgeous" they eventually reached the helicopter and waited while Neil opened the side door Andy and Garry hoisted Dougie aboard and then the grief hit them .
Neil leapt out of the cockpit and advised them to "move their arses there's a blizzard warning Fort William's decided to give us a taste of their weather" Andy jumped in and helped his friends aboard they were shattered and the cold, noisy, cramped interior of the helicopter, was heaven "ohhh jesus! I need to sleep" Neil fired up the engine and the machine heaved herself into the air,thick snow swirled around with the down draft and he was barely able to see, no one spoke they were well aware of the risk of thunder, then their worst fears materialised a huge flash blinded the pilot and loud thunder growled overhead "f..k!" He fought to regain control as his machine swayed in the sudden violent wind.The climbers hung on as the helicopter turned 1 way then the other, the wind seemed to throw the sea king around like a child's toy "man I feel sick!" Andy was white he had always feared this scenario and the fact that their top man was lying dead, scared him to distraction the wind eased a little and sea king righted itself and climbed to 500ft.
Neil swung away and raised his middle finger to the storm it answered with a thunderbolt of lightning which only just missed the rotors, the inside was alive with electricity, they could feel it travelling through them, the sensation was unbearable the pilot collected himself then headed back to the hostel, it was only a mile but the storm would make it feel like 10. He was just beginning to calm down when another vicious gust slammed in to the side of the sea king as the child threw another tantrum,he cursed to himself as the wind buffeted the helicopter from all sides..his passengers were suffering and terrified "f..k! I want out!" Then a 3rd massive bolt of lightning struck the rotors and the sea king crashed to the ground it happened so fast but seemed to take forever,everything raced and slowed, at the same time nothing made sense.
A sickening grating of metal against rock, echoed in the air as the helicopter finally settled, the side door was ripped off by the force of the impact. Garry and Anja were flung through the snowy air to land in a deep drift he lay too afraid to move, but the need to save his friends enabled him to over ride the dreadful pain coming from his broken ribs.He staggered to his knees and felt a hand vainly gripping onto his arm "stay here...stay... please" he looked at Anja her flawless face was cut, bruised and bloody,one eye was closed and bleeding "I'm.. not... a dog...I have ..to.." Garry made to stand but a colossal explosion knocked him down with the cold indifference of a giant's hand "NO!!!" He sat up and crawled towards the flaming sea king, the smell of burning flesh was nauseating...
The survivors wretched and coughed as thick black smoke heavy with the smell of burning fuel and skin climbed into the air and they could hardly breathe, Anja tried to stand and her left leg gave way Garry noticed and said what she already knew "its.... broken...sit down..." He shivered with shock and the cold the afternoon was dull chilly and damp they had nothing with which to make a splint or to ease each others pain,so they held each other and waited for the remainder of the Mountain Rescue
It was nearly dark and they were almost unconscious, when the head lights of a land rover appeared over a rise the rescuer stopped and jumped out carrying a medical kit he didn't look at the blackened twisted helicopter, the horrific scene was more than he could stand "hello man Ullapool Mountain Rescue I'm Graeme don't worry we'll get you out of here.." another rescuer joined him and they organised the evacuation as Graeme and his colleague administered pain relief and secured Garry and Anja in stretchers, another helicopter borrowed from Torridon MR landed nearby.
They also ignored the crash ,despite their grief at the loss of Seamus, Neil and Andy, the living were more important and the crew wasted no time in treating Garry and Anja for shock frostbite and exposure,however,his right hand had already succumbed to frost nip the Doctor relayed the info on their condition to his opposite number at Belford hospital in Fort William "both unconscious and suffering from exposure, possible hypothermia with the woman,her skin's clammy cold to touch and she's non-responsive, also serious facial lacerations heavy bruising and a broken tibia..the male broken ribs quite messsy I'm afraid ..lacerations, shock, concussion and I dont like the sound of his chest...query internal bleeding, my lads are working on him right now..ETA in this.. an hour if we'er lucky".
The radio reverted back to static as the Doctor signed off in the rear of the helicopter his crew worked to drain the leaking blood from Garry's chest,he had already lost 4 pints,they had to admit it was touch and go "he's bleeding faster than we can drain it, we've located the source one of his ribs is very ragged and tearing into his chest wall,he needs surgery can we make up any more time...." they conferred as a few stray flashes of lightning teased and worried the pilot, Seamus would have been cool under this kind of pressure and bragging about how easy it all was when they returned to base they missed his relaxed concern and cheek
Garry regained consciousness and panicked as his muddled brain picked up the sound of the sea king's engine "no..no..Andy!!" He tried to sit up but the straps and 2 rescuers restrained him "lie still pal ok your with Torridon Mountain Rescue, we'er flying you and your friend, to Fort William" Garry's panic increased as his eyes slowly focused on the climbing gear and his left hand felt an icy grip "what...Seamus!...find.." the rescuer who'd fought to keep him alive, took a deep breath and explained a few scant details to his patient "Seamus fell man you remember their looking right now..but you must lie still" as the icy fingers determinedly gripped the effect was chilling "who's...so cold..so cold..dead ???" "Do you know her name she's not able to tell us" Garry eyes swivelled across Anja was deathly pale and shivering but this gave them some hope "Anja..Swedish..speaks english" the rescuer smiled and listened to his chest as the blood gurgled and flowed to where it shouldn't..
2 hours later the MR touched down at Belford hospital the town was enveloped in an arctic blizzard,and a howling wind stirred up the dry powder snow and turned it into a lethal blinding mist. As the pilot waited for clearance to take off he had just enough fuel for the return journey, a group of Doctors and medical staff hurried their patients inside as an extravagant flash of fork lighting momentarily revealed the boiling sky. Garry had passed out again he flitted between life and death and didn't care either way.
They worked on him in casualty and drained another 4 pints of blood,Anja was next door being treated for hypothermia and her injuries "considering what these 2 been through I was expecting much worse, though I'm glad they weren't burned...ok he's lost quite a bit this must be a sizeable clot" Garry's colour hadn't improved he was white and cold ,Anja wasn't much better she had stopped shivering as the chill buried itself inside her "we have to increase her temperature, she needs more warm saline and I'm worried about that eye, call the opthalmic registrar"
The doctor opened the lids and shone a light on to the pupil which shrunk back and he felt some relief "hmm I think its... just... heavy bruising but best to be sure..she's going to be scarred for a long while...damned shame" the ophthalmic registrar arrived and studied Anja's discoloured eye the sclera was pink with blood and the surrounding tissue had,taken a battering "we should x ray this I agree it might be mostly superficial..all this damage around the eye is making me uneasy.."
The Doctor tested her responses and Anja moaned faintly it was the 1st sound she had made since becoming unconscious "we'er getting somewhere she's warming up nicely and just in the nick of time...Anja can you hear me..." she tried to speak and moved her head slightly towards the voice looking for someone familiar "your pal is in surgery he is going to be fine...you lie still and don't worry ok" "Garry?...A ..crash ..so bad" a nurse sat with her as the terrible memories drifted back and forth she remembered the crash but little else.
2 hours later Garry was waking up after the operation and the lack of daylight disorientated him as a spasm of confusion shot through him a nurse took his hand and his mind began to clear "your ok Garry, its ok, everything went well..your in recovery just relax" he looked at the featureless walls and his eyes ached for the jumbled frozen crags of An Teallach "what ..happened.." he tried to inspect his chest for a wound but the nurse caught his searching hand "the surgeon will see you tomorrow when your more awake" two orderlies came to return him to the ward and the appearance of the younger 1 nearly stopped his heart "Seamus!?"
"Sorry mate...eh no I'm not even Irish" the likeness was too much for Garry he turned his head and closed his eyes he couldn't get Seamus' face out of his mind,and he had no idea why {why can't I see Dougie..its...} He was unable to concentrate and fell asleep even as a violent thunder storm organised itself.Anja had improved slightly she was now more responsive and aware of what was going on around her, but she still reached for Garry and missed his strong fingers and Scottish accent, her leg was in plaster and it hurt her deeply,that 4 names would always be missing from the cast.
There was a small bandage over her right eye and she thought for a minute then the blurred and mixed up images came back {I was flying through the air ...so cold..and the ground so hard..so hard to land on}She wished to feel nothing in any part of her body, or to feel this way again in a foreign country when the remains of her friends and former lover, were scattered amongst the wreckage.When her pain peaked she could picture them smiling and showing off,and the most precious keepsake of all, Dougie lying crying in her arms,as she brought him to orgasm, and the ache from the losing him became so acute until in the end,it was burning white hot and beating down remorselessly
The Doctor who had initially examined her came and found Anja drying her 1 good eye he was struck by the vivid blue of her iris,and the anguish clearly evident "its all right but I know how you feel we'er all feeling the loss tonight" he moved a chair closer to her bed and she wanted to see a set of wheels "listen do you have anyone here apart from Garry we should notify your family" Anja let her eye drift to the other wounded and injured women, and wondered about their stories "only Garry... my friends are all gone..only him..where is he" she strained to catch a glimpse of a patient with bright blonde hair,or a Viking face, he could be in the next ward but that felt like a 1,000 miles
All their personal affects were burned to nothing in the crash the Doctor considered how to solve this and smiled "don't worry about it I'll call the hostel where you were staying they might know..and as soon as your strong enough,probably tomorrow, we'll allow you some time with Garry, I'll tell him your getting there" Anja smiled weakly and tried to recall her favourite snapshot of his handsome face it was an effort.Two sensual trembling fingers explored her facial injuries then Anja asked a nurse for a mirror, she hesitated, then seeing the depthless determination in that one tired reddened eye, she left to find 1.
The Doctor contacted the hostel in Ullapool and spoke to Billy who had been kept busy with the huge rescue mission to locate and retrieve Seamus' body, before the weather turned again Ullapool and most of Torridon mountain rescue, had spent an agonising 8 hours searching for their dead friend before a climber, literally stumbled across his frozen body,he called the hostel and Billy took it from there..although the rescue teams were relieved to have found Seamus, they felt no pride all they had was the satisfaction of being able to say goodbye.