Page 22 of Mountain Challenge

“Not good. Even if they’re not feeling the cold, they’re dangerously hypothermic. We need to?—

“We’re ready on this side,” Beau said on the earpiece.

“So are we,” Ry said. “The winch is ready.”

“How are you going to do this? Tell us what to expect.”

Ry and Hugo had discussed this at length after getting the emergency harnesses on the two hikers. Miles was the medical emergency, so Ry would bring him over first. Then Hugo would do the same with Richard.

Hugo had argued he should be the one to bring Miles across, because the man was heavier and getting his weight across the gorge was going to be a bitch, but Ry had been insistent. He was the medic, so he had to stay with Miles.

“I’ll tie Miles in to my harness and pull our way across. Once we’re on the other side, Hugo will come over with Richard.”

Hugo’s jaw was tight, but he didn’t contradict him.

“Okay,” Beau conceded. He paused for an instant. “How are they behaving?”

Ry looked over at the two men, who at the moment were lethargic. Now that they were sitting far from the edge, Ry wasn’t as worried anymore.

“I think the hypothermia is making itself felt now. They’re not giving us any trouble.”

“Good. If they do, abort the operation. We can wait where they are until the weather clears,” Beau said, and though Ry knew it was Beau’s job to say this, and his and Hugo’s job to listen and obey, that didn’t mean he had to like it. Because staying here would be like signing their death sentence. “Understood?” Beau continued harshly.

“Understood,” Hugo said through gritted teeth.

“Understood,” Ry confirmed, running his hand through his hair.

“Good. Then get to it.”

Ry stood up and walked closer to the hikers, noting their hunched, defeated positions. Something icy slammed into his face.Hail? Now, of all times?

“Let’s get this done,” he said.

Hugo grunted, looking even less amused than normal, which was saying a lot.

Ry raised his voice. “Miles. Come with me, please. You and I are going to go over to the other side together.” It was testament to how high the man was that he didn’t bat an eyelid at Ry’s words.Good.Easier this way.

Hugo stayed with them while Ry looped himself into the cable above him, stretching to his full height until he finally got it through. He breathed hard through his nose as doubts assailed him.

Come on, you said it yourself, this cable could hold the weight of ten elephants. It’s been here for decades. It will not break now.Even so, letting go of his foothold was an act of faith. The cable wobbled … and held. Ry hung there for a few instants, willing his heart rate back to normal.

“Glad we’re not going to be picking up bits of your kidneys off the river floor,” Hugo said dryly, his jaw tight.

“I love you too, mate,” Ry laughed, sparing a look down at the water far below. Fuck, but this was a rush. He had the sudden feeling that everything was going to work out. “Okay, Hugo. I’m ready for Miles, if you can?—“

He never got to finish his sentence, because Richard was suddenly on his feet. He darted past Hugo, moving much faster than Ry would have thought possible in his condition. “The water is changing color—“ he babbled. “Look, Miles!” And then, Richard pushed his friend—hard—towards the river. Hugoturned and launched himself forwards, but he was in the wrong place. As was Ry, who had first-fucking-row-seats to the disaster unfolding.

Miles lost his footing, flying towards the abyss below. Ry twisted his body, angling sideways, wrenching hard on his harness, all thoughts of safety forgotten. The cable would hold, or it wouldn’t. He stretched his arm as far as it would go. His hand grazed the back of Miles’s hair, his winter jacket.Too slow. Too late.He wasn’t going to?—

Then Ry’s fingers found the back of Miles’s emergency harness. He curled them into a hook, bracing. And still the pressure caught him by surprise, when the man’s full two hundred pounds hung from his fingers.I got you. Ry’s shoulder wrenched.There was a moment of surprise, and then that instant when the pain overtook everything else. Because fuck, the man was heavy.

“Ry!” Hugo yelled. Ry looked up to see his friend had knocked the other hiker out. Knocked him out and dragged him away from the edge.Good.

Fire shot through his shoulder. Ry forced himself to breathe through the pain. With every second he held on, he could feel the muscles and tendons in his shoulder tearing. But he couldn’t let go. Because his curled fingers were the only thing standing between the man and certain death.

“Ry,” Hugo said, his voice loud but calm, and Ry appreciated the calm when his own brain was in chaos. “If you can swing him towards me, I’ll grab him.” As he spoke, Hugo moved confidently to the edge.

Ry nodded to let his friend know he understood.

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