Page 27 of Stranded with the Surgeon

Dark eyes snapped open. ‘What makes you say that?’

‘There was a bit of metal nailed to a tree. Is that to mark possum traps or something?’

‘Where was it?’ Guy was on his feet again now, staring intently at Jennifer.

‘Back a bit. I can’t remember how far.’

‘Stay there.’ And Guy was gone, striding back the way they’d come with a barely noticeable limp.

Jennifer sat and waited. She heard twigs crack as Guy headed back and then the sounds faded again. Long minutes passed and Jennifer could feel a curious lethargy taking over as sleep started a seductive pull.

Suddenly she found her upper arms being gripped. She was pulled to her feet and Guy was leaning down. Planting a firm kiss on her lips.

‘You’ve done it, babe,’ he said softly. ‘You’ve found a track. I found the marker and the next one and I think I know exactly where we are.’

‘Really?’ His excitement was contagious. Or was it the effect of that kiss? Jennifer’s smile felt strange. Rusty. ‘You mean we’re nearly out of here?’

‘I think there’s a hut maybe two or three kilometres away. If I’m right, it’ll have a stove and a radio. Can you make it?’

‘You bet.’ Jennifer stumbled in her eagerness to follow.

‘Take it easy,’ Guy cautioned. ‘And be careful. You don’t want to break an ankle now.’

He showed her how the small triangle of metal pointed in the direction they needed to take. They found another one ten minutes later, and Jennifer could feel a welcome surge of renewed hope. And energy. Safety beckoned. They were almost there.

‘We have to cross this stream.’ Guy was scanning what seemed more like a small river. The light was definitely fading now but Jennifer could still make out the pale gleam of a piece of metal on the far bank.

‘There’s the marker!’ She stepped forward, her foot sinking into several inches of icy water.

‘Wait! This isn’t the best place to cross.’

‘But the marker’s right there. We have to cross here.’

‘It’s too fast. That centre point is deeper than it looks.’

‘It wouldn’t even come to my knees.’

‘There may be a hole we can’t see in this light. Or underwater snags. The current would be enough to knock you off your feet and you don’t want to get swept away among boulders.’

‘But—’

‘Just shut up a minute,’ Guy ordered. ‘And let me think.’

The longer he waited, the darker it was going to get. If they left it too long, they wouldn’t be able to find further markers on the other side and they would be doomed to spend another night in the open, instead of reaching a hut where they would find shelter and warmth. Possibly even food and the promise of imminent rescue.

Jennifer took another step. The water was only ankle deep for the most part, for heaven’s sake. The bottom had small stones that provided reasonably firm footing, and there were larger boulders as anchor points if she needed them.

‘We’re wasting time,’ she informed Guy. ‘I can do this. Just watch.’

She almost made it. Even in the knee-deep water she was able to stand up against the current. But then a branch came downstream, went between her legs, caught on a rock and twisted sideways. Jennifer was felled instantly.

Immersion in the icy water was enough of a shock to make her gasp, and her mouth filled with water she couldn’t prevent herself from inhaling. She couldn’t cough. Couldn’t breathe. She was being swept downstream like the branch, about to hit her head on a boulder and drown, but it was all happening so fast there was no time for terror.

Her rescue seemed to happen just as fast. Guy had entered the water downstream. He caught Jennifer and hauled her to her feet, then half pulled, half carried her towards the shore. She sank to her knees when he released her. She coughed, spluttered and then burst into tears. The terror caught up with her then, and the mind-numbing chill of being soaked in water that wasn’t far above freezing level.

‘Come on.’ Guy clearly wasn’t going to waste any more time. ‘You’re alive. You’ve got to keep moving until we get to the hut.’

‘I can’t.’ Jennifer huddled, her arms wrapped around her legs. ‘I c-can’t m-move.’ The shivering was so violent it was painful.

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