Disclaimer: Primeval does not belong to me, this is fan fiction, not for profit.
Any references to people, places, businesses etc is entirely fictitious.
On The Edge Of Nothing
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"Ow."
Everything hurt. Connor blinked and slowly opened his eyes to see blue sky above him. From somewhere behind him, a voice spoke.
"Don't move."
Too late. Connor's right hand was scrabbling in the loose gravel and dirt beneath him. His left hand was reaching, searching for ground, so he could push himself up. His left hand found only air. Connor twisted his head to look to the left. Beneath his left hip, he felt ground give way. He heard, or felt, the crumbling of dirt, the clatter of small rocks falling. Connor didn't hear the rocks land.
"I said don't move!"
"Becker?"
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Connor remembered.
The trip to Edinburgh with Cutter and Sarah was for research purposes. Cutter thought there might be some additional points to add to his anomaly map research model. Abby had stayed in London tending to the ill mammoth. The back up team was expected to cover any anomalies while they were away. Lester insisted Becker come with them.
"Do try to keep them out of trouble," Lester instructed Becker.
The first day had been spent in the city library. The second day had been spent traipsing from one location to another, searching for possible historical references to anomaly sightings. The long day had been unproductive and frustrating.
When Connor had suggested yet again, that they should move their search to the Loch Ness region, Cutter snapped.
"Tomorrow," the Professor said "Sarah and I will return to the library. Connor, I want you to go to the Pentland Hills. Check out the ruins at Castle Law and if you have time, climb the trail at Scald Law. Becker, you go with him. Try to keep him out of trouble."
He and Becker hadn't stayed long at Castle Law. They had a map from the park services, and were soon at the Scald Hill trailhead.
"Ooh!" exclaimed Connor pointing at a spot on the map "we should go there next."
Becker glanced at the map. "Temple Hill?" he asked, raising one eyebrow. "Let's see if you make it through this hike without spraining your ankle or breaking anything, before we plan any side trips."
Connor and Becker were approaching the summit. Most of the trail had been a gentle upgrade, but here the path narrowed and curved around the hillside. There was a steep ravine beside them. Connor was on the inside of the trail, Becker on the outside… to make sure Connor didn't fall over, the soldier had said with a chuckle.
As the two men came around the curve, they were surprised to see a small horse standing in the path. The horse was surprised too.
Connor barely had time to ask "What's a horse doing up here?" before the frightened creature bolted… towards them. The creature ran between the two men. It was past them and gone quickly. Connor was pushed against the hillside by the animal's passage.
Becker was pushed outward, teetering on the edge of the trail. Connor reached out and grabbed his friends arm near the elbow. The soldier clasped Connor's arm. For a moment, the two men stood there, balanced.
"Thanks mate," said Becker with a grin "For a second there I thought…"
The edge of the trail gave way.
Becker fell. Connor fell too. He landed face forward on the trail, his arm and shoulder dangling over the edge still holding Becker.
"Let go," ordered Becker.
"No."
Connor had just a moment to wish he were bigger or stronger or something before Becker's weight pulled him over the edge too. They fell.
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"We're alive."
"Right genius," snorted Becker "and as long as you don't move, you might stay that way."
"Don't fancy laying on the edge of nothing," replied Connor. "I think I should move away from the edge. How far down is it?"
"I think you should stay still," argued Becker "I don't fancy watching you fall again. The drop doesn't look far, but it would probably hurt."
Becker didn't tell his friend how worried he'd been watching Connor in the long minutes after the fall before the scientist finally opened his eyes.
Connor slowly turned his head to the right, trying to ignore the sound of crumbling dirt and gravel falling with his movement. He looked at Becker. The soldier was scraped and dust covered but otherwise appeared alright. Becker appeared to be wedged between a rocky outcropping and some bramble bushes. He was only an arms distance away from Connor. Connor reached out his hand.
"Did I ever tell you I was afraid of heights?"
Becker stretched out his arm. The two men clasped each other near the elbow.
"On three," said Becker.
Connor nodded. More dirt and rocks crumbled at the movement.
"One… two… three," Becker counted. He pulled and Connor scrambled. Dirt and rocks gave way and clattered down the hillside, but Connor was safely on the rock in front of Becker.
Connor looked at the view of the park from his perch. He especially noted the steep drop from the edge where he had been lying just moments before. He gulped.
"I think we might need some help getting out of here," said Connor.
"Yeah," agreed Becker "but my cell phone is smashed. Have you got yours?"
Connor reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. He flipped back the cover, but it slipped through his trembling fingers and fell. The phone bounced once on the rock, once on the dirt, and then it bounced over the edge.
"Oops," said Connor.
There was a momentary silence.
"How long do you suppose before Cutter and Sarah come looking for us?" asked Connor.
"Probably not until tea time," sighed Becker.
"Hmmph," said Connor. Then he asked "Have you ever played the cloud picture game?"
It was going to be a long wait until tea time.
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