Chapter 9
Author's Note
Thank you so much for all the lovely reviews, and for not lynching me ;-p
This one is short again and no P&A I'm afraid, but stick with me and I'll update again soon, promise!
Brendan looked up as the helicopter swooped over the crest of the hill in front of them and down into the next valley. Ambrose had been in contact with the mountain rescue team as soon as it became apparent that Peter and Assumpta were in trouble. Kevin and Con had been found hours before, Kevin with a broken leg and suffering from shock and exposure, but alive and would be on the mend soon. The search parties had all been told and everyone had reconvened at the pub. Imelda had announced that Christmas dinner would be ready soon and a jovial mood had reverberated round Fitzgerald's. The only quiet corner was where Brian sat with the radio, Niamh anxiously looking on, chewing her lip. Brendan had caught her glancing at her husband and watched Ambrose make his way over, accepting backslaps on the way for his part in organising the search. Brendan weaved his way through the crowd too and arrived in time to hear Brian say, "We finally got through to them an hour ago, but nothing since."
Ambrose checked his watch, it was after 3 and the sun would be setting soon.
"We need to send search parties back out to look for them," Niamh pleaded.
Ambrose had shaken his head and said firmly, "I'm not having any other civilians out in this weather, I'll call mountain rescue."
The team had come out and started looking but had halted the search at 8pm because the weather was closing in. There was no question that the helicopter would fly in this blizzard.
It had been one of the longest nights of Brendan's life. Some had chosen to go home and return to the pub at first light. Brendan and Siobhan had stayed, making futile attempts at raising the missing pair on the radio. They had spoken little, both frequently glancing at the howling storm outside.
At first light and as the storm started to dissipate the helicopter had been scrambled and search parties formed. Ambrose had objected to the locals going but Brendan had forcefully pointed out that he couldn't stop them from taking a Boxing Day stroll, besides the clouds were lifting and there was even a chance the sun might make an appearance.
So here he was half way up the Angel hills with a helicopter swooping above them, praying that one narrowly averted tragedy hadn't brought about another. He glanced at Padriag, not as fit as Brendan he was breathing heavily but had a determined look on his face. After Kevin had had a peaceful night and was happily chatting to the boy in the bed next to him, Padraig had been insistent about coming, feeling responsible for the situation. Ambrose was striding ahead of them with Siobhan and Michael. He'd been very quiet and Brendan knew the disappearance also weighed heavily on him. He'd tried to broach the subject, to reassure the younger man, but Ambrose had brushed it off choosing to issue unnecessary orders to his civilian recruits instead.
They continued to climb, the going was slow thanks to the snow underfoot. At least the storm had passed and the sun was, indeed, beginning to peek out from behind the clouds. They reached the summit, a large plateau, with still no sign of the missing pair. Spreading out to search, they could hear the helicopter buzzing about in the valley. Venturing down a dip in the landscape he spotted a hut, the one Brian had installed up here. He didn't dare get his hopes up that they'd found this shelter, so steeling himself for disappoint he called to Siobhan, who was nearest, and they made their way over. The fierce wind during the night had blown the snow into a huge drift blocking the door.
"We need to shift all this snow," he said to Siobhan. " Padraig!" He called over to his friend, "Have you got the shovel?"
"Father Clifford, Assumpta are you in there?" Siobhan banged on the door. "I think i can hear something," she exclaimed.
Padraig hurried over with the shovel and Brendan lifted his eyes to the heavens in a silent prayer that they'd found them.
