Prompt from ThatSassyCaptain: "In critical moments, men sometimes see exactly what they wish to see."
An experiment...
Spinning
The wheels, incidentally, were still spinning on the crazily angled, upturned coach;
Watson struggled to his feet, dazed and damaged, and dimly heard two men approach.
In no fit state to resist, he was led away, helpless and securely bound;
The thick branch used to halt his horses, abandoned carelessly on the ground.
~0~
Holmes braced himself against the biting Himalayan winds, the constant bitter cold.
He wrapped his robes more tightly, squinted at the sunrise, watched another day unfold.
His travels in such remote regions of the world had brought a measure of satisfaction, but no peace of mind;
He thought about the decisions ahead, the enemies he had tracked to their lairs, the temple he had just left behind...
~0~
The good doctor was pushed with some force into a stone flagged room; the door slammed and bolted shut.
The consulting detective, head down against the elements, trekked his way to a remote, weather beaten hut.
~0~
The doctor rolled over with some difficulty, and could not suppress a groan as he strived to sit upright.
The detective reached the sturdy wooden door, hauled it open, stumbled inside, and shut the door tight.
~0~
Watson strained his muscles, testing the rope and cursing the stupidity which had got him into this mess.
Holmes crouched on the floor, set a small fire blazing, and reread the brief message in his hand; at long last, success.
~0~
It was too late for regrets; Watson should have told Lestrade where he was going; frustration mingled with despair.
Holmes watched the shadows dancing on the walls; shapes merged and scattered; and, for a brief moment, his Boswell was there.
~0~
The grey light of dawn filtered through a high grille; Watson, half-dozing, heard a familiar, impossible, sardonic voice...
Holmes blinked as the shadows and shapes lost substance, then smiled; thanks to his friend, he had made his choice.
~0~
The doctor loosened his bonds, morale boosted from an entirely unexpected quarter; he would not be defeated.
The detective shouldered his belongings, left the hut, and set his sights on Baker Street; ready for home, mission completed.
~0~