Sixty Four- BF
The blackness was oppressive. Gordon remembered that Scott had said that this hallway was clear of debris. He moved forward hoping that that last explosion hadn't brought anything down to block his way. He wished he'd had the foresight to bring something that could have acted as a cane of his own. Anything to give him the reassurance that he wasn't going to bump into something ahead.
Reassurance came in a different form. "You're doing well, Gordon? You're covered a third of the distance already." Gordon wondered if this was how Scott had felt a year ago in Regnad when Virgil had guided him through those subterranean corridors. If the sound of his brother's voice had brought the same sense of relief.
"That far? I thought I'd only gone a couple of metres." Despite the good news Gordon had to fight the temptation to turn and head back the to safety.
"Nope. You're halfway now. You're doing better than Scott did."
"Only because he trail blazed for me." - 'Keep talking to me, Virgil" Gordon prayed.
As if he'd heard the prayer Virgil did so. "What equipment have you got?"
"The usual, plus the stretcher." Gordon's palms were sweating.
"Plenty of oxygen?"
"Yep." Gordon moved to wipe sweat from his forehead and found his arm impeded by his hood.
"That's two thirds of the way. What's it like down there?"
"Black. I feel as if I'm in some kind of mini black hole. That's the only way I can think of to describe it." Gordon was feeling as if the entire universe was pressing down on him.
"I wonder what went wrong with the sensors."
"Yeah. I bet Brains is tearing his hair out at the moment." - 'Of all the things to fail! Why'd they have to fail?" Gordon thought. 'Why am I doing this?'
"There must be a logical reason. You've got about a metre to go."
Gordon slowed down and reached out in front of him. He felt the wall.
"The door should be off to your right. It's in the right wall in the corner."
Gordon found the door. He turned the handle and pushed.
It moved, but only enough to be annoying.
Gordon placed his shoulder to the door and pushed again. The door moved marginally more and then stopped. "There must be some debris in the way." He said frustratedly. "I'll need help." He changed the channel to three-way communication. "Scott. Can you hear me?"
"What's up Gordon?"
"I can't get this door open. Can you clear some of the debris away?"
"Are you there already? Hey Gordon. Well done!"
"Thanks." Gordon could hear Scott stumbling over the debris and Virgil directing him to the door. "I can hear you Scott."
There was a stumbling/falling sound and a soft "oof" in their speakers. "Are you okay?" Virgil asked worriedly.
"Yeah. Didn't see that one." Scott was on his feet again and feeling his way for the door. He found the gap that Gordon had just made and put his hand through. He found Gordon's arm.
To Gordon the touch of another human being felt like he'd been thrown a life preserver. He grabbed Scott's hand and held it momentarily.
"I know just what you mean." Scott grunted in reply to Gordon's unspoken sentiment. "Now to try to clear some of this rubbish."
"This must be what John feels like." Virgil grumbled. "Absolutely helpless."
"Not helpless and not useless." Scott told him. "Keep talking."
"Please." Gordon couldn't help adding.
"I wonder how the Tigers are getting on." Virgil found a topic that had helped him cope while he was trapped in Regnad. One that he knew would occupy Gordon's thoughts.
"The Tigers?" Gordon managed a laugh. "They haven't a hope. The Sharks'll walk all over them."
"Never! Trainer is back to full fitness."
"So is Marks. He's the best in the league."
"Rubbish. English would match him any day."
"I'd like to see him try..."
"Try and push now, Gordon." Scott interrupted. "I'll pull on this side."
They got the door open a bit further. "Hang on Scott." Gordon said as he slipped his pack off his shoulders. "You take my bag and the stretcher and I'll see if I can slip through."
"We'll need the opening big enough to take this fully extended." Scott said as he took the stretcher.
"I'll help you clear some more of the debris." Gordon said and he squeezed through the opening. "What's that they say about many hands?"
Just finding a piece that he could move, was a challenge to Gordon, but he seized upon it gladly as it helped keep his mind of the pressing blackness.
"How's it going guys?" Alan's voice asked.
"We're about to try to open the door a little more." Scott told him. "How's Percy's VSM reading?"
"There's no change."
"Good." Scott acknowledged. "Have you got a good grip Gordon?"
"Yep." Gordon said determinedly.
With a groan the door opened a little more.
Gordon gave another pull and his gloved fingers slipped off the edge. He landed with a painful thud amongst the ruins. He felt Scott squat down beside him.
"Are you alright!?"
Gordon felt a hand reach out for him. He took a breath to push down the bruising pain. "Yeah, I'm fine." He said, trying to sound cheerful. He shook the outstretched hand and managed to stand again. "Guess we need to clear a bit more."
"Okay." Scott conceded.
Together they managed to move a large beam. The door now swung easily on its hinges. Scott pushed it open to its limits and then retrieved the pack and stretcher. Rather than give it back to Gordon he swung it onto his own back. "Keep your left hand against the wall," he instructed his younger brother, "it's relatively clear on this side. Virgil will tell you when you've gone far enough."
"Okay." Gordon's voice sounded shaky.
"I'll try to give some warning of what's ahead." Scott offered.
"Thanks."
"You haven't got far to go fellas." Virgil informed them.
Gordon tripped over a couple of beams on his way to Percy, but continued on doggedly. He knew he'd arrived at his destination when he cannoned into Scott.
Scott moved forward slightly and removed the pack from his back. "There's at least two big beams we've got to move before we can get to him. If I show you where they are, do you think you'll be able to help me?"
"That's what I'm here for."
Scott guided Gordon to the first of the beams and showed him where to grab hold. "You're going to have to move it to your right, okay?"
"Okay." Gordon was determined not to let him down. He was here to do a job.
Scott found his way around to the other end of the beam. "Ready?"
"Ready."
"Lift!" With a grunt they lifted the beam off the prone body and managed to move it clear.
"Only one more to go." Scott said reassuringly as he assisted Gordon to the next beam.
This was slightly heavier, but didn't have to be moved as far. It was relief that they dumped it back on the ground.
"Whew." Gordon rotated his shoulders to loosen them. "Next time I'll bring a crane."
Scott was retrieving the stretcher, which he extended to its full length and placed beside Percy. "Where are you Gordon?"
"Over here."
Scott found him and took him around so he was standing beside Percy's legs. Then he made his own way so he was standing besides the man's head. "Okay. We don't have to shift him far. I've managed to slip the stretcher under his side.
Gordon reached over and found the stretcher. "Okay, I've got it."
They slid Percy onto the stretcher and then strapped him on.
Scott found his and Gordon's packs. He handed one to Gordon. "I'll go in front and then the stretcher will guide you. Okay."
Gordon swallowed. "Piece of cake." He put on his pack.
Scott patted him on the shoulder and then led him to his end of the stretcher. He then made his own way back to the other end.
Before Scott readied himself to lift the stretcher he changed the radio to two-way communication. "Virgil?"
"Yeah Scott?"
"I'm on two-way. I'm going to have to concentrate on the "Sonar Sender". I've lost my cane, not that I could use it and carry the stretcher anyway. All Gordon has to do is follow my lead. "
"Are you going to be able to get out okay?" Scott could hear concern in Virgil's voice.
"We'll be fine once we get through that door. But Gordon's struggling with all this. I want you to keep talking to him and keep him focused. Just like you helped me at Regnad."
"It was slightly different then."
"Yeah I know. But you've got a reassuring voice. I should know. You can help him."
"Scott..." a plaintive voice interrupted their conversation. "What's the hold up?"
Scott switched back to three-way communication. "Sorry Gordon. Have you got the handles?"
"Yes."
"Lift!"
Percy was hoisted into the air.
The blackness was oppressive. Gordon remembered that Scott had said that this hallway was clear of debris. He moved forward hoping that that last explosion hadn't brought anything down to block his way. He wished he'd had the foresight to bring something that could have acted as a cane of his own. Anything to give him the reassurance that he wasn't going to bump into something ahead.
Reassurance came in a different form. "You're doing well, Gordon? You're covered a third of the distance already." Gordon wondered if this was how Scott had felt a year ago in Regnad when Virgil had guided him through those subterranean corridors. If the sound of his brother's voice had brought the same sense of relief.
"That far? I thought I'd only gone a couple of metres." Despite the good news Gordon had to fight the temptation to turn and head back the to safety.
"Nope. You're halfway now. You're doing better than Scott did."
"Only because he trail blazed for me." - 'Keep talking to me, Virgil" Gordon prayed.
As if he'd heard the prayer Virgil did so. "What equipment have you got?"
"The usual, plus the stretcher." Gordon's palms were sweating.
"Plenty of oxygen?"
"Yep." Gordon moved to wipe sweat from his forehead and found his arm impeded by his hood.
"That's two thirds of the way. What's it like down there?"
"Black. I feel as if I'm in some kind of mini black hole. That's the only way I can think of to describe it." Gordon was feeling as if the entire universe was pressing down on him.
"I wonder what went wrong with the sensors."
"Yeah. I bet Brains is tearing his hair out at the moment." - 'Of all the things to fail! Why'd they have to fail?" Gordon thought. 'Why am I doing this?'
"There must be a logical reason. You've got about a metre to go."
Gordon slowed down and reached out in front of him. He felt the wall.
"The door should be off to your right. It's in the right wall in the corner."
Gordon found the door. He turned the handle and pushed.
It moved, but only enough to be annoying.
Gordon placed his shoulder to the door and pushed again. The door moved marginally more and then stopped. "There must be some debris in the way." He said frustratedly. "I'll need help." He changed the channel to three-way communication. "Scott. Can you hear me?"
"What's up Gordon?"
"I can't get this door open. Can you clear some of the debris away?"
"Are you there already? Hey Gordon. Well done!"
"Thanks." Gordon could hear Scott stumbling over the debris and Virgil directing him to the door. "I can hear you Scott."
There was a stumbling/falling sound and a soft "oof" in their speakers. "Are you okay?" Virgil asked worriedly.
"Yeah. Didn't see that one." Scott was on his feet again and feeling his way for the door. He found the gap that Gordon had just made and put his hand through. He found Gordon's arm.
To Gordon the touch of another human being felt like he'd been thrown a life preserver. He grabbed Scott's hand and held it momentarily.
"I know just what you mean." Scott grunted in reply to Gordon's unspoken sentiment. "Now to try to clear some of this rubbish."
"This must be what John feels like." Virgil grumbled. "Absolutely helpless."
"Not helpless and not useless." Scott told him. "Keep talking."
"Please." Gordon couldn't help adding.
"I wonder how the Tigers are getting on." Virgil found a topic that had helped him cope while he was trapped in Regnad. One that he knew would occupy Gordon's thoughts.
"The Tigers?" Gordon managed a laugh. "They haven't a hope. The Sharks'll walk all over them."
"Never! Trainer is back to full fitness."
"So is Marks. He's the best in the league."
"Rubbish. English would match him any day."
"I'd like to see him try..."
"Try and push now, Gordon." Scott interrupted. "I'll pull on this side."
They got the door open a bit further. "Hang on Scott." Gordon said as he slipped his pack off his shoulders. "You take my bag and the stretcher and I'll see if I can slip through."
"We'll need the opening big enough to take this fully extended." Scott said as he took the stretcher.
"I'll help you clear some more of the debris." Gordon said and he squeezed through the opening. "What's that they say about many hands?"
Just finding a piece that he could move, was a challenge to Gordon, but he seized upon it gladly as it helped keep his mind of the pressing blackness.
"How's it going guys?" Alan's voice asked.
"We're about to try to open the door a little more." Scott told him. "How's Percy's VSM reading?"
"There's no change."
"Good." Scott acknowledged. "Have you got a good grip Gordon?"
"Yep." Gordon said determinedly.
With a groan the door opened a little more.
Gordon gave another pull and his gloved fingers slipped off the edge. He landed with a painful thud amongst the ruins. He felt Scott squat down beside him.
"Are you alright!?"
Gordon felt a hand reach out for him. He took a breath to push down the bruising pain. "Yeah, I'm fine." He said, trying to sound cheerful. He shook the outstretched hand and managed to stand again. "Guess we need to clear a bit more."
"Okay." Scott conceded.
Together they managed to move a large beam. The door now swung easily on its hinges. Scott pushed it open to its limits and then retrieved the pack and stretcher. Rather than give it back to Gordon he swung it onto his own back. "Keep your left hand against the wall," he instructed his younger brother, "it's relatively clear on this side. Virgil will tell you when you've gone far enough."
"Okay." Gordon's voice sounded shaky.
"I'll try to give some warning of what's ahead." Scott offered.
"Thanks."
"You haven't got far to go fellas." Virgil informed them.
Gordon tripped over a couple of beams on his way to Percy, but continued on doggedly. He knew he'd arrived at his destination when he cannoned into Scott.
Scott moved forward slightly and removed the pack from his back. "There's at least two big beams we've got to move before we can get to him. If I show you where they are, do you think you'll be able to help me?"
"That's what I'm here for."
Scott guided Gordon to the first of the beams and showed him where to grab hold. "You're going to have to move it to your right, okay?"
"Okay." Gordon was determined not to let him down. He was here to do a job.
Scott found his way around to the other end of the beam. "Ready?"
"Ready."
"Lift!" With a grunt they lifted the beam off the prone body and managed to move it clear.
"Only one more to go." Scott said reassuringly as he assisted Gordon to the next beam.
This was slightly heavier, but didn't have to be moved as far. It was relief that they dumped it back on the ground.
"Whew." Gordon rotated his shoulders to loosen them. "Next time I'll bring a crane."
Scott was retrieving the stretcher, which he extended to its full length and placed beside Percy. "Where are you Gordon?"
"Over here."
Scott found him and took him around so he was standing beside Percy's legs. Then he made his own way so he was standing besides the man's head. "Okay. We don't have to shift him far. I've managed to slip the stretcher under his side.
Gordon reached over and found the stretcher. "Okay, I've got it."
They slid Percy onto the stretcher and then strapped him on.
Scott found his and Gordon's packs. He handed one to Gordon. "I'll go in front and then the stretcher will guide you. Okay."
Gordon swallowed. "Piece of cake." He put on his pack.
Scott patted him on the shoulder and then led him to his end of the stretcher. He then made his own way back to the other end.
Before Scott readied himself to lift the stretcher he changed the radio to two-way communication. "Virgil?"
"Yeah Scott?"
"I'm on two-way. I'm going to have to concentrate on the "Sonar Sender". I've lost my cane, not that I could use it and carry the stretcher anyway. All Gordon has to do is follow my lead. "
"Are you going to be able to get out okay?" Scott could hear concern in Virgil's voice.
"We'll be fine once we get through that door. But Gordon's struggling with all this. I want you to keep talking to him and keep him focused. Just like you helped me at Regnad."
"It was slightly different then."
"Yeah I know. But you've got a reassuring voice. I should know. You can help him."
"Scott..." a plaintive voice interrupted their conversation. "What's the hold up?"
Scott switched back to three-way communication. "Sorry Gordon. Have you got the handles?"
"Yes."
"Lift!"
Percy was hoisted into the air.