Disclaimer - I don't own Relic Hunter. Gad. I'm getting really sick of
having to write that, it reminds me of how jealous I am. By the way, thank
you to the readers who reviewed my story, I'm v. grateful and keep them
coming. I know there hasn't been much action yet but now that I've
introduced all the good guys I can start putting some bad guys in the mix
too! Let me know what you think (
Chapter 6
"Are you sure you want to do this, Nigel?" asked Sydney, looking concerned as her TA peered nervously over the cliff, the strong ocean winds blowing his hair crazily about his face.
Pulling the rope tighter through the harness around his waist Nigel glanced at her whilst visibly pulling himself together and nodded firmly.
"Yes. I want to do this. It's the only way of getting down to the tunnels and besides; I have to conquer this stupid fear of abseiling. Or plunging over the side of a cliff with nothing but a piece of string around your waist, whatever floats your boat."
Giving his shoulder a squeeze in support Sydney signalled to the others that they were ready to go. Faith, Brionney and Alex would be going with them while the other two would stay back at the tents and look over the research yet again.
Clipping his harness to the rope secured to a rock on the slope Nigel carefully backed out over the edge. Landing with a small thump Sydney dropped to the slightly sandy stone floor of the tunnel, Alex, Brionney and Faith seconds behind her but with slightly less grace.
Halfway down the sheer rock face Nigel shivered, something was wrong. He didn't know what it was. The winds were screaming in his ears and the waves were crashing against the cliff, yet it still seemed too quiet. He realised that he could no longer hear the voices of those that had remained above. Glancing upwards time seemed to freeze around him as he saw the support rope slowly loosen from its mooring.
As if in slow motion the knot came loose and the rope flapped free in the gale, just as Nigel clawed at the rock for a handhold he could hear Sydney's voice screaming his name in horror.
As his brain barely registered a dark figure standing over him on the grassy slope he felt a sharp stinging sensation strike his left forearm. As he slid down the vertical wall, the pebbles skittered wildly around him. Everything was a blur, his hands red raw as he reached out, trying to hold on to something, anything.
With a sudden jerk, the world came crashing back and Nigel felt as though his arms were being wrenched out of their sockets as he came to a sharp halt, hanging from a small ledge by his fingertips.
Breathing in short, sudden gasps he realised that he had fallen down almost half the cliff. Not quite aware of himself Nigel slowly descended the rest of the way until he could drop safely to the ground and sank to his knees in shock. A tiny niggling feeling in the back of his mind was telling him that he was hurt but he couldn't feel anything until Sydney came rushing over to him, white-faced and hugged him around the shoulders.
"Nigel! My god are you OK? You're bleeding, we heard the shot!"
"Shot, what shot?"
"There was a man standing on the top of the cliff with a gun, the bullet must have just grazed your arm. Oh Nigel, what am I going to do with you? I don't know what I'd do if you died, can you go on?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," feeling a bit flustered at all the attention she was giving him Nigel just wanted to hide and stop the blush that was rising swiftly to his cheeks.
Noticing this and not wanting him to feel uncomfortable Sydney excused herself to get the first aid kit out of one of the packs. As her pulse gradually returned to normal she thought about how close Nigel had come to dying and as she knelt down to remove a roll of gauze from the box she couldn't help blaming herself.
AN - judging by the fics I've read you all like a bit of Nigel torture so here's my contribution to the cause. Let me know what you think.
Chapter 6
"Are you sure you want to do this, Nigel?" asked Sydney, looking concerned as her TA peered nervously over the cliff, the strong ocean winds blowing his hair crazily about his face.
Pulling the rope tighter through the harness around his waist Nigel glanced at her whilst visibly pulling himself together and nodded firmly.
"Yes. I want to do this. It's the only way of getting down to the tunnels and besides; I have to conquer this stupid fear of abseiling. Or plunging over the side of a cliff with nothing but a piece of string around your waist, whatever floats your boat."
Giving his shoulder a squeeze in support Sydney signalled to the others that they were ready to go. Faith, Brionney and Alex would be going with them while the other two would stay back at the tents and look over the research yet again.
Clipping his harness to the rope secured to a rock on the slope Nigel carefully backed out over the edge. Landing with a small thump Sydney dropped to the slightly sandy stone floor of the tunnel, Alex, Brionney and Faith seconds behind her but with slightly less grace.
Halfway down the sheer rock face Nigel shivered, something was wrong. He didn't know what it was. The winds were screaming in his ears and the waves were crashing against the cliff, yet it still seemed too quiet. He realised that he could no longer hear the voices of those that had remained above. Glancing upwards time seemed to freeze around him as he saw the support rope slowly loosen from its mooring.
As if in slow motion the knot came loose and the rope flapped free in the gale, just as Nigel clawed at the rock for a handhold he could hear Sydney's voice screaming his name in horror.
As his brain barely registered a dark figure standing over him on the grassy slope he felt a sharp stinging sensation strike his left forearm. As he slid down the vertical wall, the pebbles skittered wildly around him. Everything was a blur, his hands red raw as he reached out, trying to hold on to something, anything.
With a sudden jerk, the world came crashing back and Nigel felt as though his arms were being wrenched out of their sockets as he came to a sharp halt, hanging from a small ledge by his fingertips.
Breathing in short, sudden gasps he realised that he had fallen down almost half the cliff. Not quite aware of himself Nigel slowly descended the rest of the way until he could drop safely to the ground and sank to his knees in shock. A tiny niggling feeling in the back of his mind was telling him that he was hurt but he couldn't feel anything until Sydney came rushing over to him, white-faced and hugged him around the shoulders.
"Nigel! My god are you OK? You're bleeding, we heard the shot!"
"Shot, what shot?"
"There was a man standing on the top of the cliff with a gun, the bullet must have just grazed your arm. Oh Nigel, what am I going to do with you? I don't know what I'd do if you died, can you go on?"
"Yes, yes, I'm fine," feeling a bit flustered at all the attention she was giving him Nigel just wanted to hide and stop the blush that was rising swiftly to his cheeks.
Noticing this and not wanting him to feel uncomfortable Sydney excused herself to get the first aid kit out of one of the packs. As her pulse gradually returned to normal she thought about how close Nigel had come to dying and as she knelt down to remove a roll of gauze from the box she couldn't help blaming herself.
AN - judging by the fics I've read you all like a bit of Nigel torture so here's my contribution to the cause. Let me know what you think.