Part Ten: And life just keeps getting better

I pedalled furiously up the street, panting a little. It was the early hours of the morning, and just starting to get light. I'd been riding for a couple of hours now, but it felt like I hadn't gotten anywhere. I was still in the outskirts of Gungellan. There was no way I could ride all the way home, it would take me days. But I was okay with that, because I wasn't sure if I wanted to go home.

I wasn't really sure exactly what I was going to do. All I knew was that I had to get away from it all for a while, before I did something more stupid than what I was doing now. I felt like such a failure. Maybe I could go up North, and try and find some work on a cattle station somewhere. I perked up at the thought, trying to convince myself that there would be plenty of people willing to employ a fourteen year old without asking many questions.

About a half hour later I was surprised to see a car coming along the road. I was going downhill now, and as I recognised the Drover's Ute I found it hard to stop. I swore under my breath and instantly regretted jamming on the breaks when the wheels locked a moment later.

I skidded off the side of the road, just as the Ute came into view again. I ducked, and was so preoccupied with staying out of sight that I didn't see the pothole. My front tire slammed into it. I heard the suspension snap.

'Shit!' I swore again, and yelped as the bike bounced off the road and slipped its way across the grass. 'Stop, stop!' I yelled at it, squeezing my brakes again, but they were useless. I screamed as I saw the cliff and tried to bail out, but my bag was caught and I only just managed to jump off before it went hurtling over the edge.

For a moment I lay facedown in the dirt, breathing. As soon as I tried to move pain shot up my leg, and I gripped it, spluttering. A moment later I got the shakes. I was so close to the edge of the cliff face that I was getting dizzy. I've always been funny about heights; Mum says I get it from Tess.

I squirmed, and tried to get up.

'One, two, three.' I counted, and quickly pushed myself upwards. And what a bad idea it was. My leg gave way and I found myself clawing at the earth trying desperately not to slide down the side off the cliff. I'd slipped, but it was okay: I'd just managed to save myself.

I wished now that whoever was in the Ute had seen me. My leg hurt so bad and I wanted to cry, but I forced myself to be strong. Again I attempted to get back up to the top of the hill, but I could hardly move and I only succeeded in causing a minor landslide, and scaring myself even more.

For what seemed like hours I gripped stubbornly to the cliff-face, determined not to fall. There was no way I was going off the side of this cliff. If I had to wait here until the next Ice Age, damn it, someone would come for me.

About lunchtime I heard a chopper go over. Two guesses who it was. As much as I hated to admit it, I'd never been gladder to see him. Alex. Mum was beside him, pointing frantically. I wanted to wave, but they'd seen me, and like hell I was letting go of this cliff without a good reason.

It took them a minute to land and Alex stopped to get some rope. Mum ran over. Her face was tear streaked, and she looked absolutely awful. She had the most terrified expression on her face. I realised with a start that this was the same place she'd had the accident with Tess, when I was only a baby. Apparently she'd almost not made it.

'Don't you ever, ever do this to me again.' She spluttered, between sobs. 'Charlotte I was so scared. Oh god you have no idea.' She kept shaking her head, looking at me in disbelief.

Alex moved her out of the way, and eased himself over the edge with the rope.

'Careful!' Mum said sharply. 'Careful, don't hurt her.'

'Claire, I'm doing my best, alright?' Alex shot her an annoyed look. He gently attached me to the rope. Trembling, I took one palm off the cliff and grabbed his hand. I moved my good foot off the little ledge I'd been standing on, and tried to climb up.

'Easy.' Alex said. 'Slow as you like, Charlotte.' I nodded grimly. Step by step I made my way up. I was nearly there. Alex reached for my other hand, but I slipped. Mum screamed, and Alex just managed to grab me under my arms. Gosh, now I know what it feels like to be paralysed with fear.

'Oh god.' Mum's hands were shaking as she rushed over, forgetting she was meant to be keeping an eye on the rope. She grabbed at me. 'No, don't do this. You can't do this to me.' Her voice cracked. Her face was white as she clawed at my shirt.

I couldn't move. My head was thrown forward and dimly I noticed how high up I was. I looked slowly from the ground to my mother and Alex, who were doing their best to haul me up. Promptly, I blacked out.