John came back to consciousness as he was being gently moved to the back of the Jumper. He looked up and noticed it was Ronon who was carrying him. He was surprisingly gentle for such a big man.
"Do not try to move, Colonel Sheppard," Teyla's voice came from his right side.
Ronon settled John on one of the seats, and Teyla knelt down at his side.
"You hit your head when the Puddle Jumper was stopped," Teyla said to him. "How do you feel?"
"Like someone hit me over the head with a sledgehammer," John said, groaning. "Who's flying?"
"Lorne," Ronon said succinctly.
"Its okay, Colonel," Lorne said from the pilot's seat. "There doesn't appear to be any damage to the Jumper, and it's responding normally to my commands."
"What the hell was it that hit us?" Sheppard asked.
"From the readings we've got," Lorne replied. "It's like a giant force field round the planet. It seemed to absorb our forward momentum, and then sent us back the way we came."
"Someone doesn't want us to get to the planet," Ronon said.
"I agree," Teyla added. "It is as if all methods of getting to the planet are being blocked."
"Did you try again?" John asked.
"Yes," Lorne confirmed. "I tried at various points around the planet, but the result was the same each time."
"How come you don't have a cracked head, too?" John asked, slightly crankily.
"I learned from what happened to you, Sir," Lorne replied, with a grin. "I took it nice and slow."
"I suggest we go back to Atlantis and see if there are any other options," Teyla said.
"What other options are there likely to be?" Lorne asked.
"I just hope Zelenka has come up with something else," John replied.
"We have to do something to get them off the planet," Teyla added.
"Beckett and McKay will be working at it too," Ronon pointed out.
"If they can," John said ominously.
"What do you mean?" Ronon asked.
"Well," John replied. "If we're having these problems, they might be too."
"We will find a way," Teyla said with determination.
OoOoO
Carson was half way up to the top of the cliff, while Rodney gave him vocal encouragement from the ledge. It reminded Carson of the last time he had climbed up the cliff. This time, hopefully, he would not encounter a man-eating goat at the top.
The climb seemed much longer this time. Each movement of his arms produced an agonising pain in his ribs. When he moved his legs, his back objected, where the deep bruising he suffered from his fall was making its presence felt. He had to stop regularly to allow himself to recover his breath. Unfortunately, every time he stopped Rodney would start up, telling him where to look for handhold or where to place his feet.
"Great," Carson thought to himself. "If my ribs or back don't hurt, Rodney makes sure my ears do."
But Carson still didn't want to let the scientist know that he was hurt himself. Rodney's anxiety levels were high enough without Carson adding to it.
After what seemed like a lifetime, Carson made it to the top, hauling himself over the edge. He stood up carefully, and quickly looked round the terrain, checking for any man-eating goats or other delightful wildlife that this planet might throw at them. Thankfully, he seemed to be all alone. Well, all alone except for Rodney.
"Carson, get a move on!" Rodney's voice carried up the cliff.
"Haud yer whist, Rodney, or you'll cause a rockslide," Carson said.
"Haud my what?" Rodney asked, completely confused.
"Just shut up for a wee minute," Carson translated for him.
"Why didn't you just say that in the first place?" Rodney replied.
Carson sighed. It was going to be another long day.
"Can you see anything to use as a pulley?" Rodney asked.
Carson's eyes searched the terrain trying to find something he could use to give him leverage to pull Rodney up the cliff face. They had already fastened the rope round Rodney, making a kind of harness for him.
"Earth to Carson, are you still there?" Rodney asked.
"Aye, sorry, Rodney," Carson replied. "I think I see a rock that might just be right to use."
"Great, no rush now," Rodney said, with a touch of sarcasm. "After all. I'm not exactly going anywhere."
Carson managed to fasten the rope round the rock he found. There was a grove round the rock, almost as if it had been used for this purpose before.
"Okay, Rodney," Carson called out. "I'm going to start pulling you up. Now remember, make sure your leg is kept away from any harm, and don't use it to push yourself away from the cliff."
"Yes, Mom," Rodney said sardonically.
It was a long process, pulling Rodney up the cliff face. Neither man enjoyed it. Rodney didn't like dangling from a rope over a cliff, with only Carson's strength preventing him from falling. He wasn't good entrusting his safety to others. It made him feel vulnerable.
Carson wasn't enjoying it either. If there was anything designed to hurt his ribs more, than he couldn't think what it would be. Every breath felt as if his lungs were on fire. His hands were also agony now. He didn't have any gloves, and pulling on the rope had soon given him blisters, and rope burns. The rope slipped through his fingers as his hands became slick with blood.
Not a moment too soon, Rodney appeared over the edge of the cliff. Carson managed to fasten off the rope, and then went over and pulled Rodney onto solid ground. He then released him from the rope cradle.
"Hey, you're getting blood all over me," Rodney said, half in indignation, half in concern.
"Sorry," Carson said.
Rodney reached out and turned over Carson's hands. They were torn to shreds.
"That doesn't look very good," Rodney said, concern in his voice.
"Aye," Carson responded. "But there's not much I can do about it just now. Once we get back to Atlantis, I can sort us both out."
Just at that moment, they heard a sound, like giant wings flapping through the air.
"What now?" Rodney said, exasperated.
"For crying out loud!" Carson exclaimed as he saw a flock of birds swoop towards them. Carson pushed Rodney to the ground, and then crouched over him protectively.
The noise the birds were making was incredibly loud, and the wind from the movement of their wings was almost hurricane force. They swooped over them twice, and then with a shriek, left as rapidly as they appeared.
Rodney struggled slightly under the weight of Carson.
"It's okay, Carson, you can move now," he said pushing at his friend.
Carson rolled away, groaning, clutching his chest in agony.
"Carson," Rodney said, real fear in his voice.
He pulled himself closer to Carson, and rolled him over. Carson's face was white, and there was a bluish tinge round his mouth. His face was screwed up in agony as he clutched at his chest.
