Landslide

By Hemel Lass(ie)

Chapter Eight: Sunrise

At last, the morning broke. The sky brightened and the first glimpse of the edge of the sun lit up Don's vantage point, but Charlie was down to only making one or two word reports and had been at that level of interaction too long for Don's comfort.

It was Charlie though that spoke up first to say it was daylight enough. "Time for you to head out, big brother."

"I'm not so sure this is the right thing for me to do. Are you sure there is no way for me to get over where I can check on you, get you some water or some thing?"

"Dead sure." The response left no room for debate. "Don, any attempt to do so on your part will trigger this mess coming down on me. I wouldn't survive that. There is a good chance you'd come over with the added slide you triggered, so all you would accomplish is Dad loses both his sons."

It was the most words the professor had managed to string together for a long time.

Don frowned. "What's that mean, Charlie? Are you saying he is going to lose you? Are you sending me away so I don't have to listen to…to my little brother dying? Cause if that is it that is SOOO not going to happen."

"Damn it, Don. No. Don't give me credit that I am willing to be some kind of noble martyr. I have no intention…" Charlie broke off when he was seized by a coughing fit that seemed to go on forever to his anxious older brother.

Don found he couldn't draw a breath himself until the spate was done.

At last, the professor turned tour guide drew a shaky, tentative breath and went on with what he had been trying to say. "Well, before I so rudely…." Breath; a few more words were managed, "interrupted myself." Another torturous breath drawn. "I intend to be alive when you come back."

Taking charge of something at last, the older brother cut in. "When I get to this clearing, who do I call? Do I hit 911?"

Without hesitation, Charlie replied. "No, can you turn on your Nextel and program this number in?"

Don powered on his phone. "Go ahead."

"Okay, here it is – (750) 555-9299."

"And who is that?"

"High Mountain Rangers Search and Rescue. They are the closest. They really know this area." A pause to cough some more and draw painful air into tormented lungs. "Tell them…it is a face rescue. Loose material still sliding. I'm about 35 feet down, literally caught between a rock and a hard place. Got that?"

"I've got it. These guys any good? And do they have paramedics?" Don was worried and he didn't handle worried real well when it came to Charlie or his dad.

"They do. They are the best." Coughing again, a moment more to recover. "And don't be so chauvinistic. 'They' include more than one woman."

"I'll remember that."

"Good, because if I tell Megan what you said, she will kick your ass."

"Well, that would be just plain mean, little brother. I'm heading out."

"Don't rush it, Don."

"Yea. Yea, you told me that already. Slow and steady is the best I can manage, right? Are they going to have to triangulate on me or what?"

"They are GPS equipped, Don. They'll know where you are as soon as you phone it in."

"I'll be back as soon as I can, Charlie. You hang on until I get back…you hear me?"

"I fully intend to…and trust me. I won't be going anywhere. I really am wedged in here." His younger brother retorted.

"Hang tough, buddy. Help is on its way."

"Go careful, be safe."

"I will, Charlie. Wouldn't help either one of us if the one going for help needed rescuing too, right?"

"Right. Look, Don…just in case…tell Dad..."

"No. You do not get to pull that, Chuck. You will tell Dad and Amita and Larry anything you need to say. Got that?"

"Yes, sir."

"I am serious, Charlie."

"So am I. It's just…"

"Don't – do not go there." Don wasn't allowing any quarter on this. "If I am going to leave you, even just for a little while, it is with the understanding you will hang on. Right?"

"Right. Sorry."

"Hey, we have a date when you recover. We are going to do this outing again, without the drama. Right?"

"Right." His brother's voice was stronger and more confident. "I fully intend to collect on that promise, Don."

"Good, because I really do want to do it. The next time though, I want you to teach me…what is it called – trail craft? I want to learn about hiking up here and how to know a switchback from a turn in the trail. Deal?"

"Deal, big brother. I love you."

"I love you too, Charlie. Don't forget that, ever. You aren't just my brother. You are my best friend – always. Okay?"

"Thanks, Don."

"I mean it, buddy. I really do."

"Ditto."

"Okay…I'm off and hiking. Hang in there."

"Roger that."

Don stood, got his bearings, looked once more towards the side his brother had gone over, but Charlie seemed to have developed a sixth sense on these things or something.

"Don't even think about it, Don. Get moving."

"I'm going…I'm going. I'll never live this down, will I? Having to take instructions from you…" The grousing was intended as a good natured tease.

"Right, who am I going to tell that would actually believe me, bro?" His response came quickly.

Don started up the path. He left his back pack behind, carrying only a couple of extra waters, his phone and leaving his light jacket on until the sun warmed the air more. Once he cleared the area of the trail the landslide had passed over, the path was clear and easy to follow. He intended to make the best time he could to the bend of the path where he had to find the short cut would be.