Page 83 of Reluctant Chemistry

But no one came. Only the rain.

If only she had a flat rock.

Anna—she’d write—I’m lying here inlimbo, crushing on a guy I’ve known for a long time. He’s an equestrian, dressed in white jodhpurs and black leather, riding a horse as inky as a moonless midnight.

His name is Luka. Remember? Hot Chopper Guy? I told you about him once or twice. He used to see me but then pretended that he didn’t see me at all. And now…

40

Rock Fall

Woken from a deep sleep, Luka fumbled for his phone on the nightstand, picked it up, and answered the call. “O’Leary.”

“Luka, it’s Ray.”

“Ray?” Luka closed his eyes, his head sinking back into the pillow. It felt like he’d only just gone to sleep, and he desperately needed a pee. “What time is it?”

“Four fifteen.”

“You have to be kidding me. What’s up?”

“We have a female, early twenties, slipped down a rock face and into the river up in the Winston Valley late yesterday afternoon. She has a suspected fractured collarbone, one major and a few minor lacerations.”

He reached for the lamp switch and turned it on, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the light. “What? What the hell was she doing up there in this weather?”

“Yeah, I asked her boyfriend the same thing. They stayed in Falls Hut Friday night and trekked up the valley yesterday afternoon once the storm blew over. But things turned to shit just before they reached Ferguson Hut. The guy walked for six hours solid to raise the alarm.”

Still rubbing his eyes, Luka let the information sink in. “Didn’t they have a PLB?”

“He inadvertently left it in his vehicle. The guy’s pretty shaken.”

Luka huffed a sigh. “When will these people ever learn?”

“Yep. Anyhow, the boyfriend helped her to the hut, but she’s exhausted, and he didn’t think she’d make it out on her own. Not with the weather the way it is. It’d be rude not to offer her a ride in the chopper, don’t you reckon?”

Now fully awake and more than a little pissed off, Luka shook his head. “That’s what we’re here for.”

“Look, I know you’re officially not back until tomorrow, but are you around? Barrett’s been up all night, simmering a dodgy curry in that cast-iron gut of his, so he’s out for the next twenty-four hours at least. We’ll need you to ride shotgun provided you can be here by sunup.”

“Yeah, okay. I’m up at Rata River. I’ll be there in an hour.”

“Thanks, mate. See you soon.”

His phone still clutched in his hand, Luka sat on the edge of the bed to gather his thoughts. Some days, he couldn’t believe the stupidity of people. However, it wasn’t his job to pass judgment. He was merely there to pick up the pieces when their lack of judgment got them into trouble.

Dressed and ready to leave, he looked up when his mother knocked on the bedroom door. “Thought I heard you talking on the phone. Is everything all right?”

“Ray’s called me into work.” Luka shrugged on his jacket and stuffed his toiletries into his weekender. He zipped it shut. “There’s a woman injured up in the National Park. They need a hand.”

“But you’re still on leave until tomorrow, aren’t you?”

“Yeah, but one of the other guys is in bed with suspected food poisoning.”

“Do you want some breakfast before you go?”

He bent forward and kissed her on the cheek. “No, I’m good. Thanks for the bed. Sorry I won’t be able to join you on the ride today.”

His mother followed him out to his SUV. Pulling her robe closer against the coolness of the morning, she looked to the pre-dawn sky. “Looks like the rain’s drifting in again, so we might not be going out anyway. Call me later and be safe up there.”

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