“Yep.”
She’s still frowning.“Are you sure this is a big enough spot for him to land?”
The answer is no, and that’s why I haven’t used the words “land” and “helicopter” in the same sentence.Because this will be an aerial rescue.
Phoebe’s stories about the Rio Grande Gorge and the Sears Tower have left me a little wary of broaching the subject too far in advance.
Now’s the time, because the thumping is becoming a roar.“Blow the whistle and wave your arms, Phoebe!”
I flash the mirror.But I can already tell by the bank and turn that Declan sees us.He’s headed our way.
“Hey, Phoebe!”
She raises her eyes to me.She’s already figured it out.“He’s not landing is he?”
“We don’t have a choice, baby!”The sound is so loud I have to shout.
“No!”She shakes her head.“I can’t!”
CHAPTER 49
Evander
The rumble of the helicopter grows louder.Any moment now Declan will be able to hover above us and lower the load line and evac harness.
“I’m sending you up first.I’ll go second.”
“No!”Phoebe’s chin trembles and she shakes her head.
As the Bell Long Ranger approaches, it lifts snow off the ground and whips it around.Phoebe and I are wrapped in a whirlwind.Her hair goes flying.
I peer through the snow to see Declan bring the helicopter into position directly over our ‘X’, about thirty feet above the ground.
The helicopter’s door slides open and a geared-up Special K looks down at me through his goggles.I give him the thumbs up.He lowers the line.
I have to yell over the roar of the rotors.“I will make sure you’re locked in and safe!It’s a very short trip!”
“No!I don’t want to go by myself!Iwon’t!I’m not going without you!”
I nod, seeing just how terrified she is.“Okay,” I yell.“We’ll make it work.”
I don’t have any concern about the weight—this machine is powerful enough to lift a ton and the line and harness are designed to haul a lot more than Phoebe and me.
I’ll improvise.Why not?It’s all I’ve been doing the last four days.I smile at Phoebe and lean down to rest my forehead against hers.I give her a gentle kiss.
“I got you, Phoebs.”
“You have me, and I have you and I’m not going without you!”
The neon purple nylon harness drops.I remove the attached helmet and help Phoebe step into the leg loops.Then I position the chest harness and pull it, leaving a bit of slack.Next, I double-check every buckle and connector and slip the helmet on her head, then snap it tight,
I stand in front of Phoebe and slip my arms through her chest straps, hold on to the line behind her, and yell for her to wrap her legs around my waist.She does.
I glance up at Special K, who’s shrugging with his arms stretched out from his sides, mouth open.It’s the universal sign for “are you fucking crazy?”I guess I am.
I give K a thumbs up and we’re off the ground.
I feel Phoebe’s heart pound.Her eyes are squeezed shut.And yes, we’re swinging and spinning a bit more than I’d like in a swirl of snow, but in about sixty seconds, we’re hauled up, pulled over the ledge, and dumped to the helicopter floor.It isn’t the most graceful dismount, but we’re in.
