But Roz had screamed in fear. He had to be sure she was all right and reassure her, and himself.
People ran toward them shouting. He groaned and didn’t know if he should call out that they were okay or not. He was cut and bruised, but breathing. He couldn’t speak for the man strapped to his back.
When the first two guys got to them, they called out, “Are you all right?”
Konrad answered, “Yes, I think so” and waited an anxious moment.
At last a shaky voice behind him said, “Fuck. What the hell—?”
“Curtis!” yelled a guy from the ground. “Are you okay? What happened?
The guy behind him spoke in exhaled breaths. “Student panicked…Bailed too soon…Hit my head…Managed to…pull the drogue…before I…passed out…Came to…just now.”
Roz and her instructor were among the last to arrive. She looked up at them with wild eyes. “Help them,” she cried.
One of the onlookers said, “They’ve got to be fifty feet up. It would take anyone a while to climb, even a professional tree climber. Hey guys, if I throw you a knife, can you cut your way out?”
“I’ll give it a shot,” Konrad called down to them. He felt blood trickle down his face.
“They might fall!” Roz cried. “Wait, they’re not far in. Maybe the fire department can reach them.”
Konrad’s hearing was so acute, he could understand what people were saying on the ground, even when they were whispering among themselves.
Roz’s instructor nodded. “Good idea. Besides, it’s against protocol to climb down from a tree landing.”
Roz looked around at the small crowd that had gathered and asked, “Can someone call 911 and ask them to bring a ladder truck?”
“I will,” one of the female employees said. She pulled a cell phone from her vest pocket.
Roz turned to the woman and said, “Have them bring a couple of ambulances too. They could have internal injuries.”
“No ambulance for me,” Konrad yelled. “I’m fine.” The moon was almost full again, and he’d heal fast. Besides, he couldn’t afford an ambulance ride and hospital bill. He swiveled his head. “You okay, buddy?”
“My head hurts and feels like it’s about the size of Mount Rushmore.”
“There are four heads on Mount Rushmore.”
“Exactly.” He groaned.
Roz turned to the woman with the cell phone and whispered, “Don’t listen to my boyfriend. He’s in shock.”
She just nodded and walked a few steps away while she spoke to the dispatcher.
“I’m not in shock, Roz. I’m fine, really. One ambulance will do it.”
She looked startled.
Oh yeah. He wasn’t supposed to be able to hear her whisper from so far away. He’d have a hard time explaining that, unless…He sent a message to her telepathically.You’re upset, darling. I know that. I can hear it and sense it. Please don’t worry. I’m all right. Really. The tree broke my fall.
“And you broke your instructor’s fall, but he sounds like he’s badly hurt. You might not feel it right now because of the adrenaline, but you have to get checked out.” She crossed her arms and tried to look tough. “I mean it!”
Unfortunately she only looked more adorable, and he couldn’t say no. He sighed deeply.Okay. You win.
A hint of a smile curved her lips. “I guess sky diving’s off the list.”
You are so right.
***
