Page 123 of Valour

39

IN WHICH EVERY STEP IS AN UNDERTAKING AND THERE IS A BLACK SPECK ON THE HORIZON

Septimus pushed off, and they began to slide. Slowly at first, and then gaining in speed down the hillside. They launched over a ridge, air underneath them. Hester whooped, or screeched, she wasn’t quite sure what the sound that left her throat was. And then they hit the ice again, pain shooting through her backside, skidding further down. Septimus’s arms tightened around her. She didn’t know whether she was exhilarated or terrified, or both. Another hump sent them flying again. Hester’s breeches were shredding, the pain of the ice on her skin a sudden sharp kick, adding to the existing bruises and aches.

And then they were at the bottom, slowing, rolling the last few metres. Hester sucked in a breath, and another, her heart pounding against her ribs as the world spun.

“Oh my God.” She glanced back at Septimus, grinning wildly, her cheeks stinging from the wind.

“We’re alive.” Septimus was patting himself down, and then reached for her, a laugh escaping his lips. “Come, there’s not far to go.”

Hester stood stiffly, wincing as she poked fingers through the holes in her trousers to the raw skin. She took a wobbling step forward, and another. “We’re almost there.”

They walked on.

Effort. It was such a huge effort. Every step an undertaking.

At noon they stopped to rest by a small river, the gurgle of the water a call to sleep.

Hester leant into Septimus’s side, letting her eyelids drop. “Just five minutes. Wake me in five minutes.” She had never been so tired in all her life.

Septimus held her close, rocking her a little, stroking hair from her face. Hester’s lips curled at the corners, and then she knew no more.

She awoke half an hour later, shivering. “That wasn’t five minutes.”

“No, but you looked very peaceful.”

“Your turn.”

Septimus shook his head. “I dozed a little too. Let’s go.”

He hauled her to her feet, and they walked further. She dragged her feet, unable to fully lift them from the ground. She was so exhausted. Just wanted to lie down in the snow. But no. Thoughts of the crew pushed her on.

They came to the top of a waterfall, and Hester peered over the edge. It was a long drop.

“No other way down,” Septimus said. “I’ll rope you down it, then follow on.”

“We’ll have to leave the rope behind.”

“Let’s hope we don’t need it again.”

Hester tied the rope off on an outcrop of rock, splashing through the top of the river, the end of the rope tied about her. Septimus paid out the rope, and she sat at the edge, inched herself over, gasping as the cold water poured down her body, soaking her quickly to the skin.

“Hurry, it’s freezing cold,” she said, dangling now from the top, the water rushing past. “Don’t drop me!” That would be a fine way to die, after all she’d faced.

“I wouldn’t. See you at the bottom.”

Hester shouted out as the rope ran quickly, and she dropped a few feet before there was a sharp tug, and she slowed, twirling in the water and the spray, holding her breath as best she could.

“Did you do that on purpose?” she yelled up. His laughter floated to her ears over the noise of the spray. Oh, she’d make him pay for that later. She laughed along, spitting water, thinking of ways to get her revenge. It was like dropping into the familiar rise and fall of a dance.

Her feet touched the stony base of the waterfall.

“I’m down,” she called, standing back as he hurled the logbook and stove down. She gathered them up and watched his descent, and when he stood next to her, she held the last two items they possessed and laughed, slightly maniacally. “We came here with two well-founded ships, full equipment and high hopes. And this is all we have left.”

Septimus smiled and kissed her roughly on the mouth. “It’s not all we have left.”

She speared her fingers into his hair, leaning against him, rubbing her nose against his. “No, it’s not.”