Shadows Beyond

Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Emtani hung from one hand, balanced only on one foot and with her cheek flat against the sheer cold rock, totally frozen in fear.

Distant sounds were unidentifiable, muffled as they were by a heavy river mist. But there was no mist. There was no river. It was a fug that clouded her mind.

Somewhere in the distance someone was calling. ‘Emtani!’

Her name. She recognised her name.

‘Emtani!’

It was Tagg.

As she came back to reality, something cold and heavy descended into her stomach.

‘Reach out to me!’

Emtani began to shake.

‘I… will… pull… you… in!’

Relief overwhelmed her.

‘Reach… towards… me!’

Every sinew of her being wanted to comply, but somewhere in the fog of her consciousness a spark of pride absolutely forbade it. Running her tongue over dry lips, the fingers of her left hand slowly began crawling up the rock face. She had no idea where they were going or what they sought, but they were moving in the direction she knew she had to go, upwards.

Soon they slipped into a tiny crack.

A handhold.

Emtani drew in a shuddering breath of relief and, gripping tightly, steadied herself. Keep moving. That was what she had to do. The words pounded in her brain. White-knuckled, she clung on while lifting her left foot and running it over the rock until it found a slight protuberance. Testing it for strength, she desperately hoped it would hold and, letting go with her right hand, she slid it up, searching for another handhold. When she found it, she pulled herself upwards. She was making progress.

Step by perilous step, Emtani slowly climbed the rock face until, finally, her hand fastened on something that was far bigger than a mere hand-hold. Dragging herself up she discovered a wide, deep shelf naturally cut into the rock face.

Tears of relief stung her eyes and, struggling to control her emotions, she dragged herself up, finally collapsing forwards on to the ledge. Rolling into a ball against the back wall, she gripped her knees and sobbed.

She had made it.

‘Are you all right?’

She did not react.

‘Emtani! Are you all right?’

Sitting up, she wiped her face with the flat of her hand. ‘Yes!’ She was relieved her voice did not betray her breakdown.

‘Fetch the rope.’

‘All right!’ she called back, hoping the Rooters could not hear.

She stood up and, without thinking, peered over the edge. Instantly, her head swirled and stomach churned. Pulling backwards, she leant against the rock wall, pressing her palms against it and closing her eyes, trying to keep her breakfast down. The canyon below was deeper than anything she could have ever imagined. A river ribboned its way through the rocky terrain far, far, far below.

‘Have you got it?’ Tagg called out.

Wrenched back to reality she moved off, gingerly making her way along the ledge. Soon she came to a small cave that was nothing more than a deep niche in the rock. In it she found a length of heavy rope looped through a metal ring that had been buried deep into the rock wall. Picking the rope up, she tugged. It clunked against the ring which stayed firmly wedged in place and she judged it was secure. Then she made her way back, letting out the rope as she went. ‘Got it!’ she called.