Aednat and the Wolf

Chapter 32 Descent

A large raised steel door opened in the deck of the top of the tower and a man in a bright yellow vest and yellow hard hat stood in the open door.

"Officer Jerry!" David said still panting.

"If you all are done fooling around how would you like a ride down. I fully expected to beat you to the top."

"You missed all the fun," Eric said.

"Let me climb back down. About forty feet below me is a tiny elevator. It's a real tight climb. If it's too tight just send one shoulder at a time through the bulkhead openings. When I shout 'clear' send the girls down." Rosemary climbed down first followed by Aednat. The narrow steel ladder hugged the side of the towers wall. Every few feet they had to pass through a circular opening on a horizontal bulkhead. Thick paint covered the walls and thousands of fastenings that held the tower together. The air in the tower was cold and damp and their breath steamed with each breath. Exhausted by their struggles, their clothing and hair wet from their climb on the cables their legs shook as they descended slowly until Officer Jerry guided them when they reached the level of the elevator. "It's just over there," he said pointing. Aednat and Rosemary slipped through narrow oval openings between the vertical bulkheads and climbed into the elevator. David and Eric came next.

"I can only fit four of you into the elevator," the operator said.

"That's OK Pete, just come back for me," Jerry said. Eric slid sideways into the elevator behind Rosemary who leaned against him.

"I'm freezing," she whispered and Eric took her into his arms.

David then slid sideways into the elevator and Aednat turned to face him putting her arms around his neck. The operator closed the elevator door and started their slow decent. The elevator had been descending for almost a minute when the lights flickered and the elevator stopped leaving them suspended in pitch blackness.

"Don't let this scare you folks," the operator said. "This happens frequently in winter, won't last to long."

"Is this what detained your trip up the tower?" David asked.

"Stalled twice on the way up, we wanted to get there before you did." While David and the operator were engaged in conversation Rosemary turned around facing Eric. Eric felt her standing on his feet on her tiptoes. He felt her arms go around his neck and could feel her breathing in his ear as she whispered.

"Kiss me."

"Your brother is standing next to me," he whispered back.

"So you'd rather kiss my brother?"

"No you silly goon."

"Don't you love me?"

"I love you with all my heart Rosie."

"So...are you going to kiss me or not?" Eric kissed her, a long gentle kiss leaving them breathless. The lights came on and the elevator jerked into motion renewing its descent. Rosemary was smiling at Eric as she ran her fingers in his hair. He was still holding her pressed to him. Aednat leaned over to whisper in Rosemary's ear.

"It's about time he kissed you."

They reached the road level of the tower and were assisted to cross from the tower to the roadbed and the waiting squad car. "I'm not sure we can all fit in the back seat," David said.

"We'll just have to sit on your laps then," Aednat said straight faced. "It's nice and warm in here!" Several minutes later Officer Jerry joined them and they drove off the bridge then turned and crossed the bridge again heading north.

"Oh, before I forget, your Mom and Dad are here," David said.

"I can't see my Mom and Dad looking like this!"

"They will be happy to see you just as you are little sister," Eric said, "You look pretty dripping wet and with a dirty face."

"Is my face dirty too?" Aednat asked in a woebegone voice.

"Absolutely," David declared.