Fateful Encounter (Completed)

Chapter 33

Recap - 

'He's here! Young master is hear! I found him!' Tan saw the flashlight furiously being waved about 200 m downstream from the bridge. San then pointed the flashlight to the middle of the river. Tan looked closely and realized that it was human and wearing a color similar to the shirt young master was wearing. He couldn't say how bad his injuries were from where he was standing on the bridge. But judging by the lack of movements, he was at least unconscious. 

Cont:

'Can you go to him?' Tan shouted back at San who was on the river bank.

'Yes I can. But I can't see how much damage young master has taken. I don't think I can bring him ashore, not alone.' Came the reply.

'OK, you wait for me. Keep your eyes on young master.' Tan shouted back. He quickly crossed the hanging bridge. Turning around he took a rope from the nearest person. Tying it around a nearby tree he turned to the others.

'Set up the big flash light on the middle of the bridge and direct it to where young master is. I'll go down first and when I'm in the clear untie this rope. I'll take it to San and get to young master. Medical team move in after me with the equipment. Three of you should help them lower anything they ask for including the stretcher.' Tan said.

'You, you and the two of you, find Arun and go back to the power house. I wan't you with weapons patrolling along the layout. Especially at the weir and forebay tank. Go in pairs and shoot anything that come at you.' Tan pointed at four well muscled workers who made up the search party and got determined nods. He looked again at the leader of the medical team.

'Tiran remember, no mistakes.' He said in a warning tone and jumped and ran down the steep slope. Catching a tree trunk barely at the edge of the river bank he steadied him self. Waving the flash light at the people above, he called to release the rope. As he was quickly gathering the rope a wet Monty met him with another rope and Arun.

'Arun, you go back to the power house. I sent in more people. If I'm right about this incident, it wasn't simply aimed at young master. Join Sach and carry weapons and remember do not hesitate to shoot. Do you understand?' Tan asked in hard tone. Arun nodded and ran as fast as he can in the dark with a flash light.

'Come on let's get young master.' Tan said to Monty and the two hurried, as quickly as they can, to where they could see San's flash light. As they got closer they could tell that it was definitely young master and that his condition was serious. But for now his nose seemed to be cleared from water. Just when they got to San and started tying the ropes, the team on the bridge managed to erect the flash light and direct the powerful beam of light to where young master was at. What they saw made San gasp in horror.

Only young master's torso from above his waist was visible. His neck was turned in an odd angle and a sharp wooden splinter had pierced right through his right shoulder. He seemed to be not breathing and his lips looked slightly blue. The worst part was that they couldn't gauge the exact extent of damage young master has taken because only his torso was visible. 

Tan and Monty jumped in with ropes tied around their wastes and swam towards the young master. Taking care not to touch him Tan rounded the boulder and got on top while Monty stayed in the water from behind young master. Just when Tan was about to move him into the waiting arms of Monty a shout stopped them.

'Stop don't move him!' Tiran, leader of the medical team who'd hurried to join San, shouted urgently.

'His neck is at an odd angle. It is likely that he's suffered damages to the cervical vertebral. You have to use this neck guard before you can move him.' He said waving a blue white collar at them. Monty swam back half way and caught the neck guard that was thrown at him. Swimming back Tan and Monty, slowly and as gently as they could, fitted the collar around young master's neck.