Spiral (The Salzburg Saga Book One)

by D. U. OKONKWO

  Nina couldn’t help but admire the other woman. Hugh had his eyes closed now as Emily worked on him, and Nina could only hope that he realized how fortunate he was. The fact Emily not only knew what she was doing, but was willing to, was beyond admirable. “Can you set the bone back to normal?” she asked Emily.

  Emily wiped her hands on a tissue taken from the rucksack. “No. It’s broken below the knee joint which is good news, but I’m going to have to splint it.”

  “Splint it?” Parker leaned anxiously over Hugh. “What’s that?”

  Hugh moaned. “Will it hurt?”

  “It won’t hurt, and it will help. It just ties the leg to something straight so it won’t be misaligned further. A stick would be good.”

  “Stick?” Parker looked at Emily in disbelief. “We’re surrounded by snow, not trees.”

  “Is there a spare item of clothing I can use to tie the leg to his other one?” she asked Justin. “He won’t be doing much walking, of course.”

  Hugh jerked his head, hissing through his teeth at the pain. “I’ve got another jumper in my room,” he managed.

  “Justin?” Parker began.

  “Yeah, yeah, I’ll get it. What color is it, Hugh?”

  “Dark…blue,” Hugh gasped, looking down at his leg as Justin departed.

  Nina struggled to her feet. “I’m heading back in.” Though they had only been out for an hour or so, it seemed much longer and she needed warmth. “Do you need my help with anything before I go back in, Emily?”

  Emily gave her a small smile. “No, I’ll be fine. Thanks, Nina.”

  Jake stood just inside the cave staring up at the candle when Nina entered the cave. He’d changed into dry clean clothing, making her feel even grubbier than she already did.

  “Emily’s got a strong stomach,” she remarked as she passed him.

  He only nodded, keeping his eyes on the steady candle.

  She stopped, remembering something he’d said yesterday. “So have you prayed yet?”

  He turned from the candle with a baffled expression. “Huh?”

  She smiled. “Have you prayed?” She rubbed at her sore hip. How stupid to have let her morbid curiosity over Hugh’s injury delay her from going inside where it was warm.

  Jake arched a brow. “You think the Almighty’s out here in this forgotten stretch of the backcountry?”

  She grinned, amused. “You were the one who suggested praying, pal.”

  “I was?” He looked surprised, and then he shrugged. “Pray by all means. Whatever works for you.” His eyes shifted toward Justin as the younger man came toward them carrying a navy jumper. Casting both of them a quick look, Justin edged past them without saying a word.

  Nina headed to her and Ange’s room.

  Angela lay belly down on her bed, her face turned toward the door when Nina entered. Her eyes were closed, but her expression looked slumberous.

  “You’re looking very relaxed,” Nina remarked, surprised.

  Angela pried one eye open. “You’re back.”

  “I am.” Going to the far side of their room where her handbag lay slumped, Nina unzipped it. The only toiletries inside were balm and a slim comb. “Gosh, Ange, I feel so grubby. It’s disgusting.”

  “You should’ve come in with me and changed instead of staying outside and watching that idiot complain about what he caused.”

  “I wasn’t watching because I cared about what happened to him, I was just curious.”

  “Did she help him?” Angela asked.

  Nina sent her a look. “She did.”

  They looked at each other for a moment.

  “She’s more forgiving than I am.” Nina folded her ski suit away.

  “And me. I would’ve let his stupid leg fall off.”

  “You and the rest of us here.”

  Angela squeezed her eyes shut briefly. “I can’t believe we’re in this situation. I keep hoping that I’m going to wake up and realize it was just a bad dream. But I’m not dreaming am I?”

  “No.” Nina stared down at her handbag and thought of her lost luggage. It had been full of clothes she’d envisioned wearing while meeting potential clients. She’d also brought a bundle of client files with her for the meetings Parker had arranged. But all those things were lost to her now.

  “I keep thinking of Derek and Jessie,” Angela murmured, then moaned. “If I’d traveled with them and they’d died how Ben did. God. I don’t know how Emily’s doing this.”

  Tears stung at the back of Nina’s eyes. “I can’t imagine.”

  “I’d die,” Angela choked out the words. “I swear I would. I didn’t bring any photos of Derek and Jess with me. Oh, God, why didn’t –”

  Nina swallowed. “We have to stay strong, Ange. It’s the only way we’ll get through this.”

  “Yes,” Angela whispered. But she shivered despite the warmth of the cave. “Yes, you’re right.”

  They had sat quietly for several minutes before Nina took the small tube of balm and applied it to the cuts and bruises marring her skin.” She held up the tube of balm. “Want some?”

  “I wish I had my own handbag with me still.” Ange’s bottom lip trembled. “But mine wasn’t a cross-body bag, and so I didn’t have it on me when the jet went down.” She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m just lucky I had my asthma pump in my pocket.”

  Reaching over, Nina covered Ange’s shaking hand with hers. “We’ll be okay.” I hope. “Have some of this.” She held out the soothing balm.

  With a sigh Angela and took the cream. “Thanks.” Rolling up her sleeves, she applied the balm to her wrists, elbows, and thighs. “Is this the only balm you’ve got?”

  “Afraid so.”

  A sudden commotion at the cave entrance had them turning toward the exit of their room. Parker was issuing rapid instructions, Hugh was moaning, and Justin was snarling. Emily’s voice came a second later, calm and measured. A moment later, Parker and Justin staggered past Nina and Angela’s room, each carrying Hugh. Emily followed silently behind and soon after, Nina fell into another fitful asleep.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  She awoke again a few hours later. Angela was still asleep, snoring gently, and Nina sighed in relief. Ange hadn’t been experiencing the same irregular sleeping patterns as she, and she was pleased about that. No doubt Ange dreamt of her daughter and husband back in London. She of course thought of her siblings. Most of them had people to go back to. And though Emily and Jake didn’t, they still, of course, wanted to return home.

  As if she’d conjured Emily up by merely thinking of her, Emily walked past their room.

  “Emily?” Nina pushed herself up on one elbow.

  Emily appeared in the doorway a second later. “Nina. You’re up.”

  Nina struggled to sit up fully. “You okay?”

  “Sure.” Emily stared at her. Uncomfortable under the other woman’s intense scrutiny, Nina lifted her hand to her hair and felt the single thick braid she’d plaited last night still in place. She couldn’t look hideous, despite how Emily was staring at her.

  “I’m going for a walk.”

  “Now?” Nina frowned. They’d only returned from their last break a couple of hours ago.

  Angela stirred.

  “I get achy if I’m inactive for long periods of time.” Emily shrugged. “An occupational hazard of being an air hostess I suppose.”

  Angela yawned and stretched, reminding Nina of a cat. With another yawn, Angela opened her eyes and smiled when she spotted Emily. “Hey, how’re you doing?”

  “I think it’s Hugh you should be asking.” Emily’s mouth gave a small smile. “He’s in more pain than any of us. But…”

  “He brought the pain upon himself,” Angela responded shortly.

  Emily sighed. “I know, but Parker was right. We can’t change the past.” Her voice hitched, and she looked away.

  Nina and Angela stared at her. “That’s…very admirable,” Nina admitted. Angela murmured something in agreement.r />
  Emily turned to leave. “Well, I’ll see you later.”

  “Maybe we can go with you,” Nina offered reluctantly. “I don’t think any of us should go out alone.”

  Emily looked amused. “I’m just going for a short walk.”

  “Still…”

  “Neen’s right,” Angela sighed. “I don’t feel like going out again, but it’s better that no one goes out alone.”

  “You guys sure about this? I feel guilty about dragging you out–”

  “No need,” Angela assured her. “We’re all in this together.”

  Once Nina and Angela had padded up, they all headed out. “Oh.” Nina started to turn back, “let me tell Neil and Jake where we’re going. They–”

  “I’ve already told Jake,” Emily said easily. “He said he’ll tell the others and then join us.”

  Nina relaxed. “Great. Let’s go.”

  Much of the sun had disappeared now; the air was crisper, too. Nina huddled under the warmth of her scarf. Regardless of what Jake had said about their chances of being rescued, having people know of their predicament made a huge difference to her mental state.

  She frowned down at Emily’s left leg, only now noticing the other woman limping as she walked between her and Angela. “Are you okay, Emily? You’ve hurt your leg, too?”

  Angela glanced down at Emily’s leg too before pulling out her inhaler and taking a puff.

  Emily’s mouth twitched in amusement. “I’ve hurt a lot of things.”

  “Maybe we should turn back?” Angela suggested, slipping her inhaler back into her pocket.

  “You two can by all means.” Emily kept her hands deep in the pockets of her red ski trousers and kept walking.

  Nina’s gaze skimmed the mountains flanking them. Nothing like being out in the great outdoors, she thought then rolled her eyes. Ha. She’d take indoor plumbing and central heating any day of the week.

  “Did you bring your phones to see if you can get another signal?” Emily asked.

  “I lost my phone on the jet,” Angela muttered, but Nina halted in mid-stride. “No I didn’t, and I still have mine.” Furious with herself, she briefly closed her eyes. “Jeez, what was I thinking?”

  Angela had stopped beside her. “You want to go back and get it?”

  Nina nodded. “Emily?” she called. The other woman hadn’t broken her limping stride and was now several feet ahead. “Let’s go back. We need to get our phones.”

  “You two go back if you want.”

  Nina felt her face stiffen.

  “I doubt much could have changed in terms of signal strength so quickly,” Angela reasoned. “We’ll try again later with the others. Jake is bound to want to check his phone for messages.”

  “Okay.”

  They continued in silence, all three of them lost in their own thoughts. Emily still led several yards ahead of the others. They took the same route they had earlier with the others. The stretch of low, even snow made walking more bearable than the dips of the uneven terrain they’d encountered soon after escaping the crashed jet.

  “It’s so peaceful out here, isn’t it?” Emily called out dreamily when they eventually reached the frozen lake. She walked around to the other side of it and stared down at the glistening surface.

  Cold and restless, Nina shifted from one booted foot to the other. “I don’t find anything out here peaceful.” She found no peace in being stranded. She raised her eyes to the mountains. They seemed to be closing in on her, and it made her claustrophobic. “We haven’t seen anyone else since we arrived.” She tugged her scarf up so it covered most of her face. “We’re alone.”

  “Of course, we’re alone.” Emily sounded amused. “Who visits the backcountry? It’s a place to die, not to visit.”

  Nina stiffened. “No one else is dying, Emily.”

  “You’re wrong.” Emily kept her eyes on the frozen surface of the lake. “We’re all going to end up dead. Unwanted and forgotten just like my Ben.”

  Angela started toward her with her hand extended in compassion. “Emily…”

  Emily’s head shot up, light brown eyes stopping Angela in mid-stride. “Don’t come near me.”

  Shocked at the coldness in the other woman’s voice, Nina and Angela exchanged stunned glances.

  “Ah, Emily…” Nina tried to shake off a sudden feeling of dread. “What happened to Ben was…” She gulped, grappling for the right words. “What happened to Ben was…was just…awful. Horrible. But–” She broke off, freezing in place when Emily began making childlike faces into the reflection of the frozen lake. Nina wet her lips and glanced back over her shoulder. Where was Jake? He knew how to calm Emily.

  “It’s okay,” Emily announced. “Ben and I will be together again soon.”

  Nina exchanged a horrified glance with Angela. “But…Ben’s not here, Emily.” Then Nina’s throat closed when Emily began undressing.

  “What are you doing?” Angela gasped. “It’s freezing out here! You’ll catch your death.”

  “Emily.” Fear and panic clawing at her, Nina started toward the woman who stood at the other side of the lake from her and Angela.

  Emily stopped her with an icy glare. “I told you not to come near me.”

  Fear made Nina’s stomach churn. “You said that to Ange.” But she halted her approach.

  “Same thing.” Emily unbuttoned her trousers, shifting a bit as she did so.

  Gloved hands clasped together, Angela offered the woman a reassuring smile that didn’t even begin to mask the panic in her dark eyes. “W-why don’t we talk about this, Emily?” Anxiety raked her words, making them sound thin and fractured. “We haven’t talked about what happened to Ben. Let’s talk now.”

  Nina closed her eyes in relief. Well done, Ange. “Ange is right, Emily. Let’s talk about it. Just the three of us. Women talk. We can–”

  “No, thank you.” Emily’s calm response made chills race up Nina’s spine.

  Untying her hair from its knot, Emily fluffed it out so it fell to her shoulders in bouncy brown curls. Then bending at the waist, she pulled something long and wooden from the inside left leg of her trousers.

  Recognizing it immediately, Nina’s mouth went dry.

  Ben’s wooden cricket bat.

  Nina remembered the copilot holding it at Heathrow in the VIP lounge. “W-where did that come from?” Her hands shook as she watched Emily place the bat on the ground beside her feet.

  Emily gave a secret smile. “It’s Ben’s. It was in the cockpit. I grabbed it on the way out of the jet. I couldn’t save Ben. But at least this is something I was able to get hold of that reminds me of him.” She had stripped down to her bra, long ski pants, and boots. She didn’t seem to notice how the frigid weather was causing goosebumps to break out over her pale arms and stomach. “It’s a great piece of craftsmanship. Ben always said so.” Picking up the bat, she twirled it between her now ungloved hands like a sword she couldn’t wait to wield.

  Nina lifted her eyes from the bat to meet Emily’s feverish gaze. “Parker asked if you had a wooden stick to splint Hugh’s leg.” She swallowed and made herself force the rest of the words out. “You said…you said you didn’t, Emily.”

  “Of course, I said no,” Emily chuckled, the sound unnatural in the frigid cold air. “Why should I help Hugh any more than I had to? I betrayed Ben by helping him, betrayed Ben’s memory.”

  “Oh Emily, that’s not true,” Angela rushed to say. “Admittedly, I was shocked that you helped, but you did the right thing. Ben would be proud of you. It takes a really strong and wonderful person to do what you did. You–”

  “Who cares about being strong?” Emily spat, all humor vanishing. “Who cares about being wonderful? I’m alone. Will being strong and wonderful bring Ben back?”

  “N-no,” Angela admitted shakily. “But–”

  “I doubt Ben would’ve wanted you to feel guilty, Emily,” Nina tried tentatively. She had given up trying to get saliva back into her dry m
outh. All she could taste and feel was fear; bone crippling fear. “Like Ange said, you did the right thing. Ben would have wanted you to help Hugh–”

  “Shut up,” Emily screamed the words out, making both Nina and Angela jump. “Just shut up. You didn’t even know Ben.” Her hard eyes whipped from Nina to Angela. “Neither of you knew him.”

  Nina bobbed her head in a nod. “You’re right…I’m sorry, we…we didn’t know him.” Glancing covertly at Angela, they exchanged a look. At Angela’s barely perceptible nod, they each began slowly edging toward Emily—Angela from the left side of the lake, and Nina from the right.

  “You’re right, Emily,” Nina repeated, teeth chattering from both the cold and the fear spiraling through her. “We didn’t know Ben, but Jake did, and Jake knows you. He cares about you. He’s going to be devastated when he gets here and sees you like this. He’ll–”

  “Don’t be so dense, Nina; Jake’s not coming.”

  A ball of lead settled at the base of Nina’s stomach. “What do you mean he’s not coming?” She forced herself to speak calmly, refusing to believe she’d heard Emily correctly. “You said you told him that we were going for a walk. You said he’d be joining us out here.”

  Emily rolled her eyes. “I lied. I didn’t tell him anything. He’s sound asleep.”

  Angela’s hand flew to her throat. “Oh, my God,” she moaned.

  Too stunned to speak, Nina stared at Emily; she was unsure which emotion was uppermost—terror or disbelief.

  “Goodness; for lawyers you’re so gullible. How on earth do you win so many cases? If I’d told Jake that I was coming out here, he would’ve insisted on joining me like an anxious Mother Hen. He would’ve ruined my plans.” She smiled widely, her face a mask of madness. “Couldn’t have that, could I?”

  Nina felt ill. “You – we …I trusted you.” She fought to get the words past lips not just stiff with cold, but of terror. “I believed you when you said you’d let at least Jake know what we were doing.” She could barely speak past the rapid beating of her heart. “W - what have you been planning, Emily?”