Higher Ground

by Becky Black

  “Sorry,” Adam said. “I should have come and helped.”

  “You can do breakfast.” They ate their soup in brooding silence, Simon’s grim look matching Adam’s mood well. Ridiculous, he thought, to compare the anxiety he felt at being parted from Zach with what Simon felt. He’d met Zach only days ago. Simon and Visha had been together for years. Had a child together. He couldn’t claim to have the same thing with Zach, could he?

  In the back of his mind, a soft voice spoke.

  Not yet.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Did you get much sleep?” Zach asked Adam over the radio the next morning.

  “Not much.”

  “Well, get some rest. It’ll be a couple of hours before we reach you, so you and Simon can—”

  He stopped as a shout came from the camp. Several people yelling at once, voices triumphant.

  “What’s going on?” Adam asked. “What’s that yelling?”

  “I don’t know. Stand by.”

  Korrie came running up to Zach. “Come on!” She grabbed his arm and pulled him along.

  “What is it?” Zach asked, as they ran. “Is something wrong?” Her laugh in answer to him made realize it was a ridiculous question. Clearly, triumphant yelling wasn’t about anything being wrong. “Is something…right?”

  “Contact,” she said, laughing as she spoke. “We made contact.”

  Zach stared at her until he almost fell over a bit of rough ground; then he just ran until he skidded to a stop on the damp grass beside a group of people. His boots slipped, and he crashed into Dr. Howie, who caught him and set him steady on his feet again.

  The excitement centered around Visha, who was kneeling beside a tiny folding table which held the Franes’ radio set. A voice was coming from the radio.

  “…fix on your beacon. Maintain position. Check in every fifteen, one five, minutes. E.T.A. forty-five minutes. Please acknowledge.”

  “Acknowledged,” Visha said. “Will maintain position with fifteen, one five, minute check-ins. Thank you. See you soon. Frane out.” She looked up at Zach. “A ship. From the Dunbarrow outpost.”

  If Dr. Howie hadn’t still been holding his arm, Zach would have gone down like a sack of potatoes. His knees shook, but Howie grabbed him into an embrace.

  “We made it.” He slapped Zach hard on the back. “We made it.”

  And then the whole camp started cheering.

  “Zach! Zach! Come in!” Adam’s voice. They were still connected on the walkie-talkie, Zach realized. He pulled away from Howie, who went to hug Korrie instead. “What’s going on there?”

  “We made contact,” Zach said in a voice weak with relief. “With a rescue ship. It will be here in less than an hour.” He waited a moment, grinning at the sounds of Adam and Simon whooping and cheering.

  “Zach, that’s fantastic,” Adam said. “Okay, ah, I guess we should get back to you guys right away.”

  “I’ve got a fix on your beacon,” Simon said, breaking in. “We’ll race the ship to see who gets to you first.”

  “I promise we won’t leave without you,” Zach said.

  “See that you don’t. Okay, no more check-ins, we’ll be moving too fast. See you soon.”

  * * * *

  By the time the forty-five minutes had passed, everyone had packed all of their things. A couple of people insisted on lighting a smoky fire, unwilling to trust everything to the radio beacon. Excitement hovered over the camp like a cloud. People were already talking as if they were on their way out of there. When the dark shape of the outpost supply ship appeared in the sky, people started gathering their gear like travelers at a spaceport finally boarding a long-delayed flight.

  Zach didn’t grab his pack. He remembered the hassle involved in getting everyone on the road in the first place. There’d be plenty of fuss this time too. He’d bet on at least an hour before they were even close to getting away.

  He took his binoculars out again to watch the approaching ship. As he did, his walkie-talkie squawked, and Adam’s voice came through.

  “We can see the ship.”

  “Me too.” He studied the approaching vessel for a moment. “Adam, did you take binoculars with you?”

  “Yeah, just getting them out now.”

  “Take a look at the ship. Look close.”

  “Okay.”

  Zach went on looking at the ship. The binoculars made the distant dark shape spring into focus, appearing close enough to touch. He easily made out the markings of the Terraforming Authority on its hull, along with the ship’s name.

  “It’s the Darwin,” Adam said. “As a botanist, I’m choosing to call that a good omen.” Zach didn’t answer. “Zach?”

  “I don’t know much about ships,” Zach said. “So I don’t know what type it is, and scale is hard to judge from here. But I can see viewports and hatches on the ship, and I can estimate from them—”

  “Zach, if you don’t cut to the chase, then when I arrive, I’ve going to punch you in the teeth.”

  “It’s too small.”

  They had nearly one hundred and fifty people here, and that many again in the other group. The approaching ship was not large enough to carry even all of the people in this group. There was a pause over the radio, presumably while Adam made his own estimate. Then he cursed enough to make Zach blush.

  “Adam, Simon. Get back here fast. We’re going to need you.”

  “We’re coming.” Adam panted as he spoke. They were already running.

  If anyone else had noticed the problem, they weren’t saying anything about it, though Zach saw a few worried faces among the jubilant ones when the ship began to descend. The group all moved back, escaping the heat and roar of the thrusters. The sparse grass underneath browned and burned, and then the ship settled onto it, and the roar of the engines cut out. Another cheer spread through the crowd. Seconds later, a hatch on the side popped, and a man in a dark blue overall appeared, grinning.

  “You folks call for a ride?”

  ADAM AND SIMON ran back into camp just over half an hour later. Adam feared they’d come back to find people fighting for the last places on the ship, but things were calm. On edge, though; he felt it at once. People stood in groups or pairs, having intense conversations.

  “Over there,” Simon said, pointing to where Zach and the rest of the reduced leadership team stood talking to a man in uniform. Their breath recovered, Adam and Simon walked over to join them.

  “It’s not only the space,” the man in uniform was saying as they arrived. “It’s the weight. As it is, I’m going to have to ask people to leave most of their belongings behind.”

  “I understand,” Zach said. “How long will it take you to get the first group to safety and come back for the rest of us?”

  “I’d say thirty-six hours.”

  “What about Barbara’s group?” Adam asked.

  At the sound of his voice, his friends whipped around. Visha shrieked and shot out of the group like a missile into Simon’s arms. Zach looked torn for a moment, perhaps conscious of his leadership role and trying to remain calm. But Adam wasn’t having that. Zach might be the leader, but he was only human. He grabbed Zach into his arms and kissed him heartily. When they broke, Zach was flushed with pleasure.

  “You’d think I’d been away for a month,” Adam said.

  “I…ah, right,” Zach said, battling to regain composure. “Good to see you two back okay.” He leaned past Adam to offer his hand to Simon, who reached around his wife to shake.

  The uniformed man watched the scene with some bemusement until Zach got control and let Adam go. “Ah, Captain Hammond, Adam Gray, Simon Frane. They were out looking for water.”

  “How many people can the ship take, then?” Adam asked. “Were you right that it’s too small?”

  “Yes. At least forty of us will have to stay behind.”

  Forty. He’d feared worse. But his first question hadn’t been answered yet. “Barbara’s group?” he prompted Zach.
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  “Yes,” Zach said, turning to Hammond. “There’s another group, farther down the slope. They need to be picked up before you come back for us.”

  “How many in that group?”

  “Around the same as this one.”

  Hammond nodded. “So we’ll have to leave some of them behind too. Did they leave later than you?”

  “No,” Zach explained. “We were all one group at the start, but there was some…disagreement after a few days. We split up, and they went back downhill.”

  “Then the earthquakes started, and they turned around again,” Adam said.

  “Bad choice there, then,” Hammond said. “You think they’re far enough ahead of the water to wait another thirty-six hours?”

  “If they keep moving at the same pace and the sinking doesn’t accelerate drastically, then yes,” Zach said.

  “And will your people manage if it’s another three days before we get back to you? What about food?”

  “If you have enough food aboard for the people you’re transporting, then they can leave what food they’re carrying with us.”

  “Yeah, we have enough supplies along.” Hammond looked around at the crowd. “What about your animals?”

  Adam grimaced. They couldn’t ask people to stay behind while cats and dogs were taken off, could they? But could the reduced group get the left-behind pets to the top of the mountain? Nobody would want to abandon them to drown.

  Zach looked around, thoughtful, then turned back to Hammond. “Take the cats and small dogs. The larger dogs can keep up with us, so they might as well stay. But tell people they’ll have to leave more of their belongings behind if they want to take their pets.”

  “Sounds good to me,” Hammond said. “So you just have to decide who’s going to stay behind.”

  Adam hated the thought of making that choice. People had become more subdued after the triumph of the ship’s arrival and there were some intense discussions going on. They knew some of them would have to stay.

  “I guess it’s gotta be people like us,” he said. “Young and healthy only.” He’d never realized he could hold two fervent yet contradictory wishes in his mind at once. He wanted Zach by his side, because being parted from him had become unthinkable. At the same time, he wanted Zach on the ship, flying away to safety. But the second one wouldn’t happen, however hard he wished for it.

  Zach moved away and climbed onto a rock, high enough to address the crowd. They went silent as he called for their attention.

  “You can all see this ship isn’t large enough for everyone. We need forty volunteers to stay behind until it returns.” He waited out the stirring and murmuring. “Obviously, all the children will leave and at least one parent with them. All the older people, pregnant women, and anyone who’s hurt or ill. Please remember the climb can only get harder, and it may be several more days before we’re picked up. If you’re not absolutely sure you can manage it, don’t volunteer. You’ll only slow the group down. Don’t try to be a hero. I’ll let you think about it, and then we have to decide.”

  “He’s a bit young for a council member, isn’t he?” Hammond said quietly to Adam.

  “Zach’s not on the council.”

  “Oh. Sounded like he’s used to making speeches. So why’s he in charge?”

  “He predicted the disaster.”

  “Ah, so he’s your prophet.”

  Adam laughed. “Yes. Reluctantly.”

  Zach climbed down from the rock, and Adam offered his hand to help him. “Good speech. I volunteer, by the way.”

  “Thank you. I wish you wouldn’t. On the other hand…” Adam understood. Zach had the exact same torn feelings as Adam himself.

  “You and me against the mountain,” Adam said. “Unbeatable.”

  The captain went back to the ship to supervise the embarkation. As he left, Korrie came up to Adam and Zach. She’d discarded her backpack and had Tuzo draped around her shoulders like a stole. Whatever she felt she couldn’t leave behind must be in her pockets, as she only carried her hiking pole.

  “Here.” She handed the pole to Zach. “Since I’m leaving it behind, I’d be honored if you took it.”

  “Thank you, Professor. Ann, I’m glad you’re going to safety, but I’m sorry to lose you. You’ve been an essential part of the team.” He offered her his hand, and she shook it.

  “I won’t even try to argue about going. Part of me still feels like I’m twenty-five, but that part of me isn’t my knees.”

  She turned to Adam, who didn’t mess about with handshakes. He hugged her, lifting her off her feet and making Tuzo hiss in protest.

  “See you soon, you mad old rock witch.” Her ideas about him and Zach hadn’t been so silly after all when she’d talked about love. “Look after your daft cat.”

  “I will. And you two look after each other.”

  They accompanied her to the ship in time to see Visha and Amina getting aboard, Amina waving to her father.

  “Simon’s staying,” Zach said, and his voice choked off. Adam understood the emotion. He saw Simon turn away when his wife and child were out of sight inside and stride away to the edge of the crowd. How many other families were splitting up? Fathers staying here while the women and children went first? Such a horrible choice to make even when they should see each other again in a few days.

  Dr. Howie walked up to them, and Zach offered his hand to say good-bye. “Doctor, you’ve been such an asset, I’m sorry to lose you.”

  “You’re not losing me,” Howie said. “I’m staying.”

  “What? But, you can’t,” Zach protested.

  “Be reasonable, sir,” Adam said, “You’re, um, not a young man. The climb’s getting harder.”

  “And more dangerous. So if you think I’m letting you go on without a medic, you’ve got another think coming. I’m perfectly fit.”

  He was fit, Adam thought, for a man his age, but his age was late sixties. No way could he still have the stamina the younger people had. Zach started arguing, and Howie folded his arms, scowling, not about to budge an inch. Adam looked around helplessly, searching for an ally. Could Korrie persuade him not to insist on staying? Too late—he saw her getting aboard, a young man at the hatchway taking her arm to help her up the steps. The young man must have sensed Adam looking, and he turned and met his eyes.

  He smiled, and Adam felt a slight stir in his belly. Nice-looking guy, with chestnut brown hair and large eyes. The short jacket he wore showed off slim hips and a flat stomach and… And this was hardly the time to be ogling guys. He could still taste Zach’s welcome-home kiss. And they had work to do. He turned back to help Zach persuade Dr. Howie not to be a hero. The argument attracted the attention of the transport’s captain, and he came back to join them.

  “Having a problem?”

  “Yes. Our doctor is a damned stubborn old fool!” Zach snapped, perhaps in an attempt to make Howie angry and get him to tell Zach to go fall down the mountain for all he cared. It didn’t work.

  “You need a medic,” Howie insisted again. “That’s why I came on this trip. I didn’t even believe anything was going to happen at the start. I was wrong then, but I’m right now. You still need me.”

  “Doctor, you’re too old. You’ll slow us down.” Adam hated being so rude to the guy, but he had to be. “That’s going to put us in more danger than anything else.”

  “He’s right there, sir,” Hammond said. “I wouldn’t like the rest of this climb myself.”

  “They need a medic.”

  “How about a swap?” Everyone looked around. The young man Adam had noticed at the hatch came up to join the group. He smiled. “I’m a medic.”

  “A doctor?” Howie asked.

  “A paramedic.”

  “Perfect,” Adam said. “He’s trained to deal with accidents and emergencies. And he looks fit enough for the climb to me.” The man smiled at him and nodded an acknowledgment of the support.

  “Glyn, I can’t ask you to do this,” Ham
mond said.

  “Who’s asking? I’m volunteering.”

  Howie looked at him dubiously, Zach with open skepticism, perhaps finding it hard to accept the idea of a stranger replacing someone he’d come to know and trust. But this Glyn had the qualifications.

  “I’m happy to do it, Captain,” Glyn said. “You’ll be back for us soon.”

  “But…” Zach began and stopped, frowning, looking at Adam, who nodded, seeing no reasonable objection to the idea.

  “Is he a good medic?” Howie asked Hammond.

  “One of the best in my team.”

  “Okay,” Howie said. “As long as you have a medic, I’m happy.”

  “I’m not very happy about it,” Hammond admitted. “But if you’re sure, Glyn?”

  “Quite sure, sir.”

  “Benesh?” Zach still had his arms folded, and his expression had gone from skeptical to positively suspicious. Maybe he thought Glyn wanted to play the big hero, but so what? In Adam’s opinion, actions, not motivations, counted here, as they had with Howie himself, and with Torres, who hadn’t come on the climb because they believed Zach, but who had still been useful to the group. After a moment, Zach nodded.

  “All right. I agree.”

  “Great.” Glyn grinned with delight, eyes sparkling like a kid who’d persuaded his parents to take him to the beach. “I’ll grab my medical kit.”

  “I’ll make you up a pack from the stuff being left behind,” Adam said.

  “Thanks, ah…”

  “Adam. Adam Gray.” He held out his hand. Glyn took it, a wide smile on his face. Adam shook his hand, unable to resist returning the smile. He had a good feeling about this guy.

  “Glyn Sommers. I’ll be right back.” He hurried to the ship.

  Dr. Howie shook his head and laughed. “Well, what can I say about being crazy enough to volunteer when that’s what I was trying to do. This is good-bye for a while, then, boys. Adam, good luck.” He shook Adam’s hand, then turned to Zach. “Zach, I’m sorry I didn’t believe you before.”

  “You came with us, Doctor, that’s what counts,” Zach said, shaking his hand. Howie left and joined the line of people waiting to board the ship. There weren’t many people left on the ground. Perhaps sixty or seventy, making their good-byes to those who were staying.