Light At The End | Book 2 | Light To Dark

by Benson, Tom

An hour after settling down, Bill was aware of a movement among the trees only a few metres away. He sat perfectly still, leaving his laser rifle across his lap as he looked slightly away from the action. It was a peculiarity of night vision that to gaze directly at an object rendered it blurred. To look at it with the peripheral vision, the same object was more apparent.

  The big cat was no more than two metres from the fishing line perimeter when Bill saw it and he almost stopped breathing as he watched in fascination. A slight rustle of leaves occurred twice, and then all was silent before a few scratches broke the silence of the night.

  Bill waited for a while longer and then, appropriately felt comfortable cat-napping but didn’t go inside the shelter. It would have meant listening to the breathing and movements of three sleeping people. He was confident that anything out of the ordinary would rouse him. Bill was equally sure that the beautiful animal he’d seen would be content where it was now.

  .

  Thursday 4th August

  They went down to the water’s edge to freshen up before breakfast, but Bill insisted that he stood guard nearby. Jay-Dee had been as good as his word, and after a wash, he’d caught two large trout which they shared.

  After breakfast, while the others were packing up camp, Bill went around to unwind the line. He’d just finished and tucked the small reel away when Cherry approached.

  “I thought you might like a mouthful of tea before we leave, Bill.”

  “Thank you, that’s very thoughtful of you.”

  Cherry kept her voice low. “Do you want to tell me what you saw yesterday evening … and before you lie, you could also tell me if there was a connection to you staying outside the shelter all night?”

  Bill smiled, sipped the tea and nodded for her to go with him. “Do you recognise those tracks?”

  “No, you’ll have to educate me.” She grinned.

  “Those are a fox’s tracks, and you can see the tiny claw marks close to the pad prints.” He walked a short distance and crouched down. “This set is from a deer.”

  “You’re not telling me you stayed up all night because of a fox and a deer.”

  He nodded to his right and crouched. “You’ll see the pad marks of the paws here, but there are no little claw prints at the front end of the pads.” Bill smiled as he stood. “The reason there are no claw marks is that these were made by a cat.”

  “A cat—seriously?”

  “Well, it was quite a big cat … a leopard.”

  “A leopard?” Cherry’s eyes went wide. “Oh my—and you didn’t wake us or warn us—”

  “That long trail in the dirt between the paw prints is another type of deer print. That’s what a deer looks like when it’s being carried in the jaws of a leopard.”

  Not surprisingly, the others heard Cherry’s exclamation. Hence, Bill explained about his sighting and the fact that the big cat took its prey up into a tree meant it wouldn’t be hungry or on the prowl.

  Until they left their campsite, it was a wary bunch of people who finished packing up before leaving the area. They were glad to have built their marker on the previous evening.

  The undulating terrain made it hard to walk through the forest. A glance to the right at the massive stretch of water was sufficient to remind them why they’d been compelled to take a detour of several miles.

  Bill checked his bearings on the map and then scanned the area ahead with his binoculars. “We should have been on dry land all the way to the main road leading up to Dalwhinnie, but we’re destined to cross water.” He turned and handed the binoculars to Cherry who’d be the only person concerned about a river crossing.

  “It doesn’t look too bad,” Cherry said. “Do you think it will be dangerous to cross?”

  “No, I doubt if it will be deep or fast-flowing. According to the map, there shouldn’t be any water alongside the A9 route at that point. We’ve already seen examples of water doing its own thing.”

  Victoria said, “We’ll be able to walk along and find a narrow crossing point, won’t we?”

  “Yes,” Bill said. “I can’t see it being a major setback.”

  Two hours later they’d left the forest behind and were walking north alongside what wasn’t so much a new waterway but an overflow from the nearby Loch Garry.

  “Is that another railway line just on the other side?” Jay-Dee said.

  “Yes, mate,” Bill said, “but it highlights the changes around here because we should have a large area of grassland and forestry before we reach the railway. The road we’re hoping to walk along is just on the other side of the rails.”

  Victoria said, “Well, at least we know we can make good time when we’re walking on a road.”

  They arrived at a bend in the narrow river which had a large number of rocks to use as a crossing point. A marker was created on the bank before they negotiated the slippery stepping stones.

  Bill said, “Be wary of any smooth rocks with water splashing over them.” He set off first, and in a few careful steps was on the far side. “Cherry, stay there, and I’ll come back for your pack.”

  “I’ll be okay if I take it slow, Bill, I’m sure.”

  “Stay there.” He dropped off his pack and set off across the rocks. “Right, I’ll take your bergen, and it’ll be easier for you to balance without the extra weight.” He threw the heavy pack over one shoulder and recrossed the boulders.

  Cherry wasn’t as nervous because even if she fell in, the water was shallow at this point. She stepped carefully from one large boulder to the next, trying to remember which ones Bill had used and made it look so easy. She made it across and felt a sense of accomplishment.

  “Thanks, Bill—I hate to be a hindrance—”

  “Shit,” Victoria cried out from her sitting position halfway across. “I’ve twisted my bloody ankle—damn it.”

  “Stay where you are,” Bill said and set off to reach her. “Okay, one arm at a time let your shoulder straps fall so I can grab your bergen … that’s it, I’ve got it.”

  “I’ll try to stand—”

  “No,” Bill said. “Stay there, and I’ll be back in a minute.” He dropped off Victoria’s bergen and then removed his boots and socks before wading into the water which went up to his knees. He sat on a large boulder in front of the fallen botanist. “When I’m in position, put your arms around my neck and ease your legs forward around me—which is the injured ankle?”

  “The left.”

  Bill lowered his body slightly to let Victoria get a good hold. “Okay, bring your legs around my waist—that’s good. I’ll try not to grab your ankle.”

  Cherry laughed. “You are terrible—imagine the pain that Victoria is in.”

  “Yes, I know,” Bill said, “I just want her to realise how much worse it could be.” He laughed as he stood in the water. “Are you feeling secure, Victoria?’

  “Yes, thanks.”

  He stood and in a few slow steps, made it through the water to the bank. Bill turned and set his casualty down to let her sit on the grass. “Are you okay to slide backwards?”

  “I’ve got her,” Cherry said as she helped Victoria to get away from the edge.

  Jay-Dee was across by the time Bill was out of the water.

  “Let’s have that boot off,” Jay-Dee said as he set down his bergen. “I’ll have a look at your ankle.”

  Two minutes later, while Bill was pulling his boots back on, Jay-Dee was tenderly examining Victoria’s ankle and foot.

  Victoria said, “I’ll be able to walk if I lean on my stick.”

  “You’ll do as you’re told,” Bill said and laughed. “What’s the verdict, Jay-Dee?”

  “I can soak a bandage and bind the injury to cool it and reduce the swelling, but if we can arrange a stretcher of some kind, it would be beneficial.” He shook his head. “It would be best if she didn’t put any weight on it for at least a day.”

  “Get to work on it, mate, and give me five minutes to organise a stretcher.” Bill pulle
d out one of the string hammocks. “Cherry, pass me Victoria’s stick—thanks.” He threaded the sturdy wooden pole through both ends and along the left side of the hammock. “And now pass me yours.” Five minutes later, the stretcher was ready to use.

  Victoria slid over onto the makeshift stretcher. “I feel terrible—this will slow us down now.”

  Bill said, “We could leave you here if you like and get you on the way back in about a week.”

  Cherry and Jay-Dee burst into laughter. Victoria didn’t know what to say and joined them.

  Jay-Dee said, “Lift your legs, Victoria and rest your ankles on your bergen when I place it on the stretcher—it’ll help to rest the injury and reduce the pressure.”

  “How long will we have to travel like this?” Victoria was distraught at being an inconvenience.

  Jay-Dee said, “Even if we only let it rest for today and this evening it will aid your recovery. Now, rest and hold the sides of the stretcher as we lift.”

  Cherry said, “I’ll take your rifle, Jay-Dee.”

  Bill handed his rifle to the casualty. “You can carry mine Victoria, and try not to shoot Jay-Dee, we need him to carry the other end of the stretcher.” He winked at her before looking back over his shoulder. “All good when you are, Jay-Dee.”

  A few minutes later the now slightly disabled team were working slowly up an embankment, approaching the railway line. They arrived on the line and after a rapid assessment saw an ideal place to cross to the A9—the main road that had once been a busy tourist route.

  A stone marker was created on the line where they crossed.

  The group were moving at a slower pace than intended, but importantly, they were moving.

  18 - Dalwhinnie

  Cherry said, “Tell me when one of you guys would like a rest, and I’ll take over.”

  “That would be good if you can handle it,” Bill said. “There are only three of us rather than two teams of two, so maybe a switch over every twenty minutes would be best.”

  “I can handle that.”

  The A9 was more extensive than the previous road they’d walked along. There was a broader area up the centre with no greenery to negotiate, so despite carrying a stretcher, they maintained a good pace. They were on a gradient and close to a narrow road bridge, so the forestry on one side, and loch on the other were left behind as they started up the hill.

  Victoria’s head was at the front end of the stretcher. “How far is it to Dalwhinnie?” she said and glanced up at Bill who was carrying the back end.

  “From here, it’s about ten miles,” Bill said. “What’s wrong, Victoria—you’ve been looking back at the forest since our last short break?”

  “I’m sorry, Bill, I thought I was hallucinating but I’m sure something is moving along between the trees … perhaps dogs or something.”

  Cherry was walking alongside and glanced at Bill. “Do you want to change places?”

  “No, you’ve just handed over from carrying. Walk backwards while we have this decent road surface. If you see anything, tell me.”

  “Have we got a plan?” Jay-Dee said over his shoulder and opened the pace noticeably.

  “Yes, mate, we’ve got about two hundred metres to the crest of this hill where the bridge narrows. Keep up the faster pace. I’d like to get to the crest and then we’ll stop and face the challenge—whatever it is.”

  “I can get off and walk,” Victoria said and gripped the poles at the sides of the hammock stretcher.

  “No,” Bill said, firmly. “You could get off and limp which is not good—if we have something wild shadowing us it will be more likely to make a move if one of us is walking abnormally.”

  “You don’t think that lying here looks abnormal?”

  “Wild animals don’t understand stretchers, Victoria, but they do sense a creature which is trying, but unable to run.”

  “Wolves,” Cherry said quietly. “At least five, but there might be more. What’s the best thing to do?”

  Bill said, “Set the rifle on Light Stun and two hundred metres.”

  “I’ve already done that.”

  “You’ll do for me, Cherry.” Bill glanced past Jay-Dee’s shoulder. “If any of them come out from the woodland just say ‘incoming’, get down on one knee and fire rapidly at them as a group. Don’t try for an individual.”

  “Got it … and I’ve just seen them pass a gap in the trees—definitely five, trotting along in a line.”

  “That’s good.”

  “Good?” Victoria said from the stretcher.

  “Yes, it’s good, because they’ll break formation when they start their run, so if we can make it up this final fifty metres to the top of the bridge we’ll be fine.” He glanced over Jay-Dee’s shoulder again. “Whenever we stop and put you down, Victoria, I don’t want you to stand. Stay on one knee, and you and Cherry slip the poles from the sides of the hammock. Kneel close together and aim the pointed end of the poles towards our furry friends.”

  “I’ll give you the rifle as soon as your hands are free, Jay-Dee.” Cherry maintained her composure.

  Jay-Dee gave a nervous laugh. “If we’re not killed doing this, will it be okay if I tell the story?”

  “Of course, mate.” Bill said.

  “Should we not run now, Bill?” Jay-Dee’s sense of humour was fading fast.

  “No, mate. If we run, they’ll run and break cover and then we’re fucked. This road is still too wide. When I say stop I want the girls in the middle and you on the right.”

  “Got it—on the right, rifle set to two hundred metres and Light Stun.” Concentration now removed any final nervousness.

  When they were five metres from the top of the bridge, Cherry said, “Incoming.”

  “Stop,” Bill said and within seconds he was rapidly lowering the stretcher with Jay-Dee. He grabbed the laser rifle from Victoria and stepped to the left before going down on one knee and into the aim.

  Before Bill or Jay-Dee opened fire, the two women were kneeling between them. The women were both armed with a long pointed pole and an expression that suggested that neither of them were totally comfortable.

  From a kneeling position the snarling animals’ fangs looked prominent and so too were their lolling, tongues, dripping saliva as the wolves raced forward in anticipation of a kill. Their combined guttural noises carried on the air as a deep, menacing rumble.

  “Fire when ready,” Bill said, and hit the front runner and the wolf to the left. Both animals tumbled with a yelp and lay still for a moment. They got up and limped to the side of the road, heads shaking.

  Jay-Dee hit two wolves with a similar result and remained in the aim.

  “I’ve got the big boy,” Bill said. He aimed at the chest of the remaining wolf, which he thought might be the pack leader—the largest. He fired at its chest, but by then it was within ten metres and to the team looked huge and fearsome.

  The animal crumpled to the ground as if it had lost control of its legs. It rolled forward when it tried to stand, and was lying on the road dazed, five metres from the four people.

  “What now, Bill?” Jay-Dee was in the aim but didn’t want to kill any of the wolves.

  “Stay in the aim, and I’ll keep an eye on our friend here. Let’s just watch their actions when they recover.”

  Three of the beasts were at the side of the road limping away, dazed and confused. A fourth animal stood in the middle of the road unsure what to do next, its tongue lolling out. The largest wolf rolled over several times trying to regain his feet. He achieved an upright stance and gave Bill a malevolent stare, at least until a shot from the laser burned a chunk of road surface near the wolf’s front legs. The beast turned and limped away, and within a few minutes, the pack all limped into the woodland to regroup.

  “Well done, troops.” Bill turned to see three frightened but relieved faces.

  “What now?” Cherry said.

  “We’ll stay here for a while until we know they’ve gone hunting somewhere
else.” He glanced at Victoria. “When the time is right, we can set up the stretcher again, and get going.”

  It was twenty minutes before Bill saw the wolves trotting along the road in the opposite direction. The leader was still limping, at the back of his pack. It was a tactic used by the alpha male to ensure there were no stragglers but in this case he was the weaker animal.

  The human group set off again and got back into a steady pace over the next few miles. The team were subdued since the wolf attack. Bill considered getting a conversation going but was well aware of how life and death situations affected different people. Each of the others would come to terms with it in their own time, in their own way, and he’d be there for them.

  They stopped for a five-minute break at each changeover as before, and as the time passed a light conversation got underway, but nobody talked about the wolf attack. Bill reminded them that steady progress was more important than speed and that they’d have a good overnight rest.

  It was as they arrived atop a hill when Cherry squinted at something in the distance. “Bill, could I borrow your binoculars for a moment, please?”

  “Of course. Have you spotted something interesting?”

  Cherry stepped up onto a nearby boulder and brought the binoculars up to her eyes. “I don’t think we have to send anybody to break down the perimeter of the wildlife reserve.” She stepped down from the boulder.

  Bill and Jay-Dee were standing beside the stretcher staring out towards the distant grassland.

  Bill accepted the binoculars and raised them to look where Cherry indicated. “Wow, it looks like bison and … there are a lot of them.” He handed the binoculars to Jay-Dee.

  “Incredible,” Jay-Dee said. “It makes you feel like you’re on a safari.”

  “I don’t believe any of you,” Victoria said from the stretcher. “You’re just teasing.”

  Bill helped her to her feet, and Jay-Dee passed her the binoculars.

  “Oh my goodness,” Victoria murmured. “That’s an incredible sight.”

  A few minutes later, they set off again.