Clumsily, they headed off in single file up a gentle slope. Rob led the way with Shane in the middle and Jenny shuffling on behind. It was slow going.
‘We’ll be able to ski soon,’ Rob called back. ‘There’s a slope up ahead that takes us into the last valley before the ski lift. Not far to go now.’
Jenny and Shane just kept shuffling, desperate for Rob to be right. But Rob had never won a thing in his life: no lotteries, not even a raffle. Instead of taking his family to safety, he was leading them further away from the resort and closer to life-threatening danger. For the family was in real trouble — very few people survive a night in the open in such a harsh climate and such perilous conditions.
Darkness
When darkness fell the Hamiltons were still struggling through the storm on their way to nowhere. The snow was thick and getting thicker, the wind was as strong as ever and they were exhausted. Shane wanted a rest, pleaded for one, sobbing, but his parents wouldn’t let him.
‘We must keep going,’ they said. ‘Have to.’
So on they went, shuffling and skiing, shuffling and skiing. They had seen no lights, heard no sounds other than the haunting voices of the wind and had come across no signs of life. None of them knew what to do or think. They were just moving with hopeless monotony. The cold was biting through their clothes, even Rob’s layers. Their faces were red and their eyes stinging. They had no idea how long they’d been out there.
With an exhausted cry Shane slumped to his knees in the soft snow. ‘I want to rest,’ he whimpered. ‘Let me rest. I need to stop. Dad, Mum! Let me stop!’
Jenny pulled him up, puffing. ‘Oh God, won’t someone please help us,’ she sobbed, feeling Shane’s tired body fold in her grip. ‘They’ve got to find us soon. They’ve got to, Rob.’
‘I’ll carry him,’ said Rob, leaning over Shane. ‘Come on, Shaney boy, get on my back.’
Rob knelt in the snow as Jenny wrapped her arms around Shane and Rob. ‘What’s going to happen to us?’ she wept. ‘What’s going to happen?’
Rob turned to her and clutched her arm, straightening her. ‘We’ll be all right. Someone will find us. They’ll be looking now. We’ll find some shelter under a log or rock or something. We’ll be all right.’
Clambering to their feet, they set off again. This time Jenny led the way.
Back at the resort, the clock ticked on to 12:30. The alarm had been raised three hours before but so far the searchers had found no sign of the Hamilton family. The only clue was that someone had seen them skiing away from the chairlift a few hours before the blizzard hit.
The general feeling was that their chances of survival were slim, very slim.
Sue had been notified that the family was lost. She sat in the house, warm and cosy, looking at photographs, sifting through her memories and expecting the worst. She sat, not being sure whether to wish for the phone to ring or not.
She thought about calling her psychic friends but worried they might tell her something she didn’t want to hear. A desperate feeling of helplessness pulled her memory back to the day David died. It had been a beautiful spring day, perfect to most people. The sun was bright, the sky a deep endless blue and bees crowded the flowers.
She had been sitting, waiting for the phone to ring that day too. She knew the day would come, they all knew, right from when the doctors first told them how bad the cancer was. Although they’d all known the end was coming, it didn’t stop them hurting when it did come. Nothing prepared her for the grief she felt that day. She had cried like she had never cried before. She had seen the pain pierce David’s body and tried to feel it too. She had seen the hurt grip her brother, and Shane and Jenny and tried to feel it as much as they did. But all she had felt was useless, just as she was feeling now as she sat and waited, listening to the ticking of every second of the clock.
She looked over at a photo of David standing in his school uniform on his first day at school. Sue knew it was one of Jenny’s favourite memories and photos. He looked so happy and excited with his little round face, puffy cheeks, shorts that looked huge on his tiny legs and his eyes, his sparkling eyes, so big, round and playful — the colour of mud.
It was her thoughts of the young David of those days that had her jumping to thoughts of David, the angel. With that warm thought came a sudden flash sparking a swing of mood. Sue’s forlorn face changed to one full of hope.
She smiled broadly to herself. ‘You idiot! It’ll be okay, of course it will be okay. What’s wrong with me! Huh! David will look after them! There’s nothing to worry about. I can’t believe I’ve been so worried. Boy oh boy, what a fool I am sometimes.’
With that she hummed a happy tune and flicked on the television. She watched the movie about the angel she’d taped for Shane. ‘Just as well we’ve got an angel in the family,’ she muttered as she lay back in her chair and put her feet up.
But David was far away, seeking advice from his teachers on how best to convince his brother he wasn’t a vision from one of his dreams.
Shelter
Shane felt weak. His eyes were hardly open when he heard his father say something about shelter. He lifted his head expecting to see lights or a house or even the resort, but all he could see was the snow swirling in darkness. The shelter his father referred to was a rocky outcrop jutting from a steep slope. It wasn’t much but it was better than being exposed to the full force of the wind and the sting of the driving snow.
Deeply concerned, Rob slowly lifted Shane from his back and lowered him to the ground. Shane’s eyebrows were white and a heavy tiredness had turned his body to jelly.
Puffing, Rob pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and brushed it gently across Shane’s face. ‘Don’t worry, Shane. It won’t be long now. Someone will be here soon.’
Shane was numb: the freezing cold had seeped into his limbs. ‘I’m scared, Dad,’ he croaked softly. ‘What if they don’t find us? What if they’ve given up looking? What if they haven’t even noticed we’re missing?’
Rob managed a smile. ‘Of course they’re looking and of course they’ll find us. We’ve got a bit of shelter now as well, so everything’s going to be okay. We’ll be back at the resort before you know it. We’ll probably get to ride back on one of those snowmobile things. I’ve always wanted to ride on one, haven’t you?’
Shane pushed himself into his father’s big coat. ‘But I’m so cold, Dad. I’m just so cold. I can’t feel anything.’
‘We know, Shane,’ said Jenny with surprising calmness. ‘But your dad’s right, it won’t be long now.’
Rob and Jenny weren’t feeling much better than Shane but finding the shelter had given them hope.
‘I’m going to see if I can get some sticks and branches,’ said Rob, looking out into the snow. ‘I can stand them around the front of this shelter and close us in a bit for more protection.’
Jenny was horrified. ‘No! You’ve got to stay here! You might get lost out there.’
‘I won’t go far,’ said Rob, puffing into his cupped hands. ‘We need more shelter, Jenny.’ He looked down at Shane leaning awkwardly against his mother. ‘We’ve got to try something to get ourselves some more protection, to get ourselves warmer.’
Jenny followed his eyes to Shane. ‘Yes, yes you’re right,’ she conceded. ‘But I’ll keep yelling your name over and over again so that you know where we are and that you haven’t gone too far.’ She grabbed hold of Shane and began rubbing him as vigorously as she could. She rocked him instinctively as she watched Rob heave away from her into the blizzard. She immediately began calling loud and clear. ‘Rob … Rob … Rob …’ She gently brushed Shane’s forehead. ‘You help me, Shane, you call too.’
Rob heard them as he fossicked clumsily in the snow beneath some trees. He couldn’t believe he’d led his family into this. What a fool he’d been. Like a hungry fox digging its way into a chicken run, Rob clawed away at the snow around a large log. If he could get it out it would be perfect. He could use it as
a beam to rest smaller branches, twigs and leaves on. He had nearly exposed it, he was nearly there. He pulled at it to see if he could drag it from under the snow. It wouldn’t budge. He kept digging, getting closer and closer to the trunk of the tree he’d guessed it had fallen from. But, to add to his frustration, he uncovered it only to find it still attached to the tree.
He’d forgotten how deep the snow might be. The ground could be metres below and he could be halfway up the tree for all he knew. He shook his head. ‘This is hopeless!’ he growled. ‘It’s hopeless!’ Frustration erupted as he pounded the snow with his clenched fists and wept. ‘It’s useless,’ he sobbed, shaking his head. ‘Totally bloody useless! We’re all going to die here in this bloody snow and I can’t do a thing about it. It’s just going to happen. It will. It’ll just bloody well happen!’
He was a lonely figure in the darkness, pushed by wind and aching with cold. The voices of Jenny and Shane pulled him away from the edge of despair. He had to get back to them. Brushing his forearm across his face he tried to stand. He was on one knee, when suddenly, his whole body shuddered from head to toe, almost taking his breath away. ‘Oh ah,’ he gasped, trying to catch his breath. He tilted his head back, pulling air desperately into his lungs. The shuddering tingled to an incredible numbness.
Rob was terrified. He was sure that his time was up. He wanted to call to Jenny and Shane but couldn’t. He tried to heave himself up but he couldn’t move. This was not how he imagined dying would be. He hadn’t realised he’d be able to think about it, to feel it and know it was coming. Suddenly, with an overwhelming sense of relief and satisfaction, he felt a great warmth pour into his body like warm milk being poured into a cup. Then, he felt still, calm and very alert.
He was sure he must be dead. He looked down at his coat and scarf. He tugged at them, He didn’t feel dead. He felt warm and comfortable but confused. He looked around. It was still snowing, the wind was still wild. He stood up. He could feel the tips of his fingers. He wriggled his toes. He could feel those too. He was breathing steadily, evenly. It was as if someone had stuck a heater down his pants and turned it on high. He felt fabulous, absolutely fantastic!
The sound of Jenny’s and Shane’s voices reached out again to him through the darkness. The hairs on the back of his neck prickled. He rolled his shoulders. ‘I’m coming!’ he called. ‘I’m on my way.’ He trudged off smartly, feeling energetic and recharged.
Shane was still resting wearily against his exhausted mother when he heard his father’s voice coming closer and closer. ‘Here I come! I’m here! I’m nearly back.’
To Shane, his father’s voice sounded like it did when they played hide-and-seek. It was singing, almost playful. Shane peered into the darkness in the direction of the sound. He had almost closed his eyes and given in to a great tiredness that was so hard to fight. It would be so easy to give in and let it take over. But when he fixed his gaze on the dark figure of his father, the sight that greeted him nearly took his breath away. His eyes popped wide open with astonishment. His breathing quickened. He saw the tall shadowy figure of his father lurching towards him but it was who was with him that made him sit upright.
David was bouncing playfully on his father’s shoulders — his shiny black hair flapping, his arms wrapped around his father’s neck and his glowing body shedding the occasional spark.
David took one hand from his father’s neck and, smiling brightly, gave the thumbs up sign. ‘Hey, Shaney boy!’ he cried. ‘I’m back!’
Shane wasn’t sure what to think. Was he delirious? Was he dreaming? Or was it like Aunt Sue had said, dreams can predict your future. Maybe the angel David had been a dream, a warning that he was going to become an angel himself soon. Could this be his last night on earth and this the final sign? Could it?
With An Angel On Your Shoulder
Shane watched David still bouncing on his father’s shoulders just as he used to in play fights and piggyback games.
‘Don’t panic, Shane,’ David called, sensing his brother’s confusion. ‘Everything’s going to be fine. You lot look as though you could really use an angel.’
Shane said nothing. He looked up at his mother, who was confused and alarmed by his sudden movements of surprise.
‘What is it, Shane?’ she cried, her voice squealing with urgency. ‘What’s wrong?’
Shane smiled at her weakly, but warmly.
Jenny didn’t like the glazed look in his eyes. She’d seen it before. ‘No Shane! No!’
Rob heard her cry and ran as fast as the deep snow would allow. He stumbled into the shelter and knelt next to Shane. ‘Are you all right? Are you okay?’ he asked, gently stroking Shane’s forehead.
Shane watched David float from his father’s shoulders.
He squatted in front of Shane. ‘A bit of a rough ride that last bit,’ he said, flipping his hair from his forehead. He shook his head. ‘You look awful, Shane.’
Shane stared.
‘I’m really here, Shane,’ said David, clutching his brother’s arms. ‘And I know what you’re thinking, but you’re not coming with me. I’m here to save you, not take you away.’ David cupped his hands and began moulding a ball of blue light. ‘This is for healing.’ He smiled. Then he opened his hands and let the ball roll gently from his fingertips onto Shane’s chest. Shane watched his shivering body spark with a jagged web of blue light as a surge of indescribable energy and warmth raced through his veins.
A thousand useless thoughts of panic ran through Rob’s mind as Shane shook.
Then he stopped, rolled his shoulders and stretched a little. Suddenly, he sat up, grinned the broadest of grins and seemed to embrace the air in front of him.
Before Jenny could react, she felt a great warmth fill her body. She moaned softly as she shuddered and tingled.
Shane looked at her and then back at David. ‘You really are here,’ he said in a strong whisper.
David nodded, laughing.
‘What’s happening? What’s happening to us?’ Jenny implored.
Shane turned to her calmly. ‘It’s David, Mum. David’s here.’
Stunned and confused, Jenny looked at Shane. Her mouth hung open as though she was trying to think of something to say.
‘Ask them how they feel,’ chirped David, happy with his work.
‘David wants to know how you feel,’ said Shane beaming.
Rob stood up. He’d felt the warmth. He knew what Shane was talking about. He was straining his eyes, he wanted to see something: a shape, a form, anything. He reached into the darkness in front of him. ‘David …?’
Jenny was pushing her hands hard into her face. She looked at Rob, then Shane, then back at Rob. She tossed her puzzled glances from one to the other at least ten times.
They both looked great!
She felt fantastic!
Her family had been pulled from the edge of death, she was certain of that. No matter how hard she tried she could not come up with a logical explanation for how they were all now feeling. Angel intervention suddenly didn’t seem that crazy.
‘How do we know?’ she asked, rubbing her forehead. ‘We might be hallucinating or something.’
David could see he was going to have to use one of his tricks. He put his hands on his hips and turned to Shane. ‘Tell Mum to think of something, anything, and I’ll read her mind.’
‘Okay, think of something, Mum,’ said Shane excitedly. ‘David’s going to read your mind to prove that he’s here.’
Feeling a little nervous, Jenny’s mind spun with images until finally settling on her memory of David dressed in his school uniform ready for his first day at school. She thought of the photograph at home in the lounge room. It was one of her favourites. He had such skinny little legs.
David smiled as he saw the photograph appear vividly on his mother’s mind screen. He turned back to Shane. ‘Tell Mum I can see the photo. Tell her I know it’s one of her favourites. Tell, I hate it because my legs look funny.’
&nb
sp; Shane repeated what David had said and watched his mother’s reaction. Jenny was beside herself with emotion. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Shane watched David lean on his mother. Push himself into her shoulder. ‘He’s at your shoulder, Mum, your left shoulder.’
Jenny could feel his presence, his form folding warmly into her body.
Rob squatted down and stared hard at the space above Jenny’s left shoulder. ‘David, can you … Can you show me?’
Before Rob could finish, David had tossed him some energy balls.
Shane laughed as he watched the balls of light fizz through the darkness and hit his father. Rob shuddered and shook all over.
‘Hey, he got you, Dad!’ Shane cried. ‘Gee I wish you could see those things. They’re out of this world!’
‘Just keep ’em coming,’ Rob said, laughing.
‘Can’t he let us see him?’ said Jenny hopefully. ‘Just once.’
Shane looked at David.
David shook his head.
‘No, Mum,’ said Shane softly. ‘He can only show himself to me.’
Jenny clutched Shane’s arm. ‘We thought you were going crazy.’
‘So did I for a while,’ laughed Shane.
‘Just imagine,’ said Rob smiling dreamily, ‘our eldest son an angel.’
Shane roared with mocking laughter.
‘It wasn’t that funny.’ Jenny frowned.
‘No,’ said Shane, ‘but what David said was.’
‘Why? What did he say?’ asked Rob.
‘He said he’s always been an angel.’
The laughter that followed set the tone for the rest of the night. The Hamilton family were together again and began recalling times when David’s angel status was questionable indeed.
Time slipped by quickly as they chatted. David sparked them from time to time, partly for warmth, partly for entertainment. He was happy knowing that at last he’d convinced them all that he was okay and that they didn’t have to worry about him any more.
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