Spiral and Torn Books 1 and 2 of The Salzburg Saga Trilogy

by D. U. OKONKWO

  “Because of the weather,” Jake said, his eyes flat.

  Nina couldn’t move. She felt sure that her heart had stopped beating with dread.

  “The weather?” Neil stared at Jake. “What about it?”

  “Snow’s coming; probably a blizzard.” With sick fascination, Jake looked back up at the planes. His eyes followed the fleet as they headed back east, taking their hope with them. “Blizzards create a whiteout,” he said. He spoke automatically from his knowledge and experience, striving to keep all feeling out of his words. “That makes it impossible for piloting.”

  Nina pressed her chapped lips together, fighting for calm. “Is that why they’ve turned back?” She turned away from the view of the departing jets to meet Jake’s bleak eyes.

  “It’s risky to fly during a blizzard.” The fact Jake understood that didn’t make it any easier for him to deal with. “If they attempt to rescue us now, no one will make it out of here alive.”

  “And what about us?” Neil bit out. “How the hell are we supposed to survive?”

  “We have the cave,” Jake said without inflection, and like Nina, finally averted his eyes from the departing jets. “It’ll have to do. Again.” He wouldn’t’ mention their lack of food situation. Snow was no sustenance substitute, and he found the less he discussed it, the easier it was to bear. They would, he was sure of it, all resemble skeletons if they ever made it out of here.

  The air had thinned too, he noted suddenly, growing damp around them. “Snow will likely hit us in less than an hour.”

  “I don’t want a weather report,” Neil ground out. “I want out of here.”

  They all jumped when a howl of wind sliced through the air.

  “We better get inside,” Jake shouted over the wind.

  Unable to move, Nina stood rooted to the spot. “They’ve left us. They just left us out here.”

  Jake took her elbow as the first flakes of snow began falling. He knew the blizzard would soon follow. “They’ll find their way back here.” I hope. “They didn’t have a choice; they had to leave.” He grimaced as a flash of lightning speared through the sky like golden gunfire. They all jumped. “We don’t have a choice, either. We have to get back in.”

  ––––––––

  Hazel stared at the television screen. It had been two hours since Mr. Gwynne’s call. Though they had been watching the News around the clock, the media didn’t bring any more news that Gwynne had delivered. All they did was update with the same information, adding drama and sensationalism to keep people watching. She had since spoken to Anna, Nina’s assistant. The other woman’s tears on the other end of the line making Hazel cry all over again.

  The feeling of uselessness had returned, although in all honesty it had never fully left. “Mr. Gwynne is able to stop himself from going crazy because he’s doing something,” she told her brothers. “He’s in touch with the team. He’s probably had a part in helping to plan the rescue schedule. He’s doing something.”

  Seb’s brows drew together. “It can’t be easy having to give bad news to the different families, though. That’s also something that he’d doing, and I don’t envy him the task.”

  “I’m not saying it’s easy.” She drew out a long breath. “But he’s being kept busy, and in a way, it must be helping. All we can do is sit here. They–” She broke off as her phone rang. This time Seb snagged it and put it on speaker mode. “Mr. Gwynne?”

  “Yes, it’s me.” Frank’s tone was harried, and he was breathing heavily.

  Something had happened, Hazel knew it, and her gut clenched in trepidation. “Have they found them?”

  “The team tried to look for a place to settle the plane but confirmation of a blizzard made them turn back.”

  “A blizzard?” Seb echoed, and closed his eyes.

  “If it is our guys the team has seen,” Frank continued in a foreboding tone, “they...they can’t be rescued today, or even tonight. The blizzard will eradicate all visibility for hours, making it impossible for the team to see.”

  “What are you saying?” Hazel’s hand clenched Alistair’s. “They can’t–?”

  “Let him finish,” Seb said, and opened his eyes.

  She clamped her lips together.

  “The team has to tread carefully,” Frank continued. “The rescue team need a few hours to accomplish a safe rescue without endangering any of their own team. They can’t do that in a blizzard.”

  Hazel swallowed.

  “I’m so sorry, but I thought you should know. They’ll likely start again tomorrow.”

  Hazel looked at her brothers. “Another night.” How much worrying, fearing, sitting and thinking had Nina and the others already been put through? What about injuries? Neen could have suffered some sort of brain damage or internal injury. Jake hadn’t mentioned it, but...

  “You said they’ll start again tomorrow?” Seb asked Frank. “Will they remember the spot with the markers?”

  “Most definitely,” Gwynne assured. “Now it’s just a matter of the weather holding up so they can make it back there safely. The rescue team feel sure that the snow cave they built must be close by.”

  Relief flooded through Hazel like adrenaline.

  “But if the blizzard comes on,” Gwynne continued, “it’ll make it virtually impossible to find them–”

  Alistair snatched up the phone and took it off speaker mode. “Mr. Gwynne, they’ve been out there for longer than anyone should, Mr. Gwynne. They need to be found. They–” He broke off to listen for a moment. “I understand, but–”

  “Put it back on speaker,” Seb said, his voice urgent.

  “...call you tomorrow,” Frank was saying when Alistair returned the phone to speaker mode. “I want those guys out of there as much as you do. But we can’t force the rescue teams because we have to think about their safety, too. Sit tight and I’ll be in touch.”

  Chapter 11

  ––––––––

  “Have you heard from Nina’s boyfriend Alex since we went to Nina’s flat?” Becky asked.

  “No.” Hazel exchanged a sour look with her brothers Alistair and Seb who sat on the sofa across from her. She shifted her gaze to her phone resting on the living room table. “He sent a text the other day; asking if I’d heard any news. I texted him back and told him all I’ve heard is what has been reported on the News. ”

  Becky nodded.

  Katie tried to stifle a yawn but failed, and Hazel had to smile at her friend's rueful expression. Hazel wished she was sleepy, in one way it would allow her tangled mind a few hours respite. But she felt guilty for keeping her friends up. "We should all go to bed."

  “Yeah,” Alistair said, though he appeared just as disillusioned with the idea as Hazel.

  With murmuring grunts and shuffling of feet they all began to head out when Hazel’s phone shrilled in her hand.

  “Yes? Hello? Neen?” Hazel gasped out the words so quickly they came out sounding as one single word. She didn’t realize that the others had gathered anxiously around her. She didn’t feel the comforting hand Seb laid on her shoulder, didn’t see Alistair making rapid gestures to her.

  “Is that Nina Bishop’s sister, Hazel?” came a deep male voice.

  Hazel’s shoulders slumped. It was definitely not her sister. It’s not Neen, she mouthed to the others, and saw their expressions fall. Who was calling her at this late hour? “Yes this is Nina’s sister, Hazel,” she muttered, meeting Seb’s narrowed eyes. I don’t know who it is, she mouthed, and he nodded. She refocused on the caller. “Who’s calling?”

  “It’s Derek Akura; Angela’s husband. I got your number from Frank Gwynne,”

  “Oh.” Hazel smiled. Angela’s husband, she mouthed to the others. She switched the phone to speaker mode and returned to the sofa. The others crowded around the phone when she placed it on the coffee table.

  “Hi Derek, it’s been a while,” she greeted. “I haven’t seen you since I went to you and Angela’s wedding wit
h Neen years ago.” She smiled at the memory, which, she rapidly calculated, had been about five years ago. She tried to sound upbeat, tried to let that happy memory flood her words now, but it was difficult. She wished they were reacquainting over something positive. But she knew why he was calling; the same reason why her two backpacking brothers Seb and Alistair were here. “I’ve put the phone on speaker because my two brothers and a few of my university friends are here with me.”

  “That’s good that you’re not alone,” he said. “Sorry, I know it’s late to be calling, but–”

  “No, no.” Alistair rushed to say. “It’s fine, really. None of us are asleep. I’m glad you called. I’m sorry for what’s happened.” Both Seb and Alistair sat on the sofa now too, leaning forwards, elbows on their knees and their hands clasped tightly together.

  “You didn’t cause this,” Derek stated. “None of us did. This is something you never imagine will happen to you or anybody that you love.”

  “No,” Hazel murmured, “I’m glad you called. It’s good to have someone else who knows what we’re going through. How are you holding up?”

  “I’m fine,” he answered with surprising calm. “I simply refuse to believe that I won’t see my wife again.”

  Hazel exchanged stunned glances with the rest of them, the rest of the group looking both surprised and a little in awe of his confidence. That was some faith, she thought, and was just about to ask him where he got it from when he spoke again, his peaceful calm tone making her more relaxed by the minute. “Are you in regular contact with Frank Gwynne too?”

  “Yes,” Hazel answered. “He’s been calling us to keep us updated.” She rubbed the back of her neck wearily. “I suppose he’s been doing that with you too. He said he would.”

  “He has. And I’ve had to be extremely creative with explaining to my little girl where her mother is. She expected her to call, Ange always does.”

  “So does Nina,” Hazel muttered. “That’s how I knew something wasn’t right.” She expelled a long breath. “Have you been able to do anything to help distract you?”

  “Work has helped. I was actually due to be away on business, but that hasn’t been possible with a toddler with no one to look after her if I go.”

  Yet the truth was, Hazel thought, flying was the safest means of travel. What had happened with Nina’s jet baffled her. She wanted to get all the facts, all the details.

  “I better let you guys head off,” Derek said. “I just wanted to call and touch base.”

  Hazel smiled. “I’m glad you did. Please feel free to call again whenever you want to talk.”

  “Yes; do,” Alistair and Seb seconded.

  “Thanks. Appreciate it.” Derek rang off.

  Her phone battery was almost gone, Hazel noted, but she’d rather leave it on and recharge it than turn it off and miss a call from Gwynne. On a deep sigh she rose to her feet again.

  “He sounded nice,” Becky remarked, “and very calm.”

  “Super calm, and confident that Angela will be okay.” Hazel sent her brothers a direct look. “We could do with more of that. That’s the only thing that will keep us sane through all this.”

  Chapter 12

  ––––––––

  Nina’s eyes fluttered open. It took her several moments to get her bearings, and when she did, she realized that she, Neil and Jake, had fallen asleep. Her head had been resting on Jake’s shoulder. His head drooped down onto his chest, and opposite them Neil dozed, his mouth slightly open. After the paralyzing disappointment of seeing the rescue copters leave them behind, they’d returned to the cave and collapsed in the corridor.

  She sat up carefully so she wouldn’t jostle Jake, rolling her shoulders to ease the stiffness there.

  A tall figure materialized in front of her, and after a moment, she realized it was Parker. “What are you three doing out here?” he asked.

  Suffering, she thought, but instead said, “We went out.”

  Jake stirred then opened his eyes. On a yawn, he ran a hand over his beard stubble and sat up straighter.

  “Oh, you went out for water?” Parker said with a frown, and made a distasteful face.

  “Initially.” She hesitated, and then Jake spoke up.

  “Rescue helicopters came by,” he relayed. “Three of them.”

  Parker’s eyes bulged with hope. “Here? You’re sure?” Not waiting for a response, he headed out of the cave.

  Jake squeezed his eyes shut. “Would we really be sleeping out here if we could be on those copters heading out of here?”

  Unable to respond due to the pain in her head, Nina said nothing.

  Parker returned a few minutes later, expression bemused. “They’re not there anymore. It’s snowing.”

  Jake glanced at the two cigarettes Parker held. “Those will have to wait then.”

  Parker nodded absently. “When did you see the helicopters? What happened to them?”

  “A few hours ago. They left.”

  Parker’s lips thinned at Jake’s brief explanation. “So they weren’t for us?”

  Jake dug the heels of his palms into his gritty eyes. “Jets by Gwynne has never needed to employ the services of a search and rescue team while I’ve worked with them, but I know the planes we saw are our company's preferred list. They probably heard weather reports that said it would snow, You lose all visibility when that happens. They were...right to turn back. “

  “You should have woken the rest of us,” Parker said, not bothering to hide his displeasure at being left out.

  “What for?” Neil asked. “Nothing happened.”

  Parker didn’t appear mollified. “So what happens now?”

  “We wait,” Jake said flatly. “And hopefully when the weather improves...they’ll return.”

  “And if they don’t?” Parker flicked a glance toward the entrance of the cave. “Have you seen what it’s like out there right now? I couldn’t see a thing through all the snow.

  No one responded, and Nina struggled to her feet. “I need to go check on Ange,” she said softly.

  Neil, stirring, had obviously caught the tail end of the conversation. “I’ll come and look in on Ange with you, Neen.” His voice was raspy from sleep.

  “I’ll join you,” Jake said.

  Angela, her face slack and her eyes tightly closed, seemed to Nina to be breathing more shallowly as she lay stiffly on her sleeping platform. She hadn’t moved since she had been placed there the day before. Did the others detect the same thing? Nina wondered. She wanted to ask them but at the same time was too afraid of voicing her concern. Believe that she’ll be okay. Act like they’ll be okay, that’s what Angela would say, Angela’s husband too

  Jake pressed two fingers against Angela’s throat and couldn’t quite control his grimace. “Still...there, but it feels faint. Better check her temperature again.”

  Parker’s eyes were grim. “I can get the thermometer. Where is it?”

  “My rucksack,” Jake answered absently “Small inside pocket. Near the door of my room.”

  Justin appeared in the doorway, his cheeks sallow and his hair poking out in different angles. Unshaven for days like the other men, beard growth covered his face. He frowned down at Angela. “Update?” he asked them.

  “She’s–” Neil began, then trailed off, his eyes narrowing at something over Nina’s shoulder.

  Nina turned, seeing Parker walking towards them with the strangest expression on his face. While he held the thermometer in his free hand, it was what looked like a photo that he also held which had captured his attention, his face a mask of confusion and disbelief.

  Jake reached for the thermometer. “Great, give me–” He broke off when he spotted the photo. He stiffened, and his hand dropped to his side. “Where the hell did you get that?” he bit out furiously. “Were you snooping through my things?”

  Stunned, the rest of them looked from Parker to Jake and back again.

  Parker’s head snapped up, and he look
ed at Jake as if seeing him for the first time. “What is this?” His strangled voice made everyone to stare at him. “All this time we’ve been out here, and you’ve said nothing.”

  Jake jaw worked but no words came out. His eyes remained fixed on the black and white photo.

  “What’s going on?” Justin demanded, but neither Parker nor Jake seemed to hear him.

  “Uh...” Neil slowly took the thermometer from Jake and tended to Angela.

  Clearly annoyed at the way Jake and Parker were staring at each other, Justin snatched the photo from Parker’s trembling hand, turning it over at the back. A moment later, he looked up at Jake in confusion.

  Confused too, Nina leaned over to see the photo. She saw a black and white photo of a small boy whom she assumed was a much younger Jake, and a woman beside him with her arm around his waist. Jake looked to be about five or six, and he and the woman were standing in what looked to Nina to be a park. When Justin turned the photo over again, Nina read the words: Me and Euan, 1983, Kew Gardens.

  “That’s you with my ex-wife,” Parker finally managed. “We divorced in 1980.”

  Nina’s eyes narrowed, her gaze leaping up to Parker. Jake’s face was stiff, his eyes cold on Parker.

  “So?” Jake demanded.

  He sounded defensive, Nina thought. Going to Neil where he had slid the thermometer in Angela’s mouth, she waited for the reading, still keeping a curious eye on Jake and Parker.

  “What’s going on?” Neil asked her softly from the corner of his mouth.

  Parker shook with an emotion that made Nina stare at him. “And your name is Euan? That’s your actual first name?”

  Nina had never seen Jake look so uncomfortable. His eyes had taken on a wary, hunted look, and he was obviously trying to choose his words carefully before answering. “Yes, but I go by Jake.”

  “Euan was my father’s name,” Parker said deliberately. He swallowed. “Your mother would’ve known that. She got on well with my father when we were married.”

  Nina gasped, the pieces starting to form a picture in her head. She and Neil exchanged stunned looks.