The Climbers

"Does it hurt when I press here?" John asked.

"No, not really. Look, I'm okay," Sean said.

John continued his examination of the boy. "How about here?"

Sean screamed, then muffled it. "No, that's not bad. You just took me by surprise, that's all."

John looked at Brenda. "I think," he said, "no, I'm sure that your son has a broken leg." He spoke quietly, tensely. He avoided saying the thoughts that bombarded him.

It had been quite a fall. Brenda had seen it. He had lost his footing when a piece of rock he was standing on sheared off the face of the mountain.

Sean had been so insistent that he come along, and finally she'd given in. She really wanted him to get along with John, and John had been so pleased with Sean's interest in climbing.

John had gone over the gear with him, questioned him all about his knowledge and experience, and agreed at last. It wasn't what he'd wanted. He'd wanted to try it first with Brenda, also a novice, before doing it all together.

John was staying very calm, but all the while he wanted to shout, "What the heck are we going to do now!" Actually there wasn't any choice. They have to get Sean back down the mountain as carefully as possible, at least until they could get into cell tower range. It would be several miles. Thank God the weather was good!

Brenda began to cry.

This was all a very bad idea. John's friends had warned him. Worse yet, Sean's dad had warned him too. He'd said Sean wasn't very good at estimating his own skill, that he thought he was a real hot shot instead of just a beginner.

Somehow, they would get through it. John wondered if they'd ever try again.