Thunderhead

11

On the upper slope, three thousand feet above the plain, Carnaby and Terry hugged the rockface, working their way upward. Aside from the steepness of the incline, the going was of no more than ordinary difficulty here; the porous rock, resistant though it was to the erosive forces that had long ago stripped away the volcanic cone of which the remaining mass had formed the core, had deteriorated in its surface sufficiently to afford easy hand- and footholds. Now Terry paused, leaning against the rock. Carnaby saw that under the layer of dust, the boy’s face was pale and drawn.

“Not much farther, Terry,” he said. He settled himself in a secure position, his feet wedged in a cleft. His own arms were feeling the strain now; there was the beginning of a slight tremor in his knees after the hours of climbing.

“I didn’t figure to slow you down, Lieutenant.” Terry’s voice showed the strain of his fatigue.

“You’ve been leading me a tough chase, Terry,” Carnaby grinned across at him. “I’m glad of a rest.” He noted the dark hollows under the lad’s eyes, the pallor of his cheeks.

Sickle’s tongue came out and touched his lips. “Lieutenant—you made a try—a good try. Turn back now. It’s going to snow. You can’t make it to the top in a blizzard.”

Carnaby shook his head. “It’s too late in the day to start down; you’d be caught on the slope. We’ll take it easy up to the Roost; in the morning you’ll have an easy climb down.”

“Sure, Lieutenant. Don’t worry about me.” Terry drew a breath, shivering in the bitter wind that plucked at his snow jacket.