Page 53 of Larapinta

Sandra suddenly felt inadequate. She’d found the climb really hard and knew there was worse to come.

‘Sandy?’ A gentle hand touched her back and she turned around. ‘Have a big, slow drink. I think you’re a bit dehydrated. Have you got a headache?’

She frowned and nodded slightly as Graysen led her over to the shade. He opened her pack, took out her drink and passed it to her.

Gradually as the fluid hydrated her, she began to feel better. ‘Thank you.’

‘Andrew won’t be far behind, and you can eat something too. I’ll ask if we can have morning tea here. I think we’re all in need of some food.’

‘I’m sorry. I think it was my mood and my attitude that brought that on. I feel okay now. Much better.’

‘Good.’ Graysen touched her face gently. ‘I thought I’d done something to upset you. Maybe overstepped the mark last night?’

‘No. Not at all. I thought you’d regretted it.’

‘Not one little bit.’ His rugged face creased in a grin and Sandra’s nerve endings jumped. ‘In fact, I was hoping to try out some more star photography tonight.’

‘Sounds good.’ This time she smiled. ‘If I get there before sunrise! Those cliffs ahead have put the fear of God in me.’

‘One step at a time, Sandy.’

‘What were you and Paul arguing about before we left?’

‘I’m pretty sure it was Paul interfering with my camera.’

‘Really? How rude.’

‘He denied it, of course. I really don’t like them. Speaking of which’—Graysen frowned—‘where are they? Andrew asked us all to wait here.’

‘P.D. must have gone ahead with them. He’s not here either.’

‘Have another drink. I’ll go and ask Zed.’

***

Graysen had been worried about Sandy all morning. She wasn’t her usual chirpy self, and he knew he’d walked too fast for the first kilometre; he’d been walking off the anger after the words he’d had with Paul.

Zed was lying on his back under the shade of a rocky overhang.

‘Where did Paul and Cecily get to? Have they gone ahead with P.D.?’

Zed sat up and frowned. ‘No, Cecily rolled her ankle about half an hour into the trek. P.D. and Paul made a carry chair with their hands and were taking her back to Standley Chasm to get help.’

Graysen stared at him. ‘They didn’t pass us.’

‘They must have. They turned around and went back that way.’

‘Shit. What if they’ve fallen?’

Zed pushed himself to his feet. ‘They couldn’t all fall.’

Graysen turned around and looked back along the ridge that led to the lookout. Andrew came into view followed closely by Clive and Jenny.

Graysen left Zed and hurried across to Andrew. ‘Hey, did you guys pass P.D. and Paul and Cecily?’

‘No, why?’ Annoyance crossed Andrew’s face as he folded his arms. ‘Don’t tell me they kept going?’

‘Zed said Cecily rolled her ankle and they turned back that way.’ Graysen pointed back to Standley Chasm in the distance.