Free Witch Crag by Kate Cann Page A

.” She set off. There was a dim light from the cloud-covered moon, but she could have made her way in the pitch dark, she knew the route so well. She went slowly, leaving each foot in place until she was sure Raff had marked it. She had to trust he was doing the same to Quainy.
    Slowly, they ascended. Up, up, until the bare rock gave way to welcome scrub at the top, scrub that could be got hold of. Before long Kita was hauling herself on to the familiar flat near the gorse and brambles, and Raff was right behind her, then he too hauled himself up.
    But Quainy was clinging to the steep bare rock below, motionless. “I’m sorry!” she whimpered.
    â€œShe’s frozen!” gasped Raff.
    â€œQuainy, please ,” hissed Kita, “you have to move!”
    â€œI’m sorry!” Quainy croaked, again.
    Kita felt panic rising in her, rising like a storm – then the panic seemed to solidify inside her, dark, strong and powerful. She lay flat and wriggled her shoulders over the edge of the rock. She could see that Quainy was gripping a jut of rock very tightly with her left hand. “Sit on my legs!” she barked at Raff.
    â€œ Kita —”
    â€œSit right up high, the top of my legs. Hold me, and hold the gorse. Do it! ”
    He obeyed, sitting on her thighs, holding on to her shoulders with one hand, a thick gorse branch with the other. Then Kita stretched down, and down a bit further, stomach muscles hard and straining. She focused all her energy on her friend, linking with her, willing her courage. Then she said, firmly, “Quainy, reach up with your right hand. I’m here. You don’t have to let go of that rock. Just your right hand.”
    After what seemed an age, Quainy’s hand, shaking badly, came creeping up the rock face towards Kita, who stretched some more, then seized it with both her hands, and said, “OK, I’ve got you. We’ve both got you.” Kita felt her hands grow warm; she felt as though she was sending strength into Quainy. “Open your eyes, dearling,” she ordered. “See that rough bit of rock, just above your left hand. Let go, and get hold of it. Now! ”
    Another terrible, dragging, shaking age.
    â€œ Quainy! Now! ” cried Kita, putting all her force into the words. And Quainy lurched, and Kita, tugged violently, thought for a horrible moment that they’d both hurtle down, then she breathed again as she felt Raff steady her, secure her. Anxiously, she peered past Quainy, down at the central yard. It was still cloaked in darkness; no one was moving; there was no sound.
    â€œNow your left foot on that jutting bit, where your left hand was,” she said. “Nice and steady. . . Up, up. . . Yes . . . now I can. . . Pull, Raff!”
    A sudden desperate scramble from Quainy, a huge, muscle-tearing tug from Kita and Raff, and Quainy was collapsing safe beside them, trembling all over.
    â€œOh, thank you ,” she croaked. “ Thank you. Oh, Kita. . . I’m sorry, I can’t do this, I’m so sorry, you go on, go without me—”
    â€œ Shut up! ” crooned Kita, as she hugged her close. “Just shut up, you’ve done it, you idiot, you’ve done it! Well done, Quainy!”
    â€œWell done you two . . . Oh, I was a mess . . . a terrified mess!”
    â€œBut you overcame it! Now let the panic die down and then, trust me, a very good feeling will come in. I remember that from the first time I climbed up here.”
    Raff was crouched on the edge, scanning the hill fort below. “No movement,” he whispered. “No sound. We’ve got away with it.”
    â€œHear that, Quainy? No one heard us. No one saw us creeping up the rock face like sheep turned inside out.”
    Quainy giggled, and Kita gently let go of her, and said, “We’re fine. Really fine.” She grabbed the food she’d hidden in the brambles and crammed it into the woollen bag on