Free Fleeced by Hazel Edwards Page B

arrived. Dad hugged her and offered to carry her down the mountain.
    â€˜What happened?’ Surprisingly Mum sounded calm. She was great when things went wrong.
    â€˜Bertha’s height. And the high backpack.’
    It was Christopher who first realised what had happened. Bertha was so tall, that when she turned to point out something about the view, her pack turned too. Amy was shorter. The backpack hit her.
    An accident. Amy had been clobbered by a backpack. It just happened to belong to Ms Tree.
    â€˜My ankle hurts,’ admitted Amy. She hobbled. ‘ But I’ll be able to walk, slowly.’
    The path was crowded with packs and people.
    â€˜No.’ decided Zoë.’ Your ankle’s twisted, and you’ll have to be carried down the alternative path. With an injury, this path’s too dangerous.’
    Already Zoe had radioed ahead to Quinton Lodge. Then from the First Aid kit, she put ice on the ankle.
    â€˜Let’s spread the load around,’ said Adam the other guide.’ And I’ll carry Amy.’ He gave his pack to Zoe.
    â€˜Piggyback time Amy.’ Dad offered again, but Adam was fitter.
    The muscles in Adam’s legs showed as he sat on his haunches. Amy was loaded onto his back.
    â€˜Put your arms around my neck. But don’t choke me.’
    Amy clung, embarrassed. Her ankle didn’t belong to her. She could feel his warmth and there was a faint smell of sweat. He stood, the strain showing on his thighs.
    Zoe slung Amy’s pack on top of her own and Adam’s.
    â€˜Okay Amy ?’ asked Adam. ‘Let’s move.’
    Being carried by Adam was like the time Amy went camel- riding. She tried to move with his rhythm of walking. Like suddenly growing an extra set of legs.They stopped a lot on the steep path down to the lodge. In places, the water made the rocks extra slippery.
    Adam had a great sense of balance. But sometimes drips went down the back of Amy’s neck. She tried to make herself as light as possible. She helped push back branches. But she could hear Adam breathing heavily.
    â€˜Hi,’ a voice echoed from below.
    Sandy, another guide came up to meet them. ‘Want to swap horses?’ he offered to Amy.
    She wasn’t sure what to say. She wanted to give Adam a rest, but she didn’t want him to think she was ungrateful.
    â€˜Amy can stay with me if she likes, ‘ offered Adam. ‘ But it’d help if you can lead us through the easier parts.’
    So Sandy led them down, holding back branches and choosing the safer rocks.
    Walkers were spaced out along the wet track. In some steep places, it was hard to decide which was the safer route. So they tended to catch up at the tricky crossings.
    They waded through one creek and climbed up the slippery path, holding the rope handrail. A painted sign said 2 M. Quintin Lodge.
    â€˜Not two miles more!’ said Amy, concerned. Perhaps she should have taken Sandy’s offer.
    â€˜Two minutes, not two miles.’ said Zoe thankfully. The rain was heavier. The trampers kept plodding until they reached a clearing, with several huts ahead. Smoke was coming from the chimney.
    â€˜The Lodge. They hold an annual golf game there,’ explained Zoe. ‘ Unusual. Newspaper balls and tree trunks for clubs.’ She was talking to make Amy think of anything other than her ankle. Or so Amy thought. She noticed that Quintin Lodge had an airstrip. KEEP CLEAR ALL AIRCRAFT AND GOLFERS was the sign.
    â€˜Golf!’ said Gertrude happily. ‘Maybe someone will play with me.’
    â€˜Not just now,’ said Jon.
    Sounding like an egg-beater, the police helicopter landed, just as they reached the hut veranda. Gratefully Amy slid off Adam’s back.
    â€˜Why is it the police helicopter?’ asked Christopher. ‘Has a crime been committed?’
    â€˜No, it’s just the search and rescue people,’ explained Adam.
    â€˜We’ll see you at the