Inside, it was chaotic. A doctor was already treating Jordan. There were three other men in hard hats and harnesses. Max was bundled roughly to the back of the aircraft. He felt their altitude increase. The deafening sound of the engines rose as the chopper moved up towards the top of the ridge. Max knew his work was done. It was down to the professionals now. He felt the chopper bump as it touched down, then watched as Mickey, Suze, Angus and the others were helped or lifted into the chopper. They were all shivering, all pale. And they all looked at Max with an unfamiliar mixture of exhaustion and respect.

Max closed his eyes and breathed deeply. They were still closed when he felt the chopper take to the air again. He was shivering badly, reliving the abseil. The rescue guy was right. He could have killed himself. But he was aware that something else had taken over – a calm steeliness. He knew that if he found himself in that situation again, he’d do exactly the same thing. Not bad for an orphan boy.

It only took a couple of minutes to get back down to safety. Max opened his eyes just as the chopper’s landing gear touched the ground. The side door was immediately flung open and he saw the flashing blue neon lights of emergency vehicles. People were barking instructions. Paramedics in high-vis jackets helped everybody who could walk out of the chopper. Mickey and Jordan were carried on stretchers. Max was the last to leave. As he stepped out of the chopper, a paramedic directed him forward, away from the chopper’s tail rotors. The main rotors were still spinning and the downdraught was strong. They had landed in an empty car park, cordoned off by police cars. Three ambulances were waiting, and the other climbers were being carried or ushered towards them. Not knowing what else to do, Max followed them.

He had only walked a few steps, his head bowed and shoulders hunched against the downdraught, when he felt a strong hand on his arm.

He heard a voice. Male. Deep, calm and somehow strong enough to be heard above the noise without being raised.

‘Not you,’ said the voice.

3

Valley House

‘What do you mean?’ Max said.

‘You don’t understand two simple words? Perhaps you aren’t as smart as they say.’

If the man thought a put-down like that was going to have any effect, he was wrong. Max was used to fighting his corner at school and in the care home.

‘No one says I’m smart. What’s going on? Who are you?’