Chapters (39)
- Cover
- Title
- Author’s Note
- Glossary
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
- Six
- Seven
- Eight
- Nine
- Ten
- Eleven
- Twelve
- Thirteen
- Fourteen
- Fifteen
- Sixteen
- Seventeen
- Eighteen
- Nineteen
- Twenty
- Twenty-One
- Twenty-Two
- Twenty-Three
- Twenty-Four
- Twenty-Five
- Twenty-Six
- Twenty-Seven
- Twenty-Eight
- Twenty-Nine
- Thirty
- Thirty-One
- Thirty-Two
- Thirty-Three
- Thirty-Four
- Acknowledgments
“The paramedics did what they could on site. They’re unable to say anything more at this stage.”
“Did they have to . . . to intubate her?”
Simon nodded.
Geoffrey walked backwards, leaned against the wall and placed his head in his hands. Bruce put a hand on his shoulder. “She’ll be okay, Geoffrey. They got there in time.”
“What about Faye?” asked Diane. “Is she with them?”
“No. No room on the helicopter. Apparently she was okay. She’s walking back to Heuningbos,” said Simon. “We’ll find a way to get to her tomorrow.”
“No word about Derek then?” asked Bruce. “At Grootkloof or with Faye?”
“No. No sign of him. The medics didn’t see him but neither did they ask Faye about him. They didn’t know to ask. I’m sorry. It’s all been a bit confusing and rushed. We’ll resume the search for him tomorrow. We’re in touch with the team at Grootkloof. They’ll let us know immediately if he pitches up.”
The group was quiet.
Simon addressed Geoffrey. “Do you want to call your wife now?”
The friends watched as the two men walked away. As the door closed, Helen placed her hands on her head as if in surrender.
“It’s not good news, is it? Not about Clare or Derek,” said Bev.
Bruce sighed. “She’ll be okay. She has to be. Derek? He might still be on his way. He’d walk slowly. Or he’s realised he can’t go on and is waiting somewhere on the trail. The ravine from the river is steep, slow going. They’ll find him tomorrow. He—”
“I’ll go to the hospital with Geoffrey,” said Diane, as if to herself.
Her husband looked at her, his forehead creased. “What? Well—”
“He’s finished, exhausted. Someone has to go with him—to drive.”
“We don’t know that he’s going to want to go tonight. It’s a long drive. Let’s see what—”
“He will want to go tonight. And he should. He needs to be with Clare,” said Diane, looking into the distance.
“I’ll go with him,” said Bruce, taking her hand. “You’re knackered, too. It’s been a tough few days for us all.”
She shuddered. “God! And it’s not over yet. Okay. You go. I’ll need to be here for Faye.”
“And Derek,” said Bruce.
The women said nothing.
Thirty-Two
Thirty-Two