Page 14 of Mountain Impact

“Yeah,” Drake agreed, but made a mental note to get Kat home after this one.

He stretched his long legs, trying to relieve some of the tension that was gathering in his muscles―particularly in his right leg. He’d never told anyone that the pain in his leg had never actually disappeared. It’d faded―to the point where, on good days, he could forget about it but, after a hard day like today, his leg liked to remind him of the trauma it’d endured.

On the seat across from him, Gael leaned back with his eyes closed. Drake wondered if his colleague had managed to go to sleep like that. He wouldn’t put it past Gael―the man was a world-renowned climber, and had slept in places far worse than this. He’d let him rest for a few more minutes. Then Gael spoke.

“So, tell me about the climbers. We don’t have Jens with us, so it can’t be too bad?”

“I hope we can take care of it ourselves. Two British climbers were unlucky enough to be caught in a rockfall on the Goûter corridor. One of them is hurt. It was the partner who called us.”

“Shit.”

Drake nodded in agreement, even though Gael couldn’t see him. “Usually rockfalls happen in July and August, during heatwaves, but it’s been happening later and later in the last couple of years.”

Gael raised his head, opening his bright green eyes, a contrast against his tanned complexion. “Rémy warned me about this just last week. He and his colleagues have started avoiding the Goûter corridor wherever possible.”

Though Drake didn’t know Rémy well personally, the mountain guide and avalanche forecaster from St. Gervais had often helped their team, and there were few people in the area who knew more about these mountains than Rémy.

“I’ll speak to the colonel about this when we’re back.”

“Good luck, Drake. I’d be surprised if he didn’t already know―there’s no chance the mayor’s going to want to block off one of Chamonix’s main attractions.”

“You know how many shits I give about what the mayor wants,” Drake grumbled.

“Gentlemen, we’re getting close. I’m going to drop you off on the entrance to the couloir―you should be able to hike your way to the climbers from there. I’ll wait for you.”

Drake nodded. “Dispatch has been in touch with the climbers?”

“They’re expecting you,” Kat said.

There was no more talk as Kat took the helicopter down gently. Drake looked out the window at the small clearing where she was planning on setting them down.

The woman can land this thing on a coin.

As soon as the helicopter touched down, Drake and Gael jumped out, shouldering their large packs. The two men didn’t speak as they scrambled up to the spot where the climbers had called it in. They pushed themselves hard, knowing every minute could make the difference between life and death.

Finally, Drake saw them. His gaze was caught first by the crimson stream painted onto the rock face. He could see exactly where the climber had fallen.

Fuck. That’s a lot of blood.

He dragged his eyes away and sought eye contact with the climbers. One was lying flat on the ground, covered by a thin blue jacket. Beside him, his partner kneeled, whispering to his injured friend. Around them were a bunch of rocks, ranging in size from golf balls to tennis balls.

Drake and Gael kneeled next to them.

“My name is Drake Jacobs, and this is Gael León, from the PGHM. We’re here to help. Can you tell me what happened?”

“Thank God you’re here. Rocks started falling everywhere… one hit me on the head and I … I dropped Liam.”

“You didn’t drop me,” the one on the ground mumbled. “You caught me.”

Drake and Gael exchanged a glance.

He’s not just conscious but aware of what happened. That’s good.

“You hit your head against the rocks,” his partner sobbed.

There was true fear in the climber’s eyes. He might not have been the one to fall, but in a way watching your partner get hurt, knowing you hadn’t been able to stop it from happening, was worse.

This was the darker side of the mountains Drake loved so much―a shadowy side where the mountains could take the life of the very people who loved them most.