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‘She fell, and Deacon, we’re very worried about her, and it’s utter chaos out here.’
I caught the panic in her modulation.
‘I want to help, but I need facts, Yael,’ I muttered, pacing the deck. ‘Is she stable?’
‘She’s in agony, Deke. It’s her right leg. We think she’s broken her tibia. We’re not sure because while we have first aid, we don’t have a medic or an X-ray machine at camp. Meanwhile, we have it wrapped in towels and elevated on her cot.’
‘Is she awake?’
‘She is. I’ll put you on.’
A ragged breath drifted across the satellite link, followed by a weak, thinned-out gasp that made my stomach churn.
‘D?’
‘I’m here, Ana,’ I said, my alpha protective drive redlining. ‘Talk to me, malkia.’
I used the Swahili term for queen.
In times of crisis, we always reverted to our old endearments, as emotion hit hard.
‘It hurts,’ she whispered, her husky voice laced with pain. ‘I fell; I can’t walk on it, and it’s swollen, from below the knee.’
‘You need a hospital,’ I muttered. ‘Is anyone sending a medical rescue out to you?’
‘Not that we know of. We’ve reached the editors at Panoramik, but they’re saying their hands are tied. The Ethiopian government is restricting all air traffic in the Afar region, the Omo Valley, and beyond until the ash cloud lifts. I also tried Sue at the King & Knight Agency and our travel insurance company, but they can’t seem to help either.’
Fuck.
‘Ana, I’ll start on a plan to fetch you home, OK?’
‘Thank you, Vega,’ she breathed.
‘Babe, put Yael or Baz back on, and stay calm. I’ve got you.’
‘Merci,’ she murmured. ‘I’m calmer now that you’ve called.’
‘Good. Keep it that way; I’ll bring assistance, promise. Anyone close by that I can speak with about logistics?’
‘Baz. I’ll pass the phone to him.’
Her colleague’s deep Australian growl replaced Ana’s pained, hoarse whisper.
‘Hey, Deacon.’
‘She sounds in agony,’ I muttered.
‘She’s in and out of it, mate. I gave her more Paracetamol a few minutes ago. The local guide, Salim, is first aid certified, and he bandaged the leg and wrapped it in towels, but she probably needs an operation or cast to set it.’
‘What’s the medical evacuation plan?’ I demanded.
‘The region has no nearby clinic or hospital that can handle her injury,’ Baz stated, repeating what Ana told me. ‘We could attempt the drive to Addis, but the roads are shit.’
Yael jumped back on the call, on speaker.
‘She’d be in agony with all the bumps and ruts. We risk her bleeding out more and causing her broken bone more harm during a rough overland haul.’
‘So you’re trapped,’ I snarled, annoyed at their situation and riled up as I stalked back inside the villa. ‘Give me the map coordinates of your camp.’
