Before 24 Billion and Counting

Chapter19 Part 3 A possible way out and love found on the way

"Just in case of what?"

"We could need one. I know the route well, but mountains have rockfalls. It's living ground."

"Ok, lead on."

"Got your passport, money and air ticket?"

I patted the buttoned pockets, and the one for the phone, and the discs, and the data stick.

"All present."

We left by the French window.

After locking the door Ellen led us to a stairway cut near vertically into the rock, without a handrail, which disappeared over a bluff in the cliff.

"You first," said Ellen,"I want to see how fit you are. How hard I can push you. "

"How many steps?"

"Two hundred and thirteen."

"Well shan't run it, that's for sure."

"Try a quick march."

I started off well enough but the steps were a punishing foot in rise and not that regular. after a short time quick march became ceremonial, and then more suited to the pace for following a coffin.

I reached the top which intercepted a track sloping up and around the mountain, cleared some stones from a patch of ground and sat down, my breath was coming in deep gusts, and my heart was hammering in my head. I dripped sweat from every pore, and hung my head between my knees.

Ellen squatted before me and raised my head.

"You alright?"

"Yes," I got out between gasps," no embolisms or cardiac failure, and I'm still conscious."

"Have a bit of a rest. You'll do, but you should get some exercise. Don't you do any?"

"No. When Beatrice got ill the things we did together, the bike rides, walking, and swimming ceased, and when she died I just worked. Spent too much time on planes, in meetings, in hotels. And of course with the comforter bottle."

I looked up at Ellen. The faintest sheen of sweat only seemed to highlight her superb features in the sun. And she breathed evenly and stress free.

"Come on," she said,"We have some miles to make."

The day was heavenly for me. We exchanged our past lives and loves, triumphs and failures, and came to a deep understanding of one another. There seemed no reservation on either side, if side is really the right word. The track was easy and didn't require much concentration. Ellen showed me some of the reptiles and insects that we passed.

"How are we doing?" I asked at a water break when Ellen was consulting her map.

"Pretty well, I'm maybe comparing our progress with my own when out on my wildlife forays, so when I find something worth examining or photographing I can lose a lot of walking time that way. But I want to make sure we reach our campsite before dark. And get time to scavenge for the makings of a fire. I'm pretty sure we're OK."

The track would round the mountain and we were now in shade, and the cold started to come. I shrugged into the fleece Ellen handed me.

"Right," she said, "we've got a short climb and a scramble down and we'll be the right side of the ridge to get back to the trail leading to the road. And we'll be at the campsite."

The climb was uneventful, although without Ellen telling me where to put my feet it would have taken me three times as long on my own.

We clambered down the other side, now facing the setting sun. We ended up on a small plateau.