Chapter Thirty-nine
Escape from Phoenix
Graham and Nick scrabbled around in the rubble-littered rooms. Most of the furniture and fittings had been blown away through the walls opened to the elements. After consulting with Bill on the layout of the floors below, they decided to jam the heavy glass dining table that by some miracle had survived, across the doorway serving the dining room from the kitchen. Opposite this doorway on the western wall of the kitchen was a floor to ceiling narrow window devoid of it’s Navilon casing where they could feed the makeshift rope of curtains through to the window below. They worked feverishly tying the rope, struggling in the faint light from just one torch, constantly aware of the time and the threat of the next wave. Bill huddled in a corner with Veronica, nursing his wounded arm and glumly watching the proceedings, glad that the darkness shrouded his eyes from the devastation wrought on his beautiful apartment.
Nick pulled on the rope of curtains, testing its strength carefully as they tied one end around the table.‘Right, we’re ready to go.’ Graham said. ‘One of us is going to have to stay up here and lower the others down in the sling, and he’ll have to climb down the rope.’
‘That’ll be me.’ Nick replied. ‘I’m used to climbing things, we do that all the time at sea. The girls can help me lower you and Bill. Karen, you help me with Veronica, you’re the lighter of the two. I can let you down myself.’
‘Okay, let’s go then.’ Graham urged.
‘We need something to feed the rope over.’ Nick remarked as he swept away the broken shards of Navilon from the window sill. ‘Their weight’s going to pull like a lead anchor. We’ll need to brace ourselves as we lower them. It’d be easy to fall out.’
‘How ‘bout the table in the laundry?’ Veronica suggested. ‘You could upend that against the window like you did with my beautiful dining table, it’s the only other thing that survived.’ She sighed. ‘That’d give you something to lean against.’
The men were tiring quickly, it had been a frightful day and the trauma they had just experienced left their nerves quivering. With the threat of the second wave never leaving their thoughts for a moment, they struggled to place the tables. Spirits were very low, the prospect of hovering a hundred metres above the ground in the dark with a hostile wind clutching ferociously at their backs, and a frothing cauldron below, was a daunting thought to comprehend. Karen was aware of the need to keep their spirits up and was lavish with her praise for the efforts the men were displaying.
Nick warmed to her more, grateful she was there to support them, and smiled at her thankfully as he prepared the sling. He tossed it out the window to test it’s length. The cold wind flung it back against the building and it slithered crazily back and forth highlighting the risk they would be taking.
Graham wrapped another of the curtains around his waist, hoping to use it as a safety rope by tying it to something when he reached the room below. Nick and Karen helped him into the sling, checking the knots. He sat on top of the table and edged his behind out into the gaping night, carefully pushing his legs against the side of the building. Nick braced his legs against the table, grasping the rope with both hands while Karen and Veronica held tight behind him.
‘Now! Gently feed the rope.’ Graham called as he leaned out and began abseiling slowly down the wall. Cold wind lashed at his back, driving the breath from his lungs. He glanced around in the gloomy light, looking down just long enough to assess his position. He edged his way down, kicking his body away from the building just a little as he descended. He could see the dark opening looming below him and gave one last kick to push himself out far enough to throw him into the window opening.
He tumbled through the entrance and lay on the floor breathing hard. He found himself in what remained of the laundry on this floor. He couldn’t make out all the details, but he could see the washing machines in a far corner not far from the window. He slipped out of the sling and gave it three tugs to signal to Nick to pull it up, and staggered over to the corner and the washing machines. He unwound the curtain from his waist and tied the end of it to one of the machines.
Nick felt the rope slacken in his hands, felt the three tugs and realised Graham had reached his target. He leaned over the edge of the table waving the torch, waiting until he could see Graham signal from below. Carefully he pulled on the rope to raise the sling. As he watched it ascend he glanced down to the ground. He could see the white caps of the sea below where the gardens and lawn should have been. Silver threads of moonlight danced on boiling froth. So! Just as he thought. It hasn’t receded. He couldn’t tell the depth of the water, but it was there, proof his theory was right, the level of the sea had risen! He shivered and returned his attention to the sling, pulling it back into the room.
‘C’mon Bill. You’re next. Veronica are you okay?’
‘I’m fine thanks’ Nick.’ She said, easing Bill into the sling.
‘Bill, you’ll need to use your legs to push yourself out from the wall as you go down, do you think you can handle that?’
‘Sure, no problem. I’m tough. I’ll be down there helping the girls inside.’ He replied putting on a brave face.
With great effort they heaved his dead weight onto the top of the table edge.
‘Okay, Bill – careful now.’ Nick said as he readied himself. ‘Off you go!’
Bill successfully kicked off and as Nick took up the strain he heard him groan with pain. The rope stopped momentarily while Bill rested to get his breath, then moved off again, jerking sharply as he kicked away repeatedly.
Pale moonlight flickered into the room below, and Graham watched as the shadow of Bill’s feet appeared below the window lintel. As they came closer he reached out, grabbed his legs and manhandled him inside. Pain shot through Bill’s body, and he cried out in agony as Graham carefully edged the sling inside and released the ropes. The two struggled across the room to safety, where Bill, maintaining his bravado waved him away. ‘I’m okay, mate. Help the others.’ He grunted.
Minutes later Veronica followed, shaken but unharmed. Her leg was bleeding again, cuts opened up by the pressure as she kicked against the wall during the descent.
Upstairs, Nick helped Karen into the sling. Without help, lowering her was going to be a strain. Exhaustion was setting in and Nick could feel his strength waning. He kissed her lightly on the cheek as she stepped over the edge, surprising himself with the warmth he felt inside his chest. ‘Take it slowly.’ He instructed. ‘Before you kick out each time, wait for a moment so I can gather my strength.’
She grimaced at him and without looking down kicked off with a jerk. Every muscle in Nick’s arms stood out like twisted knotted ropes as he took the strain. She was heavier than she looked! Thankfully the rope stopped, and he gathered more strength waiting for the next pull. Perspiration oozed from his body, and his hands shook as he firmly clutched the rope. He prayed he would not lose his grip, he did not want to test the strength of those curtains and knots should she suddenly drop. A minute later he saw she was down and gratefully let go the rope, falling back on the floor to catch his breath with relief. Now it’s my turn. He thought. He fumbled around in the dark to find the extra rope and tied it to the sling with the other end around his waist around his waist thus stopping him if he should fall. Climbing down that rope was not going to be any picnic. He worked quickly, and moments later, stood poised on the edge, testing the rope. It was then that he noticed several tears in its length. There was no more rope, so a replacement was out of the question. He would just have to chance it. The sweat that drenched his body minutes before cooled, leaving him chilled.