I couldn't go on listening. The thought of that shattered transmitter which had deflected the bullet from Linn's heart was too agonizing.
My voice was hoarse. 'Listen! For Pete's sake — tell the doctor to come back! What the devil does he have to consult the pilot about! It's me he has to consult…'
The pilot's voice, rattled and uncompromising, came on. 'Captain Shotton, Doctor Lawson has been arguing with me. He says he intends to make a parachute jump to try and save Miss Prestrud…'
'Parachute jump!' It came out in a sort of croak.
'Yes. In my opinion it's plain suicide. He'll kill himself on this terrain. But he's determined to try. He's getting into harness right now. I'm prepared to give him one chance — only one run, do you understand? No dummy approaches. One — for real. I can't spare the fuel. Where's the best place here?'
My mind couldn't absorb the news. I replied dazedly. 'Where I'm standing — it's pretty soft, right here in front of the Golden Gate.'
The pilot's voice remained distant, matter-of-fact. 'My fuel's so low I also intend to jettison my lifeboat. That will reduce wind drag on the way home. It's equipped with survival gear, engine, sails. Is it any use to you?'
My mind leapt ahead. If the doctor could help Linn, I could use the lifeboat with its special equipment to get her across the channel to Marion with its met. station, communications, sick-bay, warmth, food…
'Yes, I have a use for it,' I answered tightly. 'Drop it in the water near the mouth of the cave. It will drift ashore of its own accord.'
'Roger. I'm coming in.'
I watched the big machine straighten, aim for the cave. The words of the dropping drill came over the walkie-talkie.
Turning on target — running in — doors open — distributor set — all switches on — camera on.' There was a moment's pause. Then: 'Lifeboat going — now, now, now.'
I didn't need to hear the finale: 'Lifeboat gone — in target area' because the lifeboat dropped from the machine's belly like a whale calving, its parachute billowed, and it landed spot-on 50 metres from the cave's entrance.
The machine swung round to the channel approach.
Now.
The walkie-talkie went silent.
I watched with my heart in my mouth. The plane headed out over the channel, turned, started its run-in. It was higher than before. Then it was over me. I didn't see the parachute burst from the door opposite me. The plane was gone, the parachute hung in the air.
The pilot's aim had been as sure the second time as it had the first. The doctor dropped cleanly in the grass between the two massive bastions as if he'd jumped off the top of one of them.
I raced across to him. Together we undipped the harness as he got up. He held a small case of instruments. He was young, sunburned. He had the grip of a weight-lifter and the eyes of a saint.
He didn't waste words. 'Where is she?'
I led him down to the cave and took him to Linn.
She was unconscious, muttering from the fever. We drew up the thick sweater and removed my rough bandages, which were caked with blood. The entire side of her right breast was purple and swollen.
The doctor ran his probe along the path the bullet had taken, then felt the ragged place where it had entered her chest.
He took his eyes from the wound and fixed me.
I looked the question I dared not ask.
'I think she might make it,' he said.