Jayesh gave Eddie an approving nod as the helicopter made a hurried retreat. ‘Good shot.’
‘Not that good. I was aiming for the pilot!’ The Yorkshireman grinned to make it clear he was joking, then threw away the empty rifle. ‘Okay, we’re clear! Come on!’
Jayesh led the group along the line of planks. He soon reached the bridge, making short work of the treacherous crossing. Eddie took hold of one of its support posts and leaned out from the ledge so the others could pass. ‘Everyone across, quick!’
Nina gave him a worried look, but started across the gap, still cradling the small Crucible in one arm as she held the guide rope with the other. The monks lined up ready to follow. Eddie glanced across the valley. The helicopter was returning, the pilot realising that the fugitives were now unarmed. His wife reached the far side. ‘Okay, your turn!’ he told the first monk in the queue. The man tentatively made his way on to the crossing.
Axelos, leading the remaining mercenaries towards the ladder, signalled them to stop as his radio crackled. ‘They’re going over a bridge,’ the pilot told him. ‘They can only cross one at a time, though.’
‘Can you stop them from getting across?’
‘How?’ came the incredulous reply. ‘I’m in a helicopter!’
The Greek scowled. ‘Yes, you’re in a helicopter. So use it!’
One by one, the monks reached the far side, continuing along the platforms past the waiting Jayesh and Nina. Amaanat clearly wanted to be the last across, but a younger man insisted that the abbot go before him. Reluctantly, he did so.
The last monk started to cross the moment Amaanat was clear. He had only taken a few steps when a harsh gust rocked the unstable crossing, forcing him to stop and crouch to regain his balance.
But the wind only grew stronger — and the helicopter’s roar became louder. ‘Christ, he’s trying to blow us off the bloody ledge!’ Eddie cried as the AW169 dropped towards them, hot downwash forcing him to squint into the blowing ice and grit.
The monk froze again as the bridge lurched violently. The aircraft kept descending. Eddie grabbed the rock face for support, knowing from painful experience how hard it was to hold on against the force of a helicopter’s rotor blast. ‘Keep hold of the rope!’ he yelled. The monk clawed at the line, but the wind was now pummelling him so hard that his feet slipped off the icy wood. ‘No!’ Eddie cried, seeing his hold on the rope weakening. ‘Keep hold, keep—’
Terror filled the man’s eyes — then the rope was left flapping in the gale as he plummeted into the chasm below.
But the Englishman had no time to feel rage over his death. The helicopter drew closer, angling as if to slice him up with the tips of its rotor blades—
Jayesh snatched out his kukri and hurled it at the aircraft.
It slammed against the cockpit window beside the pilot, the long blade punching straight through the thin Perspex before the broader wooden hilt jolted it to a halt. The man yelped in fear, any thoughts of attack instantly vanishing as he stared at the machete’s needle-sharp tip less than three inches from his face. He twisted the throttle to full power and yanked up the collective control lever, hauling the chopper back towards the safety of the sky.
Eddie straightened. ‘Okay, now that was a good shot,’ he called across the gap.
Jayesh blew out an aggrieved breath. ‘That was my favourite kukri. Doubt I’ll get it back!’
‘I’ll buy you a bloody gold-plated one.’
‘Might hold you to that.’
‘Just don’t tell Nina.’
‘Standin’ right here,’ said his wife. ‘Come on, quick, get across before—’
She broke off in alarm. The helicopter was still retreating, but its sudden change of direction had again set the large Crucible swinging pendulously beneath it, the hanging crystal rushing towards the mountainside like a wrecking ball. ‘Oh shit!’
Jayesh pushed her ahead of him along the platforms after the monks. Cautious steps were no longer an option — they both vaulted on to the next plank as the Crucible whooshed at them.
It reached the end of its arc, slowing almost to a stop and glancing off the rock wall with a sound like the ringing of a glass gong before falling away again. Nina watched it go. ‘Damn, that was close!’
‘Chase, hurry up!’ Jayesh shouted.
‘And here I was about to have a picnic and enjoy the view!’ was Eddie’s sarcastic reply. He started across the bridge, moving as quickly as he dared — then looked up in cold shock as the giant geode swung back towards him. The pilot had overcome his panic, realising he had a new weapon.
And using it.
The Crucible rushed at the bridge—
Eddie threw himself back on to the ledge as the massive crystal hit the crossing. Planks smashed and ropes broke like thread as it swept into the deep cleft in the rock, then arced back the way it had come.
Eddie stood to find himself facing a fifteen-foot gap over a very long fall. The only part of the bridge that had survived intact was the guide rope, still attached to the posts at each side of the chasm. ‘Oh, that’s just bloody brilliant!’
The helicopter pulled back out into the valley, its pilot satisfied with the destruction he had caused. Jayesh came back and yanked at the hanging rope. ‘This should hold! Climb across!’
‘There isn’t time!’ Eddie had already made his own assessment. Even though it had survived the assault, the supporting post on his side had been partially uprooted. He would have to make a slow and careful traversal, and with Axelos and the remaining mercenaries probably already descending the ladder, it wouldn’t be long before they could shoot at him.
He backed up along the ledge. ‘What are you doing?’ cried Nina.
‘I’ll have to jump it! Jayesh, get ready to catch me.’
‘Are you crazy?’
‘Probably!’
Nina and Jayesh retreated to make room for Eddie’s landing as he psyched himself up for the leap. The gap was only about half the length of the world long-jump record, so in theory he could make it, but he didn’t have much of a run-up — and athletes who fell short had soft sand to land in rather than empty air. ‘You ready?’ he called. The Gurkha nodded. ‘Okay, here I come!’
He burst into a run. It took only a moment to reach the end of the ledge. He leapt—
Wind shrilled in his ears as he flew across the gap — and realised he wasn’t going to make it.
He flung out his arms—
The wind was knocked from him as he hit the end of the planks at waist height. Jayesh grabbed his wrists as he fell backwards. The Nepali strained to hold him, feet slithering on the frozen wood. ‘Chase!’ he gasped. ‘I’m slipping!’
Eddie swung his legs, toecaps barking against the cliff. One caught a jagged protrusion — it was barely half an inch deep, but just enough to give him purchase. Jayesh shifted position, securing his own footing, and pulled the Englishman up; slowly at first, then faster as Nina grabbed him from behind to add her own strength.
The plank bent under their weight, the poles and ropes securing it to the cliff face creaking in protest. Eddie managed to bring one knee on to the platform, then levered himself all the way up. ‘I’m okay,’ he wheezed. ‘Get back before this fucking thing breaks!’
Nina hopped to the next platform, where she had put down the wrapped Crucible. ‘You sure you’re all right?’
Jayesh helped him stand. He grimaced as he straightened. ‘Feels like someone whacked me across the stomach with a fucking golf club, but yeah.’
‘I guess the dam’s broken on your not swearing, then.’
‘Well, after three fucking years I’ve saved up a whole bastard load of shit-cock bollocking arse-wank shitehawk buggeration and fuckery fuckington fuckety-FUCK! Twatnoodles.’