THE CHASM 

By Tessa Harvey


    Sandra felt road beneath her feet. It felt so good. She closed her eyes in relief. Then light swept towards her. She waved frantically. The car slowed. The people inside opened a window.
    Sandra was sobbing, but managed to explain. "I can't get a phone signal," she cried. "Please, can you try?" A  woman got out of the car and tried to phone, but there was no signal. The man said "I'll go down the road a bit." Breathless, Sandra begged to be in the car and climbed in. The other lady got a torch from the boot. "I will look while you get help." It felt surreal. Darkness was deepening the mist. The woman flashed the torch. It illuminated her feet and a little bit of the path. It was enough. "Lord, you are a lamp to my feet," she prayed. As she went, she called out. There was a faint answering cry. The woman knew that voice. "Hold on Dylan. I'm coming. It's time to pray, friend."
    Brodie was annoyed. This woman had seemed to be a biddable idiot, but he had regretted taking responsibility for her. The other lass, Ariella, was much classier in his view, but what a waste of time coming up the mountain just to look at the view!
    He had expected more - perhaps a cafe. But then Ariella had left him and he had this snivelling woman. He sighed. Already he had driven down further and stopped. No phone signal again. "Listen Sandra, is it? Right, what happened to the guy you were with and what's his name?" 
"He cried out for help," she whispered, still whimpering fitfully, "and his name is Dylan."
    "Dylan!" He thought a minute. "No way am I wasting time on Dylan. Perhaps he just fell over a rock. Look, Ariella can help him. They have a car - fancy a drink, Sandra?" She glanced at him, appraisingly. "Sure, I hate this place."

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