EQMM 2016-08 by Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine

Author:Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine [Magazine, Ellery Queen’s Mystery]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

As the sun went down, an ad hoc committee consisting of myself, Dr. Nesdale, and Alice convened in Dr. Nesdale’s field tent.

“And so without a working radio,” said Alice, “we have no way of getting down the mountain except by horseback?”

“Exactly. We’ll just have to rely on our helicopter pickup point seven hundred meters further up.”

“Won’t that be dangerous for Heidi?”

“I’m concerned about continued ascent, and I’m not sure why she’s not responding to the Diamox, but I don’t see what choice we have.”

“Could one of the guides ride ahead, make contact up there, and have the helicopter meet us? Wasn’t that what you tried the radio for?”

“I was a little confused. The altitude is getting to all of us. I wasn’t taking into consideration that there’s nowhere to land in this particular area.” He motioned. “Look at it. It’s all crag and bluff. It would be too dangerous, even with a rescue sled.”

“So what do we do?”

“The best option—at least the most time-saving option—is for all of us to continue the ascent to the summit camp.”

“And at the summit camp there’s a radio?” asked Alice.

“Yes.”

“In your considered opinion, which option is most likely to give her the best outcome? Up or down?”

The terseness in Alice’s voice made me wonder if she was actually starting to believe Heidi’s ludicrous allegations against the doctor.

“I believe if I increase her Diamox yet again, a quick ascent would be in her best interests. She would get timely care.”

“Then I say we make a slow descent on horseback,” said Alice flatly.

Nesdale looked bewildered to have his experienced medical opinion so bluntly contradicted.

Alice continued, “There’s something fishy about this whole thing, Doctor. First, she accidentally falls into the stream. You make us go up the mountain because you said a storm was coming, and no storm came. She’s not responding to the Diamox. She’s not responding to the oxygen. The meter on the oxygen canister isn’t working. The radio isn’t working. And there’s no backup radio.” Alice shook her head. “That there’s no backup radio is a gross and ridiculous oversight. It just doesn’t seem possible that there isn’t one. You knew there was no cell-phone service up here. What are you doing wrong, Dr. Nesdale? If that is your real name.”

Nesdale sighed. “I see Heidi’s delusions have gotten to you, Alice.”

“The last thing we want is to bring about a fatal event by making her go up the mountain any farther. Heidi tells me you lost everything after the trial. Maybe you want a fatal event. If I lost everything at a trial, I might too.”

“I don’t know of any trial.”

“Did Hazel leave you?”

“I was never married to a woman named Hazel. Are you quite yourself, Alice?”

The old woman looked embarrassed for a moment or two. “I’m sorry, Doctor. But you must admit, it all seems rather odd.”

After Alice had gone, and the doctor and I were sharing a glass of wine, he said to me, “I don’t like that woman.”

“But is she right?” I asked.

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