Husband Material by Mayne Xavier

Author:Mayne, Xavier [Mayne, Xavier]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Published: 2014-01-22T20:00:00+00:00

THEIR DINNER was a spartan affair, served while they stood at the base of the rock whose face they had descended less than a half hour previously. Hissing propane lanterns lit the area, casting a light that was both harsh and insufficient against the rapidly approaching evening. They ate aggressively, as it had been a long day of exertion, soon to be followed by what was sure to be a sleepless night dangling from the face of a rock wall in the wilderness.

The crew began setting up the hammock that was to be their place of rest; there was very little to it, at least that Riley could see. It was made of bright-blue nylon fabric and was laced all around with ropes and grommets and other mysterious bits of hardware. It did not seem capable of holding two grown men.

“Now, normally when climbers bivouac on the ascent, they set for the night and then deploy the hammock and climb in. But since we’re just doing this for show”—the ranger rolled his eyes in the manner Riley had come to expect from people who helped manage these stunts—“we’ll get you settled in and then hoist you up. We’ll use a belay rope to keep you from hitting the rock, and then once you’re set, we’ll slack that up and you’ll end up alongside the rock, snug for the night. Sound good?”

“It sounds like hell, actually,” groaned Asher. He grinned—whether because he had been joking or because he was worried he sounded too dismal Riley couldn’t tell. But it was no surprise he wasn’t thrilled about how they were going to be spending the evening.

“Can you make sure that I get the outside spot?” Riley asked. “My friend here would like to be next to the rock.”

Asher smiled at Riley and nodded his thanks.

“Sure, mate,” growled the ranger. “Your enjoyment is my number one priority.” He stalked off to talk with the crew about the ridiculous ascent they were about to execute.

“You okay?” Riley asked once they were alone.

“I’ve had better days,” Asher replied. “But we’re still in the game, and that’s the important thing.” He looked up at the rock face, a looming darkness above them. “How bad can it be, really?”

As if in answer to this question, the ranger marched back into the glare of the lanterns. “All right, you’re going to be stuck up there in pretty tight quarters, and it’s going to be a long night. I suggest you answer the call of nature now, whether you need to or not. Once you’re up there, you’re staying up there until morning.”

Riley and Asher exchanged a woeful glance and retreated separately into the woods.

A few minutes later they gathered with the crew at the base of the sheer wall and began the process of settling into their sleeping quarters. Asher stepped first into the hammock, stretching out on one side of the anchor points that attached in the middle. Riley stepped in and began to lie down the same way, when the ranger stopped him.

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