The Amazon Experiment by Deborah Abela

Author:Deborah Abela
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Australia
Published: 2004-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

Linden leapt out of the plane like a high diver at the Olympics and within seconds grabbed hold of Max as she began her freefall to a certain death.

‘Gotcha!’ he whispered to himself as they swung Tarzan-style through the corridor of trees. Allowing for the rope’s swing to slow a little, Linden slowly retracted the Abseiler to pull them both to safety.

Back inside the jet, Max’s life was still flashing through her mind as she opened her eyes to see Suave leaning over her slapping her cheek. Steinberger and Linden were fanning her with the bottom of their shirts. They were all asking if she was okay, but their voices wavered around her in pieces like someone was turning the volume up and down.

Something about what was happening became annoyingly clear.

‘You can stop hitting me now.’

Suave stopped and Linden sighed in relief. ‘She’s okay.’

‘Well done, Linden.’ Steinberger smiled at Max. ‘You frightened us for a minute there. Promise me you’ll be more careful in future. We’re not ready to say goodbye to you yet.’

Linden and Suave laughed quietly at Steinberger’s joke, but Max’s face burned a glowing puce. She was grateful her life hadn’t ended in a squelching pile in the middle of the Amazon jungle. She just wished she could tone down the near-death experiences she gave herself.

As Steinberger prepared to announce their next step, the jet lurched downwards in a stomachchurning creak. Insects and birds scattered again in a shrieking and panicked squall.

When Steinberger had recovered enough of his senses to be coherent, he gave his orders in a clear, precise stream.

‘Max and Linden, I need you to use your Abseilers and get down to the ground. I’ll contact Alex and tell her what has happened, and Suave, I need you to assess the damage to the engine and calculate how safe the jet is in these treetops.’

‘Right away.’ Suave leapt into action like a spring-loaded frog.

Max took her Abseiler from her pack, also eager to follow orders, until she looked outside the jet. She swooned again when she saw the distance to the ground.

‘Best thing is to not look down.’ Linden knew about Max’s fear of heights and began calmly readjusting the Abseiler harness around his waist. ‘The trick is to concentrate on every step. Ready?’

‘Yep,’ she answered, even though her real answer was no.

Linden waited until Max had prepared her Abseiler.

‘Looks like we’re set, then.’

The way he looked at her instantly made Max feel safe, like he’d somehow moved the jet closer to the ground. They both climbed outside the craft and began their slow descent. Step by step, Max concentrated just as Linden had said, until they reached the ground and fell in a relieved slump against a tree.

‘I told you it’d be okay.’ Max gave Linden a cheeky smile, enjoying the feel of solid ground beneath her. ‘Bug repellent?’

They reached into their packs and applied the spray to ward off the squadron of bugs droning around them. Linden then held out a sesame seed bar he’d brought from home.

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