The Battle for Halcyon by Peter Kazmaier

Author:Peter Kazmaier
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Colonization Epic, Romance, Exploration
Publisher: Wolfsburg Imprints
Published: 2020-07-31T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18 Hanging in the Balance

The evening was overcast as Hanomer and Dave set out for the south end of the cliff in a small boat paddled by two Hansa. They were heading for a small shelf at the bottom of a steep rock wall where he and Hanomer used to go fishing. At the back of this shelf was a long crack that ran up about fifty yards. During one of their fishing excursions, Hanomer had climbed part way up without difficulty, but now they hoped it would carry them a good deal further.

They reached the shelf and unloaded their ropes and a couple of backpacks. Hanomer climbed up ahead. Instead of pitons, the Hansa used tough wooden stakes and a natural glue that set as hard as cement into cracks in the rock. Hanomer fastened the rope and Dave followed. His old fear of heights returned but he grimly carried on.

It was on the third leg, when disaster struck. Dave was feeling his way up the cliff when he put his weight on a knob of rock. It gave way and he plunged fifteen feet before the rope pulled him up short. He slammed into the rock face, knocking the wind out of him. He bounced off and swung freely as the ropes constricted his chest so he couldn’t breathe.

I have to get my weight off the rope.

He began to swing himself until he was able to grab a small edge. His toes groped for a foothold—any foothold. Finally he found one and pulled himself up.

“Friend Dave, are you alright?”

“Yeah, Hanomer I’m okay. I just feel stupid for leaving so much slack in the rope. I don’t think I broke anything but I’m gonna be sore tomorrow.”

The rest of the climb went without incident. When they were within about two hundred feet below the crest of the Torburg, Dave took two light gourds out of his pack. He and Hanomer began to wave them.

“Who goes there?” said a puzzled voice.

“It’s Dave and Hanomer,” called Dave. “Is that you Watson? Call Al or Floyd and send us down a rope.”

There was a whoop from the Torburg and the sound of running feet. In a few minutes, a light gourd appeared on the wall and a figure leaned over.

“Is that really you Dave?” It was Floyd’s voice.

“Yeah, it’s me. I can’t wait to see your ugly face, Floyd. Send a rope down.”

“Well I will be glad to see your ugly face. We’d given up hope and here you return in the middle of the siege.”

A long rope snaked down and Hanomer scrambled up as fast as he could run.

Dave started to climb after Hanomer.

“Dave, tie yourself on. My grandmother can climb better than you. Come to think of it, even my great grandmother can climb better than you can.”

“I didn’t know you had a grandmother. I thought Al told me, they found you under a rock.”

The rest went quickly. Dave fended off the rock with his legs and they rapidly pulled him up to the top.

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