The Fixer by Gary R Hamilton

Author:Gary R Hamilton [R. HAMILTON, GARY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Troubador Publishing Ltd

Two hours into their hike, Kenneth stumbled and fell. ‘Argh! Ow!’

Neville ran back and stooped at Kenneth’s side. ‘What happened?’ Everyone crowded around to see what had happened. ‘Stand back people! Give him some room!’ Neville turned back to Kenneth, ‘Where does it hurt?’

‘My right foot is killing me. I bucked my toe on a rock. I didn’t think I hit it that hard, but my foot is really throbbing.’ Kenneth grimaced.

‘OK. Let’s take a look.’ Neville helped Kenneth take off his shoe and sock. Kenneth’s toes looked swollen as numerous flashlights shone on them. ‘Can you take off the other shoe so we can compare your two feet?’

Kenneth removed his left shoe and sock.

‘Yup. Looks swollen.’ Neville looked at the shoes that Kenneth was holding. ‘Are those new shoes?’

‘Yes. Why?’

‘Ha. Don’t you know that you don’t buy new shoes to go hiking, especially when you are going to travel across terrain like this? No wonder your feet are swollen.’ Neville shook his head, as did everyone standing around peering down at Kenneth. Numerous ‘tisks’ and ‘tutts’ could be heard murmuring through the group.

‘OK. I guess I’m the only one who didn’t know that. Can’t change that now. What do we do now?’ Kenneth said sheepishly.

Neville stood, shaking his head and walked around.

‘Well? Any answers?’ Kenneth asked impatiently.

‘Hey, no need to get short with me. I wasn’t the one to go and buy new shoes and corn mi toes,’ Neville snapped back.

Kenneth tried to get to his feet, but stumbled and fell back to the ground. Neville reacted and started to walk towards Kenneth. This caused the crowd to take a step back, and collectively hold its breath. Professor Jackson quickly jumped in between the two men. ‘Come, come. Let’s not get carried away with the testosterone exhibition gentlemen.’ Kenneth tried to get up again, and this time Sean pushed him back to the ground and glared at him. Professor Jackson knelt beside Kenneth and shone his flashlight on his foot. ‘Let me take a look at this.’ He took Kenneth’s toes in his hand and squeezed them.

‘Ow! Hey, take it easy! That hurts,’ yelped Kenneth.

Professor Jackson stood. ‘It’s obvious to me that the injury sustained has made this gentleman lame. Forward progress would be foolhardy. The prudent course of action is to find somewhere in the area to sleep tonight, and make your way down the mountain in the morning.’

Kenneth tried to get up again. ‘No. I can make it. I’m not going to stay here by myself.’

Sean pushed him down again, ‘It’s OK. I’ll stay with him, and make sure he doesn’t fall off the mountain while he is sleeping.’ This drew laughter from the group.

‘I’ll stay too. I can’t abandon my friends,’ Kathy said between the chuckles.

‘OK. That settles it then. Are you OK finding an appropriate location for the night by yourselves? I don’t want to lose anymore valuable time making our way to the peak.’ Professor Jackson was stroking his beard.

‘We’ll be fine,’ grunted Kenneth.

At that, Neville turned and started up the trail.

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