Higher Ground by Becky Black (notion reading list txt) 📗

worn out. His eyes were rimmed with dark circles, his face pale and unshaven.

“We’re at the top,” Adam said. “Or getting there. I thought you’d like to be awake for it.”

Zach raised his head a little and saw his people climbing the last few meters of the slope. As the first of them stepped onto the narrow strip of fairly level ground at the top of the ridge, a ragged cheer broke out. Ragged, from tired people, with no strength left. Adam joined in. Zach tried, though his came out as more a pained gurgle.

“Shh,” Adam said. “Don’t tire yourself. But you did this, Zach. They’re here because of you. They should be cheering you.”

Zach didn’t agree. They all deserved applause for working so hard. For keeping going through the exhaustion and pain and terror, even those who’d turned back for a while. Hell, they’d worked harder than those who’d continued. They’d done part of the climb twice. Torres appeared at the side of the stretcher.

“How about we stop here for a quick rest?” she said. “Scope things out and decide where to make camp?”

“Agreed,” Adam said. “I think I see…ah, the other group. Looks like they’ve found a good-sized flat area. Exposed, but that will be good for the ship to spot us.”

“Then let’s join them,” Torres said with a smirk. “I’m still looking forward to a chat with Glyn.”

They rested for half an hour. Zach stirred on his stretcher, trying to get into a comfortable position, fearing he’d get sores if he stayed in one place much longer.

“Hey, enough with the gymnastics,” Adam said, kneeling beside him. He leaned in close. “You need to pee?”

“I’m okay.” They’d been using a water canteen for that purpose while he’d been laid up. Adam had helped him out without hesitation, as efficient and unembarrassed as a nurse.

He settled down beside Zach, looking out at the horizon. Zach followed Adam’s gaze to what had once been a basin and was now a ring of mountainous islands. He realized with a shock there were some large gaps. Peaks that should still be visible had gone already. Whole mountains shaken apart and collapsed into the sea.

“It looks like we chose the right mountain to climb anyway,” he said, making Adam look at him. “At least ours is still here.”

Adam said nothing, just reached for Zach’s hand and held it while they both looked out over the slowly vanishing remains of their home.

* * * *

It took almost two hours to reach the other group—the one everyone carefully avoided calling Glyn’s group—when they set off again. Zach still didn’t know the full details of what had gone on when they split off and went ahead. Someone had told him Adam pointed a pistol at Glyn, which seemed too incredible to be true.

Even in his doped state, Zach recognized the tension in the air when the two groups reunited. But Torres and Simon made a point of going over and talking to them. Soon women from the two groups were talking, and that brought the men in not long after. Zach sighed with relief. All one again.

They made camp for the last time. At last they could do nothing but wait for rescue. Wait and hope the mountain didn’t disintegrate under them before the ship arrived.

Adam came over with his arms full of gear. “I’m going to build you a shelter, in case it starts to rain again, and to try to keep the worst of the wind off you.”

“Thank you. And, Adam. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for getting me to the top of the mountain. Whatever happens, thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome. Now you rest. Sleep if you can.”

He didn’t want to sleep. He wanted to watch Adam working hard on improvising a shelter using hiking poles and tent canvas. Watching him work enthralled Zach, as it had when he’d watched Adam working in the fields on his plants. He dropped some of his outer layers of clothing, despite the strong, cold wind, as he warmed up from his efforts.

Zach’s cock stirred, just a bit, though he was too weak for it to harden fully. But he enjoyed the warm, fluttery feeling in his groin and belly, which helped take his mind off the pain. Adam glanced at him sometimes, checking him and grinning, perhaps enjoying Zach’s appreciation of the show.

He’d almost finished the shelter when Torres walked up, a surly Glyn at her side. Zach lost the pleasant feeling in his belly and felt it clench at the sight of the man who he’d thought of as his rival. But the fierce scowls Glyn and Adam exchanged reassured him Glyn was, indeed, “no longer an issue.”

“Why is he here?” Adam demanded of Torres.

“I’ve convinced Glyn he needs to do his job and at least check on Zach.”

“He’s not touching him.”

“Don’t be a jackass, Adam,” she said.

“I’m only here because this bitch threatened me,” Glyn half snarled. “I’m going to see every single one of you people in court.”

“Oh yes,” Adam sneered. “I’m sure a judge and jury will totally take the side of a paramedic who refused to treat a patient because he was more interested in saving his own neck.”

“Both of you, knock it off,” Torres ordered. “This isn’t about you two. Zach needs a medic. Glyn, do it. Adam, stand aside.”

Adam glared at Torres, but after a moment, he did as she asked. When Glyn knelt beside Zach, Adam stood right behind him, looking over his shoulder and watching every move he made.

“Have you had his boot off?” Glyn asked, casting the blanket aside and examining the leg.

“No. His foot isn’t injured. Why take off his boots?”

“To check his foot is still warm, you damn fool. If the break or your attempt at setting it”—he sneered those words—“has blocked any blood vessels, his foot won’t get oxygen; it’ll go necrotic, and he’ll lose his leg.”

Adam was already pale, but at these words, he looked as if he was going