The Search
Leif stands with his hiking boots planted on the pinnacle edge. The wind snakes around his bare calves, pushes down the neckline of his T-shirt, cooling the sweat on his back.
This is the location.
Feet on the edge, he looks down.
So far down.
No!
The German hikers were right: There is a woman down there. Lying still. It’s as if someone has attempted to put her in the recovery position—legs bent, on her side, an arm winged tight to her body.
Ever since he heard the report from the German hikers, there has been a dark whisper in his ear: Don’t let it be her.
Even now, he tells himself, I can’t be sure. He can’t see her face, hidden by her hair. She must be twenty meters down, caught on a ledge that sticks out before the full descent into the river below.
He shouts, “Hey! Hey! Are you okay?”
The question feels crass. Nothing about what he sees is okay.
He takes out the radio and calls it in. His hand is trembling. “Found her,” he tells Knut. He gives him the GPS position. “I’m on the pinnacle. I’ve called to her. No response. She’s not moving.”
“You think we’re dealing with a body removal?”
Leif swallows. Feels the cutting wind in his mouth as he answers. “Maybe.” Eyes still on her, he asks, “How far away are the team?”
“The guys on the truck are trying to get down the logging track, bring them in deeper.” It’s taken Leif three hours at a run to get out here. Even if they shave off a few kilometers by using the logging track, it’ll still be two hours. It’s no good.
“And the helicopter?” he asks hopefully.
“Could be as little as an hour—or as much as three. I’ll keep you posted. Anyone with you?”
“No. I’m alone,” Leif answers. His gaze is still on the woman, assessing the descent. It would be possible to abseil to her. He’s visually mapping areas he could set up. Thinks he spots a possibility.
“What are you going to do, Leif?” Knut asks.
“Abseil down. Take a look.”
He expects Knut to try to stop him. It goes against every rescue protocol. No heroics. Everything measured and checked and partnered.
After a moment, he hears Knut say, “Good man.”