I may have found a way through the roof. The first part of the climb would be fairly easy. Up the back of the eagle where it’s sloping to the ground. But after that it’s going to be a tough climb, finding footholds in the dark. See?’
He showed her the picture of a dark gash in the roof where the light hadn’t reflected back, suggesting space.
‘Unfortunately I can’t say what we’ll find when we get there. We might still be—’
‘What’s the alternative?’ she asked.
‘We could try and clear this corner.’ He flipped forward to a photograph that showed a corner where the wall had subsided. ‘The ground falls away there, so it’s unlikely to be blocked with debris once we’re through.’
‘If we can get through,’ she said.
‘If we can get through,’ he confirmed. ‘The third option is to stay put and hope that the sniffer dogs are on their way.’
‘I don’t think I’ll hold my breath on that one.’ Manda did her best to swallow down the fear. ‘I imagine they already have their paws full.’ She tried not to think about what was going on outside. The suffering… ‘Which would you choose? If you didn’t have to think about me?’
There was a telling pause before he said, ‘I think clearing the corner might be the most sensible option.’
He was lying.
‘If you were on your own you’d go for the climb. Admit it.’
He hesitated a fraction too long before saying, ‘In the dark it could be suicide.’
‘You think I’m not up to it, is that it?’
‘I’ve no idea what you’re up to, but it’s not that. If there’s a shock while we’re up there—’
‘Shut up, Jago.’
‘Miranda…’
‘If there’s a shock it could all come down on top of us.’ He didn’t say anything. ‘And climbing would be quicker.’
‘True,’ he admitted. ‘Did you say something about a packet of mints? Or did they dissolve when the water leaked?’
‘You’re in luck, they’re the chewy kind.’ She felt around in her bag until she found them, unwrapped two mints and handed him one. Then she snapped the rest of the pack in two and gave half to him. ‘Here. Don’t eat them all at once.’
‘No, ma’am,’ he replied and her eyes were now so accustomed to the low light levels emitting from the phone that she clearly saw him tuck the sweets into his shirt pocket. ‘Okay, here’s the plan. I’ll go up and take a look to see if it’s possible, then I’ll come back for you.’
‘Leaving me down here? No way!’
‘You want your mints back?’ he asked.
‘Stuff the mints…’ She didn’t care a fig about them. ‘Stuff you.’ He wasn’t going to abandon her. ‘Give me my phone back and I’ll find my own way.’
As she made a grab for it, he moved it out of reach. ‘You think I’d abandon you?’
‘Not intentionally. But once you’re up there…’ He’d be exhausted. It would take a superhero to climb back down into the dark. Not that it mattered. It wasn’t going to happen. ‘Let’s just say that experience has led me to have very low expectations of the average male.’
‘Then it’s your lucky day. The one thing I’m not is average.’
‘No?’ Actually, she probably thought he was right, but she wasn’t about to pander to his ego. ‘So where do you fit? Above or below the median?’
‘You’d better hope that it’s above.’
‘I’ll let you know.’
‘Cat,’ he replied, but softly so that she was sure he was smiling. Then, leaning into her so that she could see the screen, ‘Okay. This is the way we go,’ he said, pointing out the route he’d chosen.
‘What about this way?’ she suggested, pointing to what looked like a fissure. ‘It looks easier.’
‘Did I ask your opinion?’
‘But—’
‘This isn’t a committee, lady.’ She hadn’t realised the voice could reflect the expression so clearly, but it was obvious that he wasn’t smiling now. ‘Pay close attention because I’m going to say this just once, then I’m going, with you or without you.’
Damn…
She hadn’t meant to do that. It wasn’t that she doubted him or his good intentions but she was so used to people listening to her opinions. Being in control…
Whatever he thought, he didn’t wait for her to answer one way or the other but, having made his point, he looped his arm over her and pulled her closer. Then, with her chin pressed against his shoulder—she hadn’t imagined the strength—he laid out the route they’d take, pointing out crevices for hands and feet that she’d never have seen. Finally, when he was done, he took her hand and placed the phone into her palm, pressing her fingers around it.
‘You should keep it,’ she said. Doing her best to make up for… Well, just about everything.
‘Probably,’ he admitted, wrapping her fingers around it. ‘Keep it safe.’
His way of proving that she could trust him not to abandon her? Or, having picked out his escape route was he simply freeing up his hands for the climb?
It didn’t matter, she decided, as she slipped it into the large breast pocket of her shirt where it would be easily accessible. Then she looked up into the dark void and knew exactly what he’d done.
He’d given her the best light source in case she needed it to find her way and, feeling really bad for doubting him, she said, ‘Here, take the mini-light.’
‘Sure?’
She didn’t answer, but pressed it into his palm. Then, as he turned it on to light his way, she looked up. ‘How high is it?’
‘Just be grateful these people didn’t build on the scale of the Egyptians,’ he replied, evading the question.
‘How high?’ she insisted.
‘About ten metres,’ he replied, far too glibly, not looking back.
‘Don’t patronise me, Jago.’
He was close enough for her to feel him shrug, then he turned slightly so that she could see his spare, finely chiselled profile. ‘Does it matter?’ he asked.
‘I like to be in possession of all the facts.’
‘A bit of a control freak, are you?’
‘Not
