Sigurbjorn came along and woke me up just as it was starting to get dark. Everyone else was awake and getting ready for the climb. Kat had said to wake me last so I could sleep a bit longer, this climb was going to be strenuous for me. She was right, of course, with my back a climb like this will not be easy. I wish there was another way, but there is not.

Kat had my things ready, I just needed to get everything strapped on properly and Sigurbjorn did that for me, trying to make sure everything was done so there would be the least amount of strain on me. Since she is the one who gives me massages each day, she knows what my back is like better than anyone. The cats had been awake, watching, while the rest of us slept.

They did not mind since they could sleep on the climb. Wish I could do that too. Oh well. Tiia went on Astrid, Rusty on Kate, Storm on John and Muffin on Mac. I was last on our group’s line, with Mac just ahead of me. He said that way if I fell, he would be able to hold me. That was a good point, though I really hoped I would not fall.

Still, we must be ready for all scenarios. It is a good thing that Sky does not know we are climbing at night, she would not be able to sleep. Meow,meow.=Chop chop coming. We all stopped and listened. Sure enough, the sound of a helicopter could be heard coming our way so we backed up under some thick trees for cover.

It was soon flying around the fortress shining two very bright spotlights all around on the cliff and down among the trees. Then a very bright flare over the fortress and another one over the trees where we were hiding. Could they know of our plans? But how could that happen? Unless someone in that group of officials I met was actually a spy.

And a spy in the UK parliament would not be a good thing at all. We now are all UK citizens, at least most of us, and that is now our new home. It was only going to be a temporary move, but we decided to stay there for now since we were able to get such an amazing old building to use for our new home. Anyway, back to us.

The chopper made a couple more passes and then landed in front of the fortress. So now what do we do? Will they be making regular trips around the fortress looking for us? “We need to move fast,” I said, “and hopefully they do not fly around again anytime soon.” Mac agreed we should get going. Off we went in two groups going up the two different ways the girls had surveyed.

About half way it happened, my foot slipped on a loose piece of rock and I fell, swinging out, then back against the cliff. The second time I was going slower and managed to grab hold and stop swinging. That was not fun, but not serious. The other group did not even notice what happened. Good thing we had our night goggles with us, they helped a lot for this climb.

Mac seemed to be climbing along quite easily, even though he claimed not ever having climbed before, except to climb up the side of a building one time on a job. I did not ask what the job was however. That climb seemed to take all night and I kept hoping we would get to the top quickly before that helicopter decided to fly around again.

I also hoped it was not here to take the boy to a different location. Then our mission would be a failure and we would have to return home. I did not want to do that. I am sure the others were having similar thoughts about now too. We could not talk to each other, silence was necessary, any talking would be heard all over the area.

I think every muscle in my body was aching and we were still not at the top. I can see that some different kinds of exercise will be added to our routines after this case. At least for some of us. Meanwhile… “Are you still awake Sky?” asked Kristina. “I am just nervous, I guess,” she said, “Steve and the others will be starting their climb in the morning.”

“Worrying about it will not help,” said Kristina, “now go to sleep.” Sky sighed, but she closed her eyes now and fell asleep very quickly. In the morning they went down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast. There were several people there eating already and after they sat down two men came in from outside and sat at a table close to them.

They began talking in their own language and Kristina listened closely. They were police and were watching her and Sky. The girls both recognized seeing them a couple of times yesterday. Just as they finished their breakfast, one of the men came over and spoke to them in English and asked them to come with them to their police headquarters, just for routine questions he said. That meant trouble…

To Be Continued.

©2023 Steve McLeod.