'You're going to have to set us down anywhere you can!' Friday said urgently.
'I'm looking for a spot,' Nazir said.
'I don't see one.'
A sudden fist of wind turned them nearly forty-five degrees so they were facing the cliff. A second burst of gunfire, this time from the group in front, tore at the undercarriage.
The chopper lurched and dropped. They were at the top of a valley.
Friday could not see what was below them because of a thick mist. But he did not want to go down there. He did not want to lose the cell and he did not want to be here when the nukes went off.
'I've got to go down while we still have power for a controlled landing,' Nazir said.
'Not yet,' Friday said. He unbuckled his seatbelt.
'Apu, back up.'
'What are you going to do?' Nazir asked.
'I'm going to crawl into the back,' Friday said.
'Do you have forward and aft mobility?' 'Limited,' he said.
'One of the tail rotors is still working.'
'All right,' Friday said.
'If you can turn the stem toward the peak, Apu and I might be able to use the winch line to rappel to one of the ledges.'
'In this wind?' Nazir exclaimed.
'You'll be blown off!'
'The wind is blowing southeast, toward the cliff.' Friday said.
'That should help us.'
'It could also smash you into the rocks--'
'We'll have to risk that!' Friday told Nazir.
'I've got to reach the cell and tell them about the soldiers ahead.'
'Even if you can get to the ledge, they'll gun you down,' Nazir said.
'I'll send the old man out first,' Friday said.
'Nanda may recognize her grandfather's coat. Or they may see us as potential hostages. In any case, that might get them to hold their fire.' Friday pulled out his switchblade and cut out the seatbelt.
When the strap was free, Friday detached the radio and handed it to Apu.
'With luck I'll be able to raise Striker.
I'll tell them where we are and approximately where you set down.
Striker will help us get to Pakistan and the Himalayan patrol can come and get you. You can tell them you were running independent recon but didn't find the cell.'
Nazir did not look convinced. But there was no time to debate the plan and he did as Ron Friday asked. With his feet braced against the floor, his hands tight around the controls, Nazir carefully turned the chopper around and began edging it toward the cliff. As he did, Friday disconnected the communications jack but kept his helmet on. Then he swung through the hatchway between the seats.
'What is happening?' Apu asked. His flesh was paler than usual.
Unlike the heated cockpit the cargo bay was damn cold.
'We're bailing,' Friday said as he used the seatbelt to create a bandolier like harness for Apu.
'I don't understand,' Apu said.
'Just hang on,' Friday said as he fastened the belt in front and then led the farmer to the winch. It was difficult to stand in the bumping cargo bay so they crawled to the rear of the hold. The line was quarter-inch-diameter nylon wound around an aluminum spool. They remained on their knees as Friday unfastened the hook end from the eyelet on the floor.
'You're going to go out first,' Friday said as he ran the line through the harness he had created.
'Go out?' Apu said.
'Yes. To your granddaughter,' Friday told him. The American tugged on the line. It seemed secure. Then he motioned Apu back until the farmer was crouching on the hatch.
'It's going to be a rough ride,' Friday warned him.
'Just grab the line, huddle down, and hold on until they get you.' 'Wait!' Apu said.
'How do you know that they will?'
'I don't, but I'll pray for you!' Friday said as he reached for the long lever that controlled the floor hatch. He pulled it. There was a jolt as the hatch began to open. Quickly, he grabbed the remote control that operated the winch. The line began unspooling as frigid air slipped over the doorway and slammed into the hold.
