E for England (33 page)

‘It's okay, I've got you now. Don't let go.'

Mattie's terrified little face looked up, white with shock and fear, coughing and spluttering. One handed, Hugh pulled himself up on to the rock above water level and leaned down to grab Mattie under the shoulders. Salt water lapped into his face and down his throat. He coughed and spat, tried again.

‘I've got you.' The incoming wave lifted his body and Hugh took advantage to yank him up and clear of the water. Mattie wrapped both arms round his neck and hung on so tightly Hugh could barely breathe, but it didn't matter because his own heart was bursting with relief and the knowledge that he'd saved this precious little boy's life.

But James! James and Leonie. Hugh scanned the churning water, his stomach curdling with fear, but then above the pounding of the waves he dimly heard a voice. He looked shoreward and there were Kevin and Edward dragging Leonie onto the ledge where it was lower and she could climb up, while James stood further back, soaked but alive. His hands were cupped round his mouth and he was yelling but Hugh couldn't hear the words. Annie was there too, well back from the edge, clutching Floss by the hand, her face distorted by fear, crying even though he was too far away to see clearly.

He waved. ‘We're okay,' he yelled. A wave splashed onto his legs and Mattie whimpered, tried to climb up his body.

‘It's all right, Mattie. We're safe.' He edged a little higher but the top of the rock was sharp and jagged and difficult to keep his balance on.

‘How will we get off?' Between sobs.

‘The Life Savers will come with a boat.' Could they get a boat this close to the rocks in these conditions? No idea. The wind had increased, ripping and tearing at them like a wild animal. White tops had appeared on the breakers out to sea.

‘Will they?' Mattie, inches away, stared into his face.

‘Yes. Mummy will have called them.' She must have, surely.

‘What if they don't come before the water gets too high?'

‘The water won't come up this high.' High tide was at least an hour away to test the truth of his statement. They'd be rescued by then. They must be. ‘They might send a helicopter.'

Mattie began shivering. Hugh cuddled him tighter, shielding the soaking child as well as he could from the wind.

‘We're having an adventure, aren't we?' he said.

The head pressed against his chest nodded. ‘I'm not very brave.'

‘Yes, you are. You're very brave. You kept swimming and you didn't let go when I grabbed you.'

‘But I'm scared.'

‘So was I, but I'm not now because we're safe on our big rock and we're just waiting to be rescued.'

‘Why were you scared?'

‘I was scared I might not be able to save you.'

‘But you did.'

‘Yes.' And as Hugh said it a weight seemed to fall from his shoulders. He dropped a kiss on Mattie's wet, salty hair. ‘And you saved me,' he murmured. He
had
saved this boy and somehow it seemed to clarify Mark's death. He realised now with crystal clearness he wasn't responsible, because Mark's actions were independent of his own and as a twelve year old he wasn't equipped to deal with any of it. He could no more prevent a determined Mark secreting matches in his room than stop the waves. If anyone had that responsibility, his parents did and
that
hell was what his stepfather truly couldn't face up to.

Ten minutes later a yellow surf rescue boat charged around the headland with two crew on board.

‘See! We're saved.'

Mattie lifted his head and gave a feeble cheer.

With great skill, the driver manoeuvred the outboard close enough for Hugh to pass Mattie across into strong hands when the swell lifted the boat against their precarious perch. A few tense minutes later Hugh leapt clumsily across and fell into the arms of the rescuer.

‘Sit down, mate, and we'll have you ashore in no time. Any injuries?' The man studied him through piercing blue eyes. He was very young. Early twenties. So young but so confident and competent.

‘No.'

Hugh collapsed next to Mattie and slung his arm around him.

‘You're bleeding.' Mattie lifted Hugh's hand.

Hugh stared at the torn flesh on his palms and pain darted up his arms, as though waiting for him to register the injury. His left leg throbbed too, and when he looked down his jeans were shredded and bloody where he'd brushed against the razor sharp rocks. His feet were cold. One sock had gone.

‘We'll get you fixed up, don't worry, mate.'

‘Hugh's a doctor,' said Mattie.

The outboard accelerated towards the beach and drove up onto the sand. Hugh clambered ashore while the rescue men carried Mattie to the waiting rescue team. Someone threw a blanket over his shoulders and led him up the beach. The sand felt oddly warm and comforting under his bare foot. Dry land. Safety. No wonder rescued people kissed the ground. Leonie and James were already huddled together under their own blankets being attended to by a uniformed woman. He walked unsteadily towards them. His legs were as feeble as those of his elderly patients.

Then Annie was there, tears streaming down her cheeks, clutching Mattie as though she'd never let him go, until someone gently pulled her aside so they could do a medical assessment. She waited with Kevin, staring down at their son, two terrified parents who'd just had a brush with the worst nightmare of all. Losing a child.

The rescue woman with Leonie and James turned to Hugh. Another very young, confident, competent person.

‘Hello, my name's Kim.'

‘I'm okay,' he said. ‘I'm a doctor. Are they all right?' He knew Mattie was. Mattie would be shocked and cold but nothing worse. He could be dead. He wasn't.

‘Yes, a few scratches and shock but no real injuries.' Her dark eyes assessed him rapidly. He knew that look. Professional, detached, making her own decision. He was a patient and patients know nothing. ‘I need to dress your hands and see to that wound on your leg. You may need stitches.'

She sat him down and it was only then Hugh's body began shaking. He closed his eyes while she worked quickly and efficiently, cleansing the wounds and covering them gently. She taped his leg and stood up.

‘We'll get you to hospital, Doctor. The ambulance will be here shortly.'

‘Thank you but I don't need an ambulance.' He had to steady himself before attempting to stand. She pressed a restraining hand on his shoulder.

‘Stay there. You're in mild shock, you need stitches and you certainly can't drive.'

James knelt by his side then, grasping his arm and beaming. ‘You saved him, Hugh.'

Hugh raised a smile. ‘And you saved Leonie. You idiot, you could have drowned jumping in like that.' Without a thought, no doubts, just that Leonie and Mattie were in trouble. Typical, reckless James.

‘So could you. That's what the surf rescue guys said. We're both idiots — must run in the family.'

Hugh looked across at Annie. She turned at that same moment and her eyes locked with his. She walked the few steps over the sand and without a word knelt down and wrapped her arms around him.

‘Thank you,' she whispered. Warm tears dripped on his cold neck. She sat back and studied his face, still with her hands on his shoulders. ‘I don't know if I can ever thank you enough. He would have drowned if you hadn't…' She stopped and swallowed then sniffed. ‘I thought I'd lose you, too. I was terrified.'

Hugh shook his head. ‘You won't. You won't lose me, not if I can help it.'

A little smile trembled on her lips. He wanted to kiss her. She moved closer, fingers tightening on his arms.

Kevin appeared with Edward. He held out his hand. ‘Thanks, Hugh. You're a real champion, mate. When I saw Mattie disappear like that it made me sick to the stomach but I was too far away to do anything.'

Hugh smiled and displayed his bandaged hands. ‘Sorry, I can't shake.'

Kevin nodded and smiled back. ‘We've got your shoes and jacket.' Edward held them out like a peace offering.

‘Thanks.'

‘You've lost a sock,' said Annie and started crying again.

‘The ambulance is here,' said Kim.

‘Well, look at you,' said Thea as she stitched Hugh's leg. ‘You're a hero.' She gave a deep chuckle which set her ample boobs quivering. Of all the Emergency Room doctors Thea was the most cheerful and unflappable. She'd seen it all and still came back for more.

‘Concentrate, Thea,' Hugh growled. ‘I don't want an embroidery pattern, thank you.'

‘If you go ripping yourself apart like that I don't have much choice.'

Hugh sighed and closed his eyes. Thea would do a good job, he knew. He was lucky she was on duty today.

‘I'm not a hero.'

‘You must be. The media are out there waiting to interview you,' she went on. ‘Saving that little boy's life. That's brave, Hugh. Or stupid. You were lucky, you could have been down in the morgue right now. We get plenty of misguided heroes through here.'

‘I didn't even think about that.'

‘Exactly. That's why you're a hero. You and your cousin.'

‘I suppose that's better than the last story they wrote about us.'

‘That's for sure. Give them something good to talk about for a change.' Thea's nimble fingers finished stitching. ‘Done,' she said. ‘Don't go running around on it.'

‘Thank you. You're a treasure.'

‘Hahaha. Take care, Hugh.' She whipped the blue curtain aside and hurried off to her next emergency. A few minutes later a nurse he didn't know came in with a plastic carry bag.

‘Your cousin brought these clothes in for you,' she said.

‘Thanks. Where is he?' James and Leonie had stayed with him for a while and then having received the all clear, headed home for dry clothes with Edward driving. James must have come back.

‘Talking to the reporters, I think.'

‘Is Mattie Fisher still here? The little boy?'

‘No, his parents took him home about an hour and a half ago. He was fine.'

The nurse left. Hugh looked at his watch. Nearly three. He'd been here for hours. While Hugh was sitting about in Emergency waiting to be sewn back together Mattie was safely home being fussed over by Annie and Kevin. Disasters were when families came into their own, closing ranks and supporting each other. Just like James did for him. He couldn't expect Annie to worry about him. Not when her little son needed her.

He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. The sedative made his movements slow and his bandaged hands hampered him, but he removed the hospital gown and dressed in the loose track pants and sweater James had brought in. His still damp clothes he shoved into the plastic bag. The effort made him tired and he had to sit on the edge of the bed for a few minutes.

The last thing he wanted was to face the media. He'd text James and get him to come around to a back entrance to pick him up. His phone was in the jacket Edward had thoughtfully retrieved. Hugh laboriously picked out the message detailing exactly where to meet.

‘OK. Ten minutes.'

Hugh made his way out to the desk. ‘I'm leaving,' he said to the duty nurse.

‘Is someone picking you up, Doctor?'

‘Yes, but I'm going out the back way.'

She nodded. ‘I'll get someone to go with you.'

He opened his mouth to object but she held up her hand. ‘You know the rules.'

His attendant left him at the staff entrance to the X–ray department, leaning on the wall outside the door waiting for James to appear in the narrow side street. With any luck he wouldn't be followed by some insistent reporter and they could go home in peace. Hugh yawned. He was hungry too. He'd bagged a cup of tea and a biscuit at some stage but the effects had long worn off. Two silver cars dawdled by then a third, a white one. A station wagon. Not James. It slowed, stopped and the driver tapped on the horn.

Hugh looked again. Annie! It was Annie's car and she was waving through the windscreen at him. She jumped out and ran around to open the passenger door. He shuffled across, his newly repaired leg stiff and awkward and aching.

‘Hello.' She kissed his cheek quickly. ‘Are you all right?' She waited for him to get in then reached across and buckled his seat belt. He closed his eyes as the warm scent of her filled his nostrils. She was so beautiful, so perfect. The ache wasn't only in his damaged limbs, it was in his heart.

‘What are you doing here?'

‘Picking you up.'

She closed the door and sprinted back to the driver's seat.

‘Why? Where's James?'

‘He's being a media star.' She laughed and checked the traffic before pulling out. ‘Distracting them from you.'

Hugh smiled. James wasn't a reluctant hero. ‘Is Mattie all right?'

‘Yes. Thanks to you.'

‘I thought you'd be home with him.'

‘I was but Kevin's there.' She paused. ‘I thought you might need help.'

‘Thank you.'

‘I told James and Leonie I'd bring you home.'

‘Is Leonie here, too?'

‘No, she wanted to rest. She wasn't hurt but it shook her up a lot.'

‘I bet. One minute they were there and the next, gone.' He shook his head as the memory flashed vividly through his mind. The crash of the waves, the unstoppable force of the water dragging him off his feet. ‘They didn't stand a chance. It came from nowhere. I nearly went too.'

‘I wasn't watching when it happened. Floss and I were looking at a crab. I just heard the wave, and the scream.' Her hands gripped the steering wheel. ‘I'll never forget that feeling. That fear.'

‘It'll fade, Annie, and Mattie's safe.'

‘Maybe. Yes.' She drove the rest of the way in silence. At the apartment block she parked in the street, another sharp reminder she didn't live here anymore. ‘Do you have your key? James gave me his just in case. He'll go up to Leonie's when he comes in.'