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I carabiner clip my harness onto the safety rope and begin the climb. The flames grow higher as my colleagues pull out the flat hose from its reel. Charlie braces himself as he holds the nozzle. He gives a nod to Tony, then a jet of water shoots up dousing the flames. The smoke persists, adding to the drama, and spills out of the cutout windows of the plywood castle.
I hear a cheer from the onlookers as I reach the top. Molly flings her arms around me, but I need to stay focused and get her down as planned. I lift the visor of my helmet.
“Listen. This is important,” I say holding Molly’s shoulders and looking directly into her eyes.
“Alright. What happens now?”
“I need you to trust me.”
Molly doesn’t say anything but nods her head.
“Can you pretend to be unconscious? I’m going to lift you over the wall and carry you down the ladder, okay?”
“Can I just get down on my own now?”
“You can, but it won’t look as good. Molly. This is a rescue and it’s better for me if my rescuee is unconscious. And, er, don’t look down.”
I don’t wait for further discussion. I grab Molly’s arm and tuck my head through, swinging her up onto my shoulder. There’s another cheer from the audience as I step over the top of the wall and onto the ladder. Molly shrieks and her body goes stiff until I remind her to be unconscious, then she flops like a ragdoll, and I think perhaps she is unconscious. In a few more steps I reach the roof of the truck and then we are safely on ground level. Another cheer erupts from the people on the grassy bank. Rachel has the medical first response kit laid out ready, including a stretcher and emergency foil blanket. I lie Molly carefully on the stretcher and I take off my helmet.
“Can I go now?” Molly says, still lying on the stretcher. I cover her with a foil blanket. “Are we done yet?”
“Almost,” I say kneeling beside her. “I just need to perform CPR and make sure your airwaves are clear.”
“Really?”
“It’ll only take a minute. It’s part of the procedure.”
During rehearsals at the station, this was Rachel’s role. But she gives me a nod and a smile and stands aside to allow me to complete the final stage of the rescue effort, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Molly starts giggling.
“Molly. You’re supposed to be unconscious.”
“Sorry. I can’t help it.”
I lean in close; our eyes meet and our lips almost touch sending a lightning bolt through me. Molly stops giggling and for a second, the world melts away. I almost forget where I am. I’m overwhelmed by wanting to kiss Molly’s lips right there and then. My heart beats fast. Then I’m snapped back into professional mode as another massive cheer goes up from the audience.
“I have suffered enough, Cam,” Molly says beginning to giggle again.
I offer my hand to pull her up to a standing position.
The rest of the team have cleared away the remains of the fire, reeled in the hose, and packed up the gear. Only a whisper of smoke coils from the windows as we all climb into the cab. Rachel starts up the engine and we exit the same way as we arrived, with full noise and dazzling lights.
I smile at Molly who is trying to fix her face to an expression of indignation, but it’s not working. The corners of her mouth twitch up. She glances over to me then looks out of the window, slowly shaking her head from side to side.
“That went well,” says Charlie with a massive grin.
Chapter 13
Molly
At the funfair I watch children having fun on the rides. I see people I know who stop to say hi.
“This is the best Spring Fair ever, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is.”
And we’ll say something else about the fun we’re all having before I turn and make an excuse to move along because I don’t feel like chatting. I miss Cam and I wish he was here to share this day with me. It’s almost as if I’m not completely here at all. I’m just watching other people having fun without joining in. Maybe an ice cream would help to elevate my mood.
I join the line at the Sweet Dreams ice-cream truck which is painted up to look like an ice cream sundae complete with chocolate sprinkles and a bright red illuminated cherry on the top. I read the menu, deciding what I want: fruity or chocolatey; creamy or sorbet; nuts or mini marshmallows.
