The Way to Babylon (Different Kingdoms) Read Online Free PDF Page B

of the lawn. Then he shoved the chair into motion and rattled across the patio. He hit the grass with a bump and a protesting whine from his steed, then continued more slowly, the motor bickering loudly. The chair lurched and shook as it hit sudden dips and hollows. The lawn was not as flat as it appeared. He wobbled dangerously and ground to an ignominious halt on the last steep slope before the river. The chair teetered at a crazy angle. He swore and leaned away from the slope, but too late. He fell over and hit the ground with a sodden thump and a flash of pain in his legs.
    ‘Shit!’
    There was dew-wet grass at his cheek, and the smell of soil under his nose. He rolled free of the chair and managed to sit himself upright, earth on his face and under his nails. His blanket was twisted around his legs, a tangle of tartan on the grass.
    You asshole, Riven. You really make a habit out of this sort of thing, don’t you?
    He looked round. He was invisible from the Centre, hidden by the slope. The river was fifty yards away, beyond the dipping trees. His legs and arm were screaming at him.
    He tried to right the chair, but it was too heavy and in too awkward a position. And he was too weak. The weakness enraged him. He punched the grass with his only useful limb.
    You bastard! You utterly useless bastard!
    Right on cue, the rain began. It started as a breeze in the willows that stirred his hair, then a fine mist of moisture that drifted down and finally a wind-driven shower that drove into his eyes and soaked his shirt. He started to laugh.
    Fucking typical!
    He began to crawl, pulling himself through the muddying ground with one arm.
    Couldn’t be more than a hundred yards. Christ, at Sandhurst I’ve crawled ten times that in full kit with a Jimpy rattling live overhead. Come on, Riven, you wimp, are you a man or a mouse?
    He stopped, gasping, when he got to the top of the slope. Runnels of water were flowing down it. He was chilled to the bone, and to the bolts. He looked up to see a sullen, glowering sky above his head, and then peered through the rain towards the Centre.
    He waved at the figures in the windows.
    Come on, you senile old bastards. One of you has got to see me.
    He bent his head into the mud.
    I don’t believe this. I can’t die of exposure in bloody Berkshire. I’d die of shame first.
    He began crawling again. He made the bird bath his goal and refused to look at the buildings. He felt himself going numb. The rain was turning to sleet.
    Winter has picked a hell of an auspicious moment to arrive.
    Then there were white-shoed feet in the soaking ground beside him, and strong hands took hold of him.
    ‘What happened to you, Mr Riven?’ He was being lifted up, and found himself looking at Nurse Cohen’s face.
    He smiled wanly. ‘You took your bloody time.’
    Her cap was gone and the rain had streaked hair across her face. He closed his eyes.
     
     
    A FACE BENT over him, dark hair spilling around it. Beyond it was the brightness of sunshine reflecting on snow. His eyes watered, and he blinked, bringing the face into focus.
    Grey, grave eyes and a mouth with a smile. Shoulder-length raven hair that was shining in the light.
    ‘How do you feel?’ The voice was low, with a Highland Scot accent.
    He was lying in a bed draped with brightly coloured blankets. Behind the girl’s head was a window of pure blue sky. He could hear wind in the rafters.
    ‘I’m... fine, I think. Where am I?’
    ‘You’re near Glenbrittle,’ she answered musically. ‘We found you last night lying on the western scree of Sgurr Dearg, battered to bits. You had your torch burning beside you. That’s how we found you.’
    He touched the bandage on his head, and blew air through pursed lips. ‘I remember now. I lost a crampon and went flying down the mountain.’ He winced. ‘Christ, how did I survive it?’
    ‘You’re badly bruised and you gashed your head, but apart from that, you are as healthy as I am. A wee bit peaky