Either Way

14.

The captain is loaded into the chopper first. As the damage report is being processed it is up to her, as highest ranking officer, to make the call. Old Floyd is given a sedative for pain relief and Earl is on watch at his side, appearing to be none the worse for wear. The truck fire is smoldering 90% contained. Everyone else is assisting with the medevac. But there is a problem.

There is room for only one additional person aboard the tiny Bell 26 chopper. It was the only one available at the time with capability to get to the crash site in the time frames required and with the additional logistical challenge involved. ‘A little bit of something is better than a lot of nothin’, Davis thinks as he prepares Saunders for transport. 

She is conscious but in obvious pain from what Davis fears is a dislocated hip with possible internal damage. He hadn’t even considered a plan other than getting her aboard the chopper with Cap ASAP. 

She is laying in the dirt asking questions about the current status. She gets the picture fast, adds them together and reaches her solution.

“Load the old man.”

Aghast, Davis updates her: “He is fine, a broken arm and some scratches, he is stable and the injuries are not life threatening. You go.” 

“I am fine, we need to keep all this in a tight circle. You see the ramifications? How is Cap?” 

“He took on some head trauma and has what I suspect are broken ribs. Other than that we’ll have to get him to a facility for emergency evaluation and treatment. We need to get him in the air. His pulse is still weak.”

“Get the old man in there with him and get outta here. Once you have them secured come back for me.”

Davis begins another round of debate, but is cut off by her command voice insisting he obey what is now being vociferously called a direct order. 

Davis turns to shout compliant orders. When he is satisfied he returns to Saunders telling her about the dog. 

“Dog won’t leave his side.”

“Take him too.”

Davis hurries over to supervise the loading of Old Floyd and Earl onto the gurney and then into the chopper. 

The chopper blades spin fanning the flames of the truck fire, sending the smoke away from them. Davis returns to Saunders to provide whatever comfort he can as they prepare to wait for the choppers return trip. Could be twenty minutes he tells her, hang in there. 

They hear a siren in the distance. 

“Is that fire, rescue or police?” she asks.

“Either way, we gotta get outta here.”