Read Online By Royal Command by Charlie Higson - Free Book Online Page A

to keep his knees together and they trembled uncontrollably. They were moving, though, and that was something.
    After a few minutes they came to a large tree and James leant against it, letting it take the weight for a while. He checked that Miles was all right then pushed off again, gasping with the effort. Just past the tree, however, they hit a patch of loose powdery snow and James found himself skidding, unable to hold his line. He knew he would have to take a steeper angle or risk falling. With any luck, the extra momentum would hold them in a straight line.
    He forced his skis round and they speeded up just enough to regain control. The line was taking them steadily closer to the cliff edge though, and a few seconds later they hit another loose patch of snow and James spun round until he was sliding backwards down the slope.
    ‘Hang on,’ he grunted, but he couldn’t stop himself. He had no idea how near they were to the drop and he was totally out of control. There was only one thing for it. He collapsed into the snow.
    Miles screamed and in his agony kicked out at James, who got a knee in the face.
    ‘I’m sorry,’ said James. ‘I had no choice.’
    ‘I can’t go on,’ said Miles. ‘I can’t. I just can’t.’
    ‘Yes you can,’ said James. ‘You’d be surprised how far you can push your body when you have to.’
    ‘What would you know about it?’ said Miles. ‘This isn’t the steeplechase at Eton.’
    ‘Well, maybe it would help if we pretended it was,’ said James, trying not to let his anger resurface.
    ‘You’re going to kill me,’ said Miles.
    ‘Believe me,’ said James, ‘the thought has crossed my mind.’
    Miles swore.
    ‘Look here,’ said James, ‘arguing isn’t going to help us at all. You can’t go on like this, and I must say I’m not sure whether I can go much further, so we need to think of another plan. Maybe I should leave you here and go for help.’
    Miles suddenly grabbed James’s arm, a look of sheer hopeless terror on his white face.
    ‘No,’ he said. ‘You mustn’t leave me. I couldn’t bear it. You’d never find me again.’
    ‘It’s all right,’ said James, laughing, and pointing across the snow. ‘Look, we’re saved.’

7
    White Death
     
    A little way down the mountain, a wooden hut nestled against the rock face, its steep roof heavy with snow.
    Ignoring Miles’s protests, James hoisted him on to his aching back once more and aimed for the hut. The pain in his knees and ankles had become so intense that his brain had started to shut it out and he almost didn’t register it any more, but they reached the hut without any further mishap and he lowered his charge safely to the ground.
    Mercifully, the hut wasn’t locked, and James staggered inside, his legs shaking uncontrollably. A little later he re-emerged and grinned at Miles.
    ‘I think it’s a mountain rescue hut,’ he said. ‘It’s perfect. There’s a stove, blankets, beds, and some food and water.’
    The look of relief that washed over Miles was almost comical. James put a hand under one of his shoulders and they hobbled inside where Miles collapsed on to one of the beds. James lit a lamp and busied himself with getting a fire going in the stove. He then put a kettle of water on top to boil before fetching some chocolate and hard sausage from the larder.
    The two of them ate in silence.
    ‘What time do you suppose it is?’ asked Miles once his energy was restored.
    ‘It’s hard to know, with all this cloud around,’ said James. ‘I’d say perhaps five o’clock, maybe later. Whatever the case, it’s going to be dark soon.’
    ‘Do you not have a watch?’
    James shook his head. ‘I’ve an old pocket watch, but I hardly ever use it. How about you?’
    ‘I had a wristwatch,’ said Miles, ‘but I must have lost it in the fall. Shame. It was rather valuable.’
    ‘All I know is it’s too late to try and carry on now,’ said James. ‘We should rest here for the night.