ROCK FACE (new edition)
Challenge
ROCK FACE
Give me your hand
No!
I can’t!
Give me your hand
No!
I can’t!
Give me your hand
No. There’s no point
I've got you
Don’t worry
Jut stay calm
Don’t panic
No!
I can’t!
Yes, you can.
Just lean into the rock-face
That way that wind
can’t catch your baggage
and take you over.
No!
I can’t.
I'm stuck.
I can’t move.
I can’t go up
I can’t go down
My legs are shaking
I can’t hold on much more
Yes!
You can...
Breathe calmly,
Quietly
I've got you
No!
The rope. It’s frayed.
If I move it will give under my weight.
No, it won’t.
Can you see my feet?
No...
Yes, you can.
Look up.
There. One foot above you.
That’s how close I am.
Now breathe quietly
Remember?
Like we practised back down in the hut?
Remember the principle?
The tip of a fingernail
to a rock climber
is an anchor to a ship.
I've got you solid.
And even though that rope looks frayed
It’s not.
And even if you did slip,
You’re not going anywhere
You’ll drop no more than ten feet.
The carabinas are all in place.
You’re anchored.
I'm not sure.
I am
Now look quietly to your right and down an angle
There’s a clump of heather
It’s half a meter to your right.
… … … …
a very long pause
a hesitant gaze
a wind blast
face into rock in fear
a shaking up through the rope
That’s it
Stay calm
Be at peace
Remember the breathing exercises?
Oh, fuck!
Why am I in this mess?
You’re not.
Now look to the right – that heather
… … … …
… … okay … got it!
Good.
To the left of it is a seam line
It’s two centimeters...
Enough to take the welt of your boot
Side on…
Before you move
Bring your left hand up towards me
No!
Yes. Feel the ledge
Feel the edge of my boot
But if I fall you'll come with me
No, I won’t
I'm securely anchored.
And anyway, I don’t plan on falling
And you’re certainly not falling!
You know the drill.
We’ve been through it a million times
But why am I stuck?
It happens to us all
I've been where you are too
A hand tentatively, nervously
traces the vertical rock surface
Spider-like, but hesitant
The ledge is felt
Nervous fingers brush against the boot
Oh, God!
You’re just there!
Yep, sure am.
Always have been
Always will be
Like my motto, hey! (A giggle)
Now take a firm hold of the ledge
Feel it
Enjoy it
Feel the grass
The smoothness
Now with your right leg just
Feel out for that seam
I've got your weight...
When you find it, take two...
And then to your left by your waist
Is another seam
Just the same
It will take your boot side on
--- --- --- ---
The strain through the ropes
The shaking
The becalming
The resonance returning
God!
I've got it.
Right. Now remember the drill
Move like the spider.
Once you’ve got your point
don’t hesitate
but go for the next two in quick succession
Like… point, point, and point
The triangle
Remember?
Yep.
Okay here goes.
In an instant the fear released
The energy restored
The reflexes perfect
Ledge right,
Ledge left
Summit attained
Stomach into edge
Breathing heavy
As a hand reaches down to the belt
at the back
And takes the final weight
Roll over onto the seat
Oh, fuck!
Oh, shit!
Why did that happen?
Shite! Shite and shite!!
Ha-ha!
We’ve all been there
Thanks
No, I mean that. Thank you.
I've not known that fear before.
That’s good. You’ve mastered it
You have a new benchmark
A new summit too
God! What a view!
Ian Bradley Marshall
24 October 2024
All Rights Reserved
LIVERPOOL
© 2012 Ian Bradley Marshall
Composed 2012
Banner Image is from my Private Collection and with thanks to Jean (2012) and all rights thereto reserved to the Photographer
Ken Webb is a writer and proofreader. His website, kennwebb.com, showcases his work as a writer, blogger and podcaster, resting on his successive careers as a police officer, progressing to a junior lawyer in succession and trusts as a Fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives, a retired officer with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and latterly, for three years, the owner and editor of two lifestyle magazines in Liverpool.
He also just handed over a successful two year chairmanship in Gloucestershire with Cheltenham Regency Probus.
Pandemic aside, he spends his time equally between his city, Liverpool, and the county of his birth, Gloucestershire.
In this fast-paced present age, proof-reading is essential. And this skill also occasionally leads to copy-editing writers’ manuscripts for submission to publishers and also student and post graduate dissertations.