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!

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

Digital Artwork by KTW IBM

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.