Title: Crossing the Divide
Chapter: 8
Author: squeezynz@free.net.nz
Universe: Land of the Giants
Rating: PG, Adventure
Archive: let me know where, please.
Feedback: always a pleasure
Disclaimer: All IA's, never mine, but sure fun to play with.

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" Oh my god," Dan breathed, his shocked face a mirror of Marks.

Bishop let out a moan, opening his eye's to gaze blearily up at his would be rescuers.

" Don't...lea-ve...me," he gasped, blood flecking his lips.

" Dan, keep a watch on those Giants," said Mark, swinging his leg over the edge of the box.

Dan nodded, swallowing hard. Mark eased himself down to the injured man, the box large enough to allow him to squat next to him without jolting him.

" Must be bad....you're not saying much," Bishop wheezed, a tiny smile curving his lips.

" We'll try to get you out of here, but it's going to hurt, can you cope ?" asked Mark, trying to gauge exactly where the blood was seeping from.

" Anything's better than this, give me a hand," Bishop reached out, grasping Marks forearm as he tried to heave himself upright. Mark supported him and wrapped an arm around Bishops waist, almost recoiling when the man let go a hiss of pain.

" We have to climb out of the box, Dan take his arms, I'll give him a boost from here,"

Between them the two men manhandled Bishop out of the box, and carried, dragged him to the back of the bench. Bishop never cried out, only panted as his rescuers took most of his weight. His shirt was soaked with blood, his beard flecked with red spots. Mark, using his jacket, made a sling and secured it under Bishops arms, Dan had already gone down the other rope, ready to receive him on the ground. Mark eased the man over the edge and lowered him smoothly to Dan's waiting arms. They worked quickly and silently, aware that they could be discovered at anytime by the Giants working nearby. Mark climbed down the rope and unhooked the grapnel, coiling it up and repacking it. They made their way to the end of the bench and checked the Giants before starting to make their way along the wall. They had considered and rejected using the truck for cover, it had been unloaded and would soon be leaving, they didn't want to be under it when it did. Bishop gasped as Dan and Mark tried to move as fast as possible, making the distance between them and the Giants wider by the minute. They were making for the corner where a collection of boxes would provide sufficient cover until they could make their next move. Mark glanced at Bishops pale, set features and realised they could well end up carting a corpse back to the Windsifter.

" Let's stop, you need to rest. Dan lay him down here, we should be far enough away by now,"

" I don't want to be caught again," Bishop wheezed, his lungs laboring to draw in air.

" If need be, Pete and Cody can provide a distraction, don't worry," Dan soothed, downplaying the seriousness of their situation. Bishop shut his eyes, and Dan exchanged a worried glance with Mark.

" I'm going to check on the Giants," said Mark, taking off his pack.

Dan watched as he slipped between the boxes and crouched at the end of a narrow corridor, peering out to see what was happening.

Mark could see the bulk of the truck and some movement behind it, but so far there hadn't been any outcry....yet.

Dan had taken out a water bottle and was feeding Bishop sips of liquid to ease his parched throat when Mark returned.

" He was thirsty," said Dan in reply to Mark's inquiring look. Mark shook his head, the possibility that Bishop had a crushed lung and other internal injuries were a definite possibility. A drink of water would make little difference either way.

Mark was about to reply when they heard a shout, then many Giant voices raised in anger. Mark went back to his look-out and took in the scene. The Giant that had caught Bishop had discovered him gone, turning on his companions in the mistaken belief one of them had him. An argument was in full flight, the group splitting into two factions. Mark could see that a fight would be imminent, perfect for their needs. It would cover their escape to the vent nicely.

He ran back to where Dan sat with Bishop.

" Get ready, we need to move now," Bishop opened his eyes on hearing Marks voice, his pale lips thinning as he tried to ease himself up. A loud groan squeezed out and he slumped back. Dan and Mark grabbed an arm each and pulled the man upright. Dan passed his pack to Mark to hold, then pulled Bishops arm over his shoulder and put his own round his waist for support.

" You lead the way, we'll keep up," said Dan. Mark nodded and led the way out of their hiding place and across the floor towards the other wall. The Giants were going at it hammer and tong, loud shouts punctuated with the sounds of blows landing on bodies. Mark kept up a steady pace, glancing back to see how Dan and Bishop were progressing. Bishop appeared to have taken a new lease on life and was keeping pace with Dan's help. Mark knew it would be short lived and prayed the man would hold together until they reached safety. Mark reached the vent first, finding Pete and Cody there to help lift the loose cover out of the way. Cody took the packs and stowed them further up the duct, freeing Mark to turn back and help Dan with his burden. Pete took over from Dan and they manoeuvered Bishop into the vent, pulling the cover back into place behind them.

Both Mark and Dan were breathing hard from their dash across the floor, Bishop lay there, his face pale and sweaty, his breathing harsh. Blood soaked his shirt, showing up garishly in the light of the torches.

" Pete, get on the radio to Steve....we need them here as soon as possible," said Mark still panting.

" Isn't there something here we can use to help him ?" asked Cody, as Pete pushed past him to use the radio.

" We did get some painkillers, but I don't know it we should use them, if he slips into a coma we could have more problems," said Dan,

" I don't want anything, I want what time I have left to be conscious, not doped to the eyes," said Bishop, reminding them he was still a force to be reckoned with.

" We have something like morphine in the first aid box on the ship, that will take the edge of the pain, while leaving you alert," said Mark, trying to calm him. Bishop nodded, sweat starting to trickle down his face. Cody found a cloth in one of the packs and gently wiped the mans face. Pete returned with the radio in hand.

" Steve wants to talk to you Mark.....in private," said Pete, handing the radio to Mark.

Mark nodded grimly, starting to make his way back up the duct.

" Tell your Captain, I'm not dead yet," Bishop called after him.

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" Okay Mark, I don't think we have much of a choice here, if he's as bad as you say we can't afford to play the safe option. I'll bring the ship down as close to the dumpster as possible, hopefully the noise will be ignored. Either way we'll have some cover, we'll just have to hope it's enough,"

" We'll make a stretcher and get him to the dumpster in time to meet you, then we can load the provision,"

" Agreed, good luck Mark, see you all soon, Windsifter out."

Mark thumbed the radio off, a thoughtful expression on his face. Making a decision he made his way back to where the others were grouped around the injured man. Little had changed in Bishop's condition, he still had difficulty breathing but he was awake and alert, almost animated. Mark crouched down and relayed what he had organised with Steve.

" The ship will be here in about thirty minutes, it just getting light outside so we need to move fast. We'll make a sling out of that groundsheet we used to contain the small parcels. Then we'll carry Bishop out of the duct and along the wall to the dump bin. If we're lucky the sound of the truck should cover the noise of the ship landing. If not, we'll have to hope Lady Luck smiles on us."

The others nodded in agreement and started back up the tunnel, finding the groundsheet and brought it back. They managed to get Bishop positioned in the centre, then, taking a corner each, the four men lifted the sick man and started down the duct to the outside vent. It was difficult going, trying not to swing or jolt Bishop too badly, but they made it and managed to manoeuvrer the awkward sling out through the grating and start out along the wall towards the towering block of the dumpster. They had just reached the shadow of the bin when the noise of the Windsifters approached was heard, competing with the noise of the huge truck backing out of the loading bay, its reversing siren drowning out any sound from overhead. The men watched as Steve bought the ship in to land, coasting over to the dump bin, almost on top of their hiding place. Once the ship coasted to a halt, the side hatchway opened, plus the front hatch, opening the ship fully. The four men carried their burden to the doorway, lifting him to the waiting hands of Fitzhugh, Barry and the girls. Once Bishop was settled all the passengers and crew piled out and followed Mark back to the duct to retrieve their prize. It took four trips with everyone loaded to carry the supplies to the ship, all the time expecting discovery as the day dawned and made their hiding place less safe. Finally the last bundle had been stowed, the big side hatchway shut and everyone crowded into the passenger cabin. Steve and Dan were in the cockpit getting the ship ready to fly. Bishop was laid out in one of the rear chairs, covered in a blanket and strapped in. Fitzhugh, Barry, Betty and Pete took the seats on one side of the ship, with Valerie, Mark, Cody and Bishop taking the other. Steve taxied the ship away from the bin and fired the thrusters, bringing the ship smoothly back into the air, the carpark acting as the perfect runway. They rose into the air, the sun glinting off the ships hull as they circled the shopping centre, far above the reach of any Giants.

Betty spared a thought for Marna and Bryant, still somewhere in the Mall, waiting, if Valerie was right, for their own destiny to arrive in the form of Marna's former 'keepers'. Betty just hoped they had the life they wanted. For her part, Betty considered that she was right where she wanted to be, her 'family' around her.

Steve pointed the nose of the Windsifter away from the rising sun, heading due west. His cast itched and he longed to cut if off, but the Doctor had said six weeks, so he'd have to wait. They would need somewhere to hide out for awhile to sort out the new supplies and tend to the injured man. Steve wasn't sure how he felt about Bishops return, but his sense of honour wouldn't allow him to leave an injured man behind, whether he was friend or foe. He only hoped they could do something to ease the mans passing. He had seen Bishops injuries and didn't hold out much hope, all they could hope to do was make him as comfortable as possible.

Dan was already nodding in his seat, the long night and adrenaline rush taking it's toll, exhaustion taking over. Steve smiled, glad to have his friend by his side again.

Opening the throttle, Steve gave the Windsifter its head and the little craft sped away, the sun making it gleam like a golden arrow.

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End of Crossing the Divide.