SURVIVORS
Chapters 4. Sacrifice (revision)
Dean was about to check towards the front when he heard a scream. His steps stopped and then ran towards the left towards the forest. He saw a woman sitting in the snow with a trembling body hugging her knees while closing her eyes. His breath was breathless as if he had run away. His body trembled violently with his mouth twitching.
Dean looked around and found the cause of the scream. There were many victims covered in blood. Some are still intact some have lost limbs. Frozen blood splashed everywhere staining a clear white stretch of snow.
Dean approached the woman to calm her down. The woman's shoulder was touched slowly. The woman looked up and...
"Aarrgghhh!" the woman collapsed after screaming hysterically.
Dean was surprised for a moment then shook his head. Does my look really scary? Thought he didn't understand. Hasn't she always been charming? That means more than just a handsome face, but also a good stature. Even Luke always called it Good looking man when introducing him to the women of his acquaintances.
Dean looked at the woman lying in the snow.
"Truly troublesome," Dean grumbled.
Because it was impossible to just leave it out in the open, so Dean carried the woman on his shoulder and walked back to Dr. Chandra.
It turned out that Chandra's doctor had woken up some people there. There were 4 injured people and others were seen to have bluish bruises. Doctor Chandra and a young woman are bandaging the wounded when Dean returns with a woman.
Dean dropped the woman off and laid her down near Dr. Chandra.
"She just fainted, so please wake up," Dean said briefly.
He continued while pointing to the plane.
"It seems that the broken part here is not too big. I think the other part is ahead. I'll check around."
"Gather all the things we'll need. Food, thick clothing, blankets and more. Then go back and gather in the back room of the plane. It's more closed, so it's warmer."
Dean's words were like an instruction and the other victim nodded.
Some can lead when they are confused, so isn't it easier to follow someone who already understands the situation?
*
*
Dean walked toward the front of the fault of the plane. Several broken pine trunks covered the snow surface. Some objects that should belong to passengers scattered also there, including metal fragments of the plane.
Dean quickened his pace and a moment later saw an unimaginable sight.
The nose of the plane plunged into the snow. It was seen swooping in until it was able to hold its back still looking up.
'How thick is this snow?' thought.
Dean surrounded the passage but could not find the pilot's window.
'It's really deep' he thought.
Then he tried to yell out to the one inside the fault of the plane.
"Hallooo.. Does anyone hear my voice?" Shouted Dean.
For a while there was no response. Dean picked up a broken twig and knocked hard on the wall of the plane.
Tuk... Tuk... Tuk....
"Halloo.... Is anyone safe there? If you can't answer, try tapping something near you. Make a sound so I can hear it!"
Once again Dean shouted and waited.
Finally Dean heard a very slow and almost inaudible knock.
"I heard your knock," cried Dean excitedly and knocked back.
"Look around you, is anyone still safe? Knock in response" cried Dean again.
Then Dean waited while thinking about how to get the victim out of there.
The pine trees still standing were too far away from the plane's fault, so he couldn't possibly climb in and jump in to help. Dean also had no cliff-climbing equipment at the moment.
Then there was the sound of knocking and coughing from inside the plane.
"Can you move around and check the pilot room? I can't find the pilot's window, it's snowing!" yell Dean again.
Before long he heard voices. That means more than one person. That nice. Then the heavy voice of a man replied:
"I'll check the pilot room. There's an injured flight attendant here!"
The man's screams told Dean.
"Yes." a faint voice sounded from within.
Outside Dean dragged and removed fallen tree trunks that could block the surviving passengers from jumping out. Then again the voice of the flight attendant.
"I found the medicine box. I'll collect the food I found here!" his yell.
The flight attendant asked again.
"Isn't it too cold here? Are we on the top of the mountain? Should I collect warm clothes?"
"Yes! We're stranded in a snowy forest. So collect all the warm clothes there and throw them out later. This place is too high, we can't possibly go back to pick up supplies" Dean replied.
"Good." The flight attendant replied, in doubt.
'Snow? How come?'
But he kept on doing Dean's orders.
Then there was a knock not far from the surface. It must be the pilot room, Dean thought as he approached and knocked back.
"What's the situation with the cockpit?" Dean asked in a loud voice.
"Only a technician survived. He's wounded. I'll get it out."
The heavy-spoken man answered Dean's question.
Then Dean returned to the plane and shouted inside:
"Miss, can you find the gloves? It was very useful in cold snowy weather like this."
'True snow?' Thought that woman again.
The sky is blue, it should be warm. But why is the cold still bone-chilling? Curiously the flight attendant shifted the window coverings and looked out. It's a snowflake! This isn't a dream.
"Aarrgghhh.." a heartbreaking loud shout came from the cockpit.
The flight attendant gasped and shouted inside.
"Can I help you there?"
He recognized that voice. It was the sound of the aircraft technicians taking part in the flight.
"No need, it's done here. We'll be out soon" replied the man with a heavy voice.
"Oh, alright.I will gather supplies here," replied the woman again.
This time the flight attendant collected other objects that he felt were useful in the winter. All collected in a travel bag and a small suitcase that is there. Then put all the contents of the other bags he found into one large backpack that there.
'I think this is enough' he thought.
He turned to the open cockpit door.
"Alan.. You survived! Mercifully.... Which part was injured?" ask the flight attendant to worry.
"I shifted my head because I hit it. But Mr. Robert had fixed it and put it back where it was," he said, holding his still-vibrating arm.
"I'm Robert, what's your name?" ask the man to the flight attendant.
"I Larasati. Just call Laras," Baras replied quickly and turned his eyes to Alan.
"I think you need a strapping cloth to hold your hand." Laras decided, as soon as he saw Alan's condition.
Then he took out a piece of cloth that he had collected in a large backpack. The barrel starts tying Alan's arm and making him hang comfortably. It can relax her and reduce pain.
Meanwhile, Robert had arranged some suitcases there. He checked the cabin baggage and found nothing important. The flight attendant took care of it quickly.
"Is there anything else left behind? Take it soon then we're out of here."
Alan shook his head. He had already brought out his small toolbox from the cockpit.
Laras turned to the cockpit and saw Alan. His eyes seemed to ask in his silence. Alan understands that. Then he shook his head and lowered his head.
Baras bowed his head. She felt suffocated and shed her tears silently. The pilot and co-pilot did not survive the crash. But they give other passengers a chance to get on with life. Laras muttered a series of prayers for their sacrifice.
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