Radio Silence

This is a short story I started but never finished. I wanted to play with telling a story purely through dialogue. Tell me, do  you think it’s worth picking back up again, and finishing?

Sunday, 15:13

“They found her!”

“Thank Christ! Where?”

“Down a gully west of Pedersen Rd. The R-500’s on the way to get her, then to meet the ambos.”

“ETA?”

“Fifteen minutes to her, but I dunno how long it will take to get her up. She’s still not responding on the two way.”

“They find her horse?”

“Dunno yet, maybe when they get on the ground.”

Sunday, 16:27

What the hell is that noise? Why can’t I move?

Panic.

Where?

Voices.

Shadow overhead.

“Brydie, can you hear me?”

“Urgh, I kn gnear gu.”

Dry mouth, big tongue.

“Now, you’re on a backboard, with a collar.  Might be spinal damage.”

“Wha…?”
“What happened? Dunno, Brydie. You missed a couple of radio checks, so they pinged your mobile and sent the R-500 out.”

“Kids?”

“No word yet.”

“Damn.”

“Yep.”

“How bad?”

“Well, you got a few scratches. More than a few, actually. You’ll seize up from those bruises tomorrow. Can you open your eyes for me?”

Nod. Open eyes.

Head explodes.

Gasp.

“Turn the light off back here!”

“Hey, can you squeeze my hand?”
I squeeze.

“Yep, felt that. Great. Now, can you wiggle your toes for me?”

I wiggle my toes.

“Well, Brydie, that looks great. But, you’ll have to get X-rays.”

“Head hurts.”

“You probably knocked it around a bit sliding down that gully.”

“True.”

“Do you want some water?”

Sweet, cool water.

Struggle to swallow.

“More?”

“Please.”

More water, still so sweet and cool.

Tongue can moisten lips.

Swallow.

“Where am I?”

“Where? On the way to Toowoomba.”

“Okay.”

“You took a pretty bad tumble down a gully.”

“Lucy, my horse?”

“No sign of a horse where they picked you up.”

“No, she’s my best girl!”

“More  water? That’s it. Take it easy, little sips.”

The water is still so sweet and cool.

“Hey, Rob, can you get on the UHF and see if the R-500 saw a horse?”

“Sure, Teena, will do.”

“There you go, Brydie, we’ll ask about your horse.”

“Ta.” That water has freed things up in my mouth.

“We’re nearly at the hospital. Get ready to roll out.”

“Okay.”

I can feel every little bump between as the guerney goes out of the ambulance and onto the ramp for the ED. The new nurse is walking beside the guerney.

“So, Brydie, sorry we had to meet this way.”

“S’okay.”

“We’re just going to roll you in here, little bump, and … you’re in.”

“Lights, too bright.”

“Right, that’s your concussion. Hey, turn the lights down in cubicle 3!”

“Now, it doesn’t look like you need any stitches, just some ice and pain relief.”

“Thass good.”

“You’re tuckered out. But, concussion, you know, gotta stay awake.”

I struggle to keep my eyes open. “Mkay.”

“We’ll get you off to X-ray, just to check your neck and spine, then back here, ok?”

“Mkay.”

“You might want to shut your eyes. Corridor lights.”

“Mkay.”

Sunday, 19:00

“Brydie, Brydie, Brydie, if you didn’t want to come to work tomorrow, you should’ve just said!”

“G’day, Rob. Any sign of Lucy yet?”

“Your horse? Dunno. I’ll ask on my way out.”

“What about the kids?”

“Dave and Libby found them. The little buggers had a tent and snacks. Thought they’d go on a camping adventure.”

“That’s good news, but, hell, little buggers! What’s the verdict for me?

“Concussion, scrapes and bruises. Nothing broken.”

“When can I go home?”

“Should be tomorrow, we’ll keep you in overnight. Can’t let you go home alone with a concussion.”

“What about my dogs?”

“My girls are on the way out there now.”

“Ta.”

“So, how is it being on the other side?”

“It bites.”

Yeah, no rooms, so you’re spending the night here, in ED.”

“If I can get someone to stay with me tonight? Can I go home?”

“Who do you want me to call?”