There were three of us in the car.
First of all there was me, Clint. I'm nineteen, slender and a little on the short side. I seem to be a natural target for bullies so I've studied martial arts. Hand one bully his head and word gets around. And I'm an average skier.
Second, there was Peter. Same age, same college. An excellent skier, who says he'll give me some lessons in exchange for some martial arts lessons. He's over six foot tall, and beefy.
Third was Thorndyke, and why the hell parents give their children names like Thorndyke is totally beyond my comprehension. We call him Thorn. Again, same age and college. He's even taller than Peter and just as muscular. An average skier and hoping for a few lessons as well.
The three of us were heading up the mountains, on our way to a ski resort. We planned to spend a week there. Thorn was driving, despite my protests. It was his car, so we didn't really have too much to say about it, but he's a lousy driver.
We were running a little late and night was approaching fast. I bloody told Thorn to ease up a little. The resort wasn't going anywhere. If we were a little late it would still be there waiting.
It was a patch of black ice that got him. One moment we're sailing around the corner and the next we're doing 360 spins. We spun around and around, flat-sided the protective barrier and neatly remove a big chunk of it. We finished up right on the edge of the mountain. I could look out and down, and it was an awfully long way down.
We got out of the car (On the driver's side, I wasn't getting out my door, I'll tell you that.) and stood back to look at the situation we were in. In theory, we could just back up slowly, away from the edge, get on the road and away we'd go. In practice, the offside wheels were half over the edge, and I'd hate to be in the car when we tried to move it.
The problem was solved when the ground crumbled under a wheel and dropped that wheel over the edge. Tow-truck time. Thorn reached for his phone and wouldn't you know it, no signal. We'd have to hike up to the nearest place with a land line.
We were wondering whether to get our stuff and take it with us when there was this funny crunching sound and the next thing we knew the car vanished. We heard it land about five seconds later. We also heard it land a second time, a couple of seconds after that, followed by scraping sounds. I guess that first landing was really just a bounce.
We considered going to the edge and looking down at the wreckage, but what would be the point? And seriously, would you want to stand on the edge of a cliff that had just had chunks fall off it?
Our decision now was uphill or downhill. We knew what lay downhill. Nothing. Miles of it. We voted uphill. So we set off up the road, praying for a phone signal, a passing vehicle or lights.
It was getting cold fast, and our parkas were in the car at the bottom of the frigging mountain. Fortunately we were all quite fit and we were able to make good time without over exerting ourselves. Still, we were all bloody grateful when we finally spotted a light.
We went hurrying over to the building and it turned out to be a hikers hut for stranded hikers or skiers, and that was sure us right then. We knocked and then just opened the door and bustled straight in. It was getting really cold out there.
Geez, it was nice to be somewhere warm. Unfortunately it was also a bit crowded. What at first glance seemed a bevy of beauties quickly resolved into a trio of indignant young women. I seemed to be a case of, hey, we were here first. You lot go away.
We finally managed to explain to them that we had a bit of a problem and that we'd be on our way as soon as possible. There was a landline there, patched straight through to the ski resort. Thorn was on it pretty quick, demanding a tow truck instantly, and transport up to the lodge.
What he got was a horse laugh. It appeared that the weather was lousy at the lodge and they weren't sending anyone out into it just to extract us from a hikers hut. They pointed out, quite reasonably, that we were perfectly safe where we were and could just stay the night.
As for a tow truck, there was no way a tow truck was going to come and haul our wreckage up the side of the mountain in the middle of the night with a storm brewing. That would also wait until tomorrow.
On the plus side, the resort said that they had now ticked us off as accounted for and they would be happy to pick us up in the morning.
The three young ladies were not at all pleased to find that they were having company for the night. Introductions seemed in order so I introduce myself, Thorn and Peter.
The young lady who seemed to be doing all the talking for the girls then introduced them. There was Sara, a mousey little thing, quiet but pretty.
Next was Claire, average size, dark hair, nice figure, pretty and chatty. Last, but definitely not least, was Alicia. If you know the meaning of Junoesque, you know how this woman was built. She was big, blonde and stacked. She was also taller than me and quite possibly heavier, although her weight was arranged differently to mine, that was for sure.
Now the hiking hut came with some bare necessity staples like soup and coffee, so we were able to get something hot into our stomachs.
There wasn't an endless supply of wood for a fire though. The idea I suppose is that stranded travellers wrap themselves in the blankets provided and sleep on one of the little beds. There were three of these, folded up against the walls. The idea was you could fold them down as required and use them as chairs, tables and, of course, beds.
It was getting late and we were all sort of casting looks at those beds. It was Thorn that finally opened the subject.
"Well, it looks as though we're all going to have to share the beds," he announced, and he was giving Alicia the once over while he spoke.
Alicia just snorted.
"In your dreams," she said. "Sara and Claire can share one bunk. You and your mate can share the second. I'll take the third one with him," jerking her thumb toward me, "and if he tries anything I'll kick him all around the room."
Like I said, bullies look at me and see an easy target. It's depressing at times, but this time it also got me sharing a bed with a doll. Alicia was hot.
Peter and Thorn both gave me looks, knowing my abilities. I just shrugged and tried to look small and helpless.
The only things we took off when we retired was our boots. I could just imagine the girls reactions if we'd suggested undressing for bed. Fun to watch, but it might result in us sleeping on the floor.
