Alive in Alaska by T. A. Martin Read Free Book Online Page A

She said a few concluding remarks into the phone and signed off.
    "Good news," said Bill.   He put his arm around Betsy.   She was sitting up in the carrier but tired from the pain and of the pain.   The splint on her leg was doing its job, but the fracture was aching.
    Jake's arm and shoulder were immobilized, but he was using quite a bit of pain relief under the watchful eye of the EMT.
    "They are sending a small unit support vehicle.   It is a tracked ambulance.   It should be here in about an hour they say,"   Said Danielle.
    “That’s a good choice to get to us,” Said Jake.
    "I'll give Mrs. Bigelow and Jake another dose in about forty-five minutes to ease the ride.   It is not a bad ride, but there can be some bumpiness," Said the EMT.
    "Sounds good, if I remember the SUSV the Stokes litter will fit in the trailer with ease," Danielle said.
    About a half hour later the group saw the two unit SUSV moving a few hundred yards away headed directly for them.   They yelled and raised their hands waving to the approaching vehicle.
    Soon the ambulance stopped in front of them, and an EMT jumped out to begin getting the survivors loaded up.
    “Hey Jake, I don’t often have to rescue you,” Said the driver.
    “Ok, Ok, so I stubbed my toe,” Said Jake.
    “Looks to me it was your arm.   Sorry to say it doesn’t look to hot,” He said.
    "Yeah, it will need some surgery, but my EMT has done an excellent job," Jake said, "Look who it turned out I was supposed to rescue."
    He pointed toward Danielle.
    “Hi Danielle, were you in that Navajo,” Said the driver.
    “Yes, and the Bigelows.”
    "That was a terrible sight, even for hardened SARs like us," He said.
    “The worst I have seen,” Said Danielle.
    “Anyway, let’s get you all back home.”
    With everyone on board, the SUSV turned toward Pump Station 5 and began the journey back.

Looking Forward to Tomorrow

    The Small Unit Support Ambulance was now moving along near its top speed as it approached Pump Station 5.   The Prospect Creek Airport next to the Station was directly in front of them.   The airport was unusually busy because of the NTSB people going back and forth to the crash sites.   They had set up their field headquarters at the airport.
    “Look, I think I see our rides landing now,” Said Danielle.
    She recognized the distinctive colors of the Banner Health Air Ambulance helicopter.   They flew over her dormitory at UAF on their way to Fairbanks Memorial nearly daily.   Further behind with landing lights on was a large single engine airplane on final approach.
    The ground was relatively flat now, but the tracked ambulance was bouncing a little bit as they hurried along.   Danielle looked back at Betsy, who was grimacing a little and Bill was gripping her hand because she was gripping his very tightly.   Now the tracked ambulance was on the taxiway and crawling toward the helicopter.   The SUSA stopped next to the air vehicle and the crew got out and carefully pulled Betsy out.   The blades were spinning, so the rescue crew ducked under them to carry Betsy in the basket rescue stretcher and load it into the copter.   Jake Jameson was able to walk and with a hand from Danielle got into the copter.   Now all that needed to go directly to the hospital were on board.   The pilot powered up the rotor and the blades bit into the air and lifted the craft gently off the ground, tilted forward to scoot a few feet off the ground until it gracefully arched up into the sky in a smooth turn toward Fairbanks.   The rest of the survivors, including Danielle and Bill, waited for the Cessna Caravan that they could see touch down on the runway to take them back to Fairbanks.   They would be taken from Fairbanks International via a shuttle to the hospital to be checked out.
    The Caravan rolled up and the rear door was opened and the six climbed on board.   They were glad to be on their way to Fairbanks.   The flight would be about an hour, so they