by: Marty Chrisman

“Bo?” Luke said quietly, he couldn’t talk very loud because of the pain his chest.

“Yeah?”

“Look around and see if you can find any supplies….food, water, a first aide kit…anything we might be able to use.”

“Yeah, Okay.” He glanced at his older cousin worriedly. He didn’t like his color, Luke was still too pale. He was obviously in pain but he kept insisting that he just had a bad headache and some broken ribs. Bo had a feeling that Luke wouldn’t tell him if he was hurt any worse than that. He wouldn’t want to worry Bo or scare him any more than he already was.

There wasn’t a lot of room to move around in the small cockpit, especially when you’re six feet four, but Bo managed to rummage around until he found a first aide kit, several bottles of water, some crackers, and some canned tuna. He also found a couple of blankets and some signal flares.

Sitting back down in the seat beside Luke, he opened the first aide kit and took out some cotton swabs and alcohol. Carefully he cleaned the gash on Luke’s forehead. Luke winced and tried not to cuss even though the alcohol burned like hell. The gash was still bleeding slightly and it looked awfully deep. Bo found some makeshift butterfly bandages in the first aide kit and gently put three of them on the gash to help hold it shut.

When he was finished cleaning Luke’s head injury, he opened a bottle of the water. Slipping one arm behind Luke’s head, he held the water up to his lips so he could take a drink. Luke drank some but it made him cough violently. Bo patted his back gently “You okay, Luke?” he asked in a concerned voice

“I’m fine…” Luke said when he found his voice again. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes. He wasn’t sure how long he could keep the truth about his condition from Bo. He was positive that he was bleeding inside and probably had a concussion too. And he couldn’t feel anything from the waist down or move his legs.

Bo wrapped one of the blankets around Luke and used the other one for himself. It was getting colder in the cockpit. Outside Bo could see the snow blowing into large drifts. The nose of the plane was already half buried. He was getting really scared but he was trying not to let it show. He touched Luke’s shoulder looking for reassurance but Luke did not respond. Bo realized that either he had fallen asleep or he was unconscious again. Bo couldn’t be sure which. Too tired to think about it right now, Bo curled up in his seat and leaned his head against Luke’s shoulder, drifting off to sleep.

Bo wasn’t sure what had awakened him until he realized that Luke was restless and mumbling under his breath. “Luke?” Bo said anxiously, gently shaking his cousin’s shoulder. It took several seconds for Luke to respond but finally he slowly opened his eyes. They were cloudy with pain and he looked feverish. Bo quickly felt his forehead. He was burning up. “Luke?” Bo repeated his name trying to get his older cousin to talk to him so he’d know he was okay.

“Bo…” Luke finally said in a weak barely audible voice. “I don’t feel so good…..”

“It’s okay, cuz…” Bo said. He grabbed one of the bottles of water and opened it. Grabbing a rag he found lying on the floorboard, he wet it and gently wiped Luke’s face  trying to make his cousin feel better. “You got more than just a headache and some broken ribs, don’t ya?”

Luke slowly nodded his head “Yeah, I think so….” He admitted. He looked at his cousin “Bo, listen to me….it’s cold in here and it’s gonna get colder….promise me…whatever you do, don’t fall asleep…”

“Sure…but why?”

“Because…if you get too cold and fall asleep…then you won’t wake up again…” Luke told him “No matter what….you stay awake…..”

“Luke, don’t talk like that….you’re scaring me….” Bo said trying to keep the fear from showing in his voice.

“Don’t worry about me, cuz….” Luke told him with a feeble attempt at a smile  “I’m not planning on going no where yet….” In spite of his words, Bo was still worried. He knew that if Luke was hurt inside that could be dangerous without medical attention soon. But he didn’t know how they were going to get out of here. The blizzard was still going on and the drifts were getting higher by the second.

Bo shivered and pulled the blanket closer around him. It was getting colder inside the plane as the temperature dropped outside. Bo’s stomach growled reminding him that it had been hours since he’d last eaten. Picking up a can of the tuna, he pulled the tab to open it and then opened a pack of the crackers. It wasn’t much but it would have to do. Bo used a cracker to scoop out some of the tuna and ate it hungrily. He offered some to Luke who shook his head refusing to eat.

Luke continued to get weaker until he was barely able to talk. Bo touched his face, his skin was cold and clammy but at the same time, he was still running a fever. “Luke?” Bo said, gently shaking Luke’s shoulder “Come on, Luke…you gotta stay awake.”

“Bo….listen to me.” Luke said, struggling to get out the words he needed to say. “You’re gonna have to go find…help….or we’re both gonna die here….”

“I can’t do that, Luke!” Bo said in a startled voice “I ain’t gonna leave you here by yourself. I’ll take ya with me….”

“You can’t do that…and we both know it….” Luke told him “I ain’t in…no shape to go anywhere….besides…I couldn’t if I even if I wanted to…”

“Come on, Luke…” Bo said, not wanting to listen to what Luke was saying “We’ll figure something out….I ain’t leaving ya here by yourself!”

“Bo, listen to me…” Luke said quietly but firmly “I’m hurt inside….and I’m gonna die if you don’t get some help….ain’t nobody gonna find us otherwise….” He paused to catch his breath “Besides….I can’t move my legs….”

“What?” Bo exclaimed in alarm. He looked at his older cousin his eyes reflecting his fear and uncertainty. “Luke…I can’t do it! I can’t leave you….”

“You have to.” Luke repeated “If you don’t….we’re both gonna die….”

“Luke….” Bo said trying to hold back the tears that gathered in his eyes “Don’t make me do this…..”

“You have to. It’s our only chance….” Luke looked into his cousin’s eyes trying to make him understand that they had no other choice. Finally, Bo nodded even though he still didn’t like the idea. “Find anything you can use….to take with you.” Luke told him. The effort of simply talking was tiring him out. He leaned his head back against the seat and closed his eyes, not to sleep but just to rest for awhile.

Bo searched the cockpit again. He found some cookies, another blanket, a flashlight, a sleeping bag and some matches. Bo and Luke were both wearing heavy down jackets they had bought in Michigan so Bo decided he wouldn’t need the blanket or the sleeping bag. He found a canvas bag and put some of the crackers, some of the water, the matches and the flashlight inside. He took the extra blanket plus the one he had been using, as well as the sleeping bag and wrapped them all around Luke to keep him warm.

He opened the bag of cookies and a bottle of water and sat them both within Luke’s reach in case he decided to try and eat something while he was gone.

As Bo prepared to leave he put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder and said “I’ll be back as soon as I can and I’ll bring help too.”

“I know you will….” Luke said with a crooked smile “Just…hurry. Okay?”

“You bet.” Bo said, giving his cousin an awkward hug. “You just stay alive till I get back.” Although Bo tried to keep his tone light and joking, he was scared to death to leave Luke alone like this. He was afraid that even if he did find help it would too late for Luke.