Chapter 66: A time-consuming rescue

Someone else took his place. 'Hello Elisabeth, I'm Viv.' None of them touched the car which was now minus the tree, the door, and the steering wheel. Viv braced himself on his lower leg. 'Elisabeth, before we do anything else I want to put this collar on you.'

'Don't need it.'

His voice didn't alter. 'That's great,' he said patiently. 'But to be on the safe side I want to put it on. Please.' She would do anything for anyone who asked like that. It might have made him happy but she felt like a trussed chook. 'Now, Serge is going to have a look at how to get you out.'

The collar proved a real hindrance, restricting her to eye movement alone. She could see virtually nothing of what was going on. She wanted to ask, to find out, but the effort was past her. Someone was feeling down her legs.

'Who ...'

'It's me, Serge. I need to know whether your legs are caught or free.'

'Can't move.'

'I know. But that could just mean they're tightly wedged or ...'

'Or?'