“The point from where the signal is supposedly coming from is over there, under that peak,” the co-pilot pointed into the distance.
“We’ll make three tapering circles and if we don’t find anything, we’ll head back to base,” the captain said.
He did a small maneuver, the helicopter shook violently.
“Engine power is dropping!” he shouted. “Something is wrong with the machine!”
The helicopter began to descend against the actions of the pilots. The rotor blades began to slow down and the sound density decreased.
“Select a landing spot!” commanded the captain. “Everyone, grab hold of the handrails!”
The helicopter was approaching the ground. Tulu-Manchi held Yulia’s hand tightly. But she looked tiredly at the actions of the military and the doctor and did absolutely not feel the fall. Yulia stopped understanding what was happening. She turned as pale as the snow on the mountain tops around her. Her eyes rolled back, and she fell from this mountain madness into the quiet surf of her subconscious. The captain yanked the lever and the helicopter hovered just in front of the ground for a moment and landed gently, as gently as it could on the hillside. Everything went quiet.
“Are you all right?” looking at Yulia with fright, the doctor asked.
“No,” replied Yulia calmly, coming to her senses, “I’m not alright.”
The assistant captain opened the helicopter doors from the outside and helped Yulia out. The helicopter was sliding down the mountain. The pilots began throwing rocks under the wheels. The helicopter slid down a few more centimeters and froze.
Yulia, Dr Capri, the communications officer, and the two pilots stood in the middle of the mountain and looked at the bizarre giant steel dragonfly, which looked absurd in this landscape. Around the military and scientists towered mountains and an immense silence that contrasted strongly with the noise and anxiety that had ended a moment before.
The military put a few more large rocks under the wheels of the helicopter for reassurance. They took a few steps back, assessing the situation, trying to comprehend what had happened.
“Hey! Are you okay?” an English speech rang out behind them.
The assistant captain drew his gun and pointed it in the direction of the approaching figure.
“Stop and raise your hands!” shouted the soldier in Nepali.