Finally he sees the ambulance. Kierzwinski climbs, slows, brings his tail round 180 degrees and
drops his skids in the middle of the road. Gupta shoves the sliding door aside. The ambulance
crew pushes one gurney forward. Together they lift the victim into the helicopter.
“Where’s the other one?” Kierzwinski asks.
“She didn’t make it,” the paramedic yells back.
Kierzwinski nods. The nurses fumble with the straps as they tie the gurney to the helicopter
floor, which is jumping like a wild horse. “We’ve got wind!” Kierzwinski says. “Let’s go! Let’s
go!” The nurses take their seats and Kierzwinski lifts off. The helicopter climbs, but slowly, fighting
the storm. Kierzwinski thinks: I’m lifting, I’m lifting, we’re gonna make it.
He sees the power line at the last possible moment. With the storm to his back he cannot climb
any faster, and he cannot stop. He feels the impact before he hears it, and he knows he has
hooked the power line with his skids. As Trooper 1 loses speed, time slows down. Kierzwinski
pulls the stick with all his strength, hoping to break the line. The helicopter is temporarily
suspended, roaring at full throttle but motionless in the sky. The radio comes to life.
