Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash
She hung off the side of the wind turbine. The harness tightened a bit as she leaned over to take a look at the damaged blade. Yesterday's lightning storm caused minor damage and it was her job to fix it. She pulled out the sander and ran it over the damaged fiberglass, careful not to crack the surface.
Most people would call her nuts making a living hanging off wind turbines. It was a dangerous job. One not meant for those with fear of heights. But as a veteran rock climber, for her, it was just another day at the office.
She put the sander away and checked her work. It looked good. She smiled and put the sander away in her pack. Without warning, a giant gust of wind knocked her off the blade. She swung freely off the edge. She held on tight to the harness as the wind continued to push her around.
Suddenly, the harness loosened and she began falling. She tried desperately to stop it, but the fall, combined with the wind, made it difficult to do so. Finally she took control and caught herself mid-air. She hung there helplessly.
“Damn it”
She shook her head, then began pulling herself back up. The wind was silent for the better part of the day, so it surprised her to see it change so sudden.
A strange smell caught her attention. She twisted her body to face the other side, and as she did, her eyes widened. It was clear what was happening. Panic set in.
She pulled herself up as fast as she could. Every stride took an enormous amount of effort. Her arms burned and the weight of her equipment slowed her down. The climb became overwhelmingly difficult, but she couldn't let go. She had to keep climbing, because closing in around her... was the forest fire.