The Cool Room by Clifford Beck - HTML preview

Chapter 6

Seeing the plane disappear from radar, those working in the control were at a loss for an explanation, and after repeatedly trying to reach the flight instructor, it was agreed that local authorities should be notified. Within the hour, a search helicopter flew overhead and discovering the wreckage landed nearby. The flight crew was well-trained; all were ex-military with battle experience. But once at the site, some found they were not prepared for what they witnessed, and while most managed to keep themselves together, some broke down. Later that night, all of them sought solace at the bottom of a bottle, drinking themselves into a state of numbness. But this was not a simple search-and-recovery mission. The remains of the skydivers were scattered over roughly five square miles, and the need for more help arose as police and fire personnel were brought to the scene. The sun was high in the sky, and everyone was quickly briefed on what was believed to have happened and what they could expect to see. After the briefing, anyone who had doubts about their participation in this recovery were given the option to step down. After a list of the names of those lost in the accident was given out, many of the recovery team realized they knew the families of those killed and refused to leave. Wanting to do their part for the families as well as the community, each member of the team insisted on finding their remains – even if in pieces.

Given the gruesome nature of the work ahead, hazmat suits were handed out, along with body bags. Soon, the five square miles of previously peaceful landscape was dotted with white as the volunteers made their way through collecting arms, legs and other bits and pieces of human flesh. Occasionally, a helmet would be discovered with a skydiver’s head still tightly strapped in. But people are only human and subject to the tumultuous nature of human emotions, which often lead to a surging of reactions. One or two of lesser constitution chose to leave rather than continue with the ghastly task they had volunteered for. This was perfectly acceptable, and there was no judgment. Among those who remained, there were some who misjudged their emotional strength and found themselves bent over, expelling their last meal on the autumn grass, now tainted by tragedy, blood and mangled flesh. From that moment forward, their lives would be changed forever. But the job had to get done, and finding their strength, those who remained finished what they had come to do. At the end of the day, their suits, and gloves were running with blood, and the bags they had been equipped with were full. Yet, not all the parts had been recovered due to the unexpected presence of wildlife. One man, whose wife had just given birth, attempted to chase down a coyote running off with what appeared to be a shoe-clad foot in its mouth. Unable to catch the animal, he watched as it made off with its ill-gotten meal. The sight of this morbid theft would haunt him for the rest of his life, and only weeks later he found himself sitting in a therapist office, purging his soul to a well-dressed stranger. The rest of the group later found themselves at the bottom of a bottle, medicating their emotional wounds. It seemed to be the most convenient method of dealing with something their minds would never allow them to escape.