A Call For Help
by Beth Price, KC8ALW
It was a dark and stormy night. Julie Eliot, KC8ALW, looked like a caterpillar, wrapped up in blankets from her shoulders to her feet and curled up on her couch. Julie didn't have to strain her ears to hear the icy wind blowing about the corners of her house. She shivered and snuggled deeper into her blankets to keep warm--just the sound of the storm was enough to make anyone cold, much less the actual temperature of the room. Well, she wouldn't have to worry about going to school in the morning, that much was certain. The storm showed no signs of abating and the way the snow was piling up about the windowsill...there went the big Biology test!
Julie grew bored of watching television and decided to see how her friend Angie Florence, KC8ANT, was doing, being holed up in her house during the storm. Their parents had gone out to the opera that night together and Angie would be alone and bored too, no doubt. Julie picked up the telephone and was annoyed to hear no dial tone. She hung up the phone just as a news announcer appeared on the television screen.
"Due to stormy conditions, much of Middleton, Ohio and the surrounding areas find themselves with telephone lines down and no power; however, authorities say that nothing can be done until the storm clears. If you find yourself in this situation, your best bet would be to stay put and make due until it is morning or until the storm clears up. Even before the storm came through, accidents were occurring on icy areas such as bridges and overpasses. The blizzard has made all roadways dangerous. It has been advised to stay off the roads until this storm clears because of icy conditions and heavy snowfall--"
The announcer's voice was cut off in mid-sentence when the lights flickered and then shut off suddenly. The house became abruptly silent as all electrical appliances shut off due to the power outage. Julie groaned and reached for the emergency flashlight, just as an unearthly scream ripped through the house. "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Julie swung her flashlight around to catch a white face with wildly rolling eyes. She started, and then grinned. It was only her brother Chip, KB8ESU. "What's up, micro-Chip? Computer die on you?"
"Stupid power-outages! And I was in the middle of making the last adjustments on the computer game that I've been making! I had finished level three and was about to hit the save button when the screen flickered and went black! Three hours of work down the drain! It's pure torture! What'll I do with all my time now? We still have four hours until Mom and Dad are supposed to get home!"
Julie grinned. "Longer than that, I'm afraid. Roads have been closed because of icy conditions and lack of visibility. They might be holed up downtown all night. Meanwhile, let's break out the candles."
Soon flickering candles dimly lighted the house. By checking her watch, Julie determined that it was only eight-thirty. "Hey! It's time for my sched with Angie on two-meters. Where's my handheld?" A couple swings with the flashlight and the dim light from the candles quickly located the radio on a shelf. Julie turned it on to 147.42 simplex, Angie and her favorite frequency for their nightly chat. Julie had almost thumbed the transmitting key when she heard it--a static rush followed by a broken signal. Julie started for a second. "I didn't think that the snow could do that! Chip, come here and listen to this!"
Chip came over and listened intently. He blinked and ran a hand through this already perpetually messy hair. "Is it me, or did that person just say 'help me'?"
"Wait a second...let me change the frequency a bit...147.415. Listen now! Is that the signal we heard before?" There was the tail end of a human voice, then static. Chip started to say something, but Julie waved him to be silent. "Shh! The person's transmitting again!"
Chip and Julie hunched over the handheld with a mixture of excitement and apprehension. There was a slight crackle of static, then a faint feminine voice was heard. "...I need help! This is KB8MDX, does anybody copy? Mayday..." The voice drifted off to be lost in the murmur of static.
Chip's eyes widened. "I think you're right! It IS the same person. But why--?"
Julie stared in horror at the radio as the voice continued. "...KB8MDX...car wrecked...driver unconscious...hurt...location unknown...assistance needed immediately..."
"Do you recognize the call sign?"
Chip shook his head. "I've never heard it before. Try to talk to her! Find out more information!"
Julie thumbed the transmit button and spoke into her handheld. "KB8MDX, this is KC8ALW. Do you copy?"
"KC8ALW...this is KB8MDX...please help us!"
"Are there any landmarks or anything nearby that we can use to find you?"
There was static for a couple of seconds, and Chip and Julie leaned forward, listening intently for a reply. Finally, KB8MDX spoke again. "I...can't see out of the car...crumpled around me...can't turn to look out window...snow's covering the windshield...can't see out...don't know where I am..." The signal cut off.
Julie tried to contact KB8MDX again, but there was no response. She stared at her brother in horror, realizing their situation. What could they do? The roads were unsafe, power was out...Chip shook his head. It seemed almost hopeless, but they had to do something!
Julie and Chip decide to: