Nathaniel Nathan followed him out. From inside, Vera Xavier could clearly hear Sheldon Caldwell's indignant yell, "Shit, Nathaniel Nathan, you sucker-punched me!"
A faint smile touched Vera Xavier's lips as her eyes crinkled with amusement.
After a moment's thought, she pushed aside the curtain and walked out.
Stepping outside, she saw a helicopter hovering above the hospital. Helicopters were still a rare sight in those days, and this was the first time one had hovered over Crestfall. The spectacle drew nearby residents from their homes to watch.
As soon as Nathaniel Nathan and Sheldon Caldwell were outside, a rope ladder dropped from the helicopter. Nathaniel Nathan went first, scaling it as effortlessly as if he were walking up a flight of stairs.
Sheldon Caldwell climbed up after him. Just as he neared the cabin, Nathaniel Nathan kicked out at him. Caught off guard, Sheldon nearly fell, but he managed to catch the rope ladder again after dropping only two rungs.
