drama in 3 parts - part 3

The alarm was still blaring.

The paramedics had arrived quickly and had our downstairs neighbour all wired up to a heart monitor.

He was still alive.

When the paramedics insisted on cutting off his jeans to look for damage he was conscious enough to protest.

I was utterly relieved that he was capable of speech.

The paramedics took him to hospital on a stretcher.

We watched the ambulance drive away.

As the ambulance disappeared out of sight, a very, very tall man, wearing thick rubber soled boots and overalls emerged from the darkness.

Someone had had the sense to phone the electricity board.

The extremely tall engineer put on a pair of industrial rubber gloves and a pair of safety goggles.

Effortlessly, apparently extending beyond his already remarkable height, he reached up to the remaining alarm and with a confident grip, dismantled it.

My ears stopped ringing several days later.