Chapter 12
Thinking I would be able to see some kind of sign that someone was around, I slowly looked along the edge of the water but there just wasn't anything that I could see that stuck out. I wrapped my leg around the tree then dug out the map and opened it up. I looked at the shape of the lake on the map, then looked at the lake or pond in front of me and from up here I could really see that this wasn't at all the lake on the map. I started to fold the map up and put it in my pocket when the branch I was standing on snapped. The next thing I knew I was waking up next to the base of the big pine tree. As my eyes opened I wasn't sure what was happening or what had happened. I tried to focus but I couldn't see. I sat up and leaned against the tree. I felt my legs and body to see if I had anything wrong but everything seemed fine. As I looked up it was totally dark outside. I must have knocked myself out when I fell out of the tree. I sat there for a few minutes trying to go through things in my head then I stood up. I felt a little dizzy but other than that I think I was okay. Thank God I didn't break my leg or arm. I squinted my eyes to try and see where my backpack was. I remembered I had just placed it by the edge of the lake on the trail, which was only twenty feet away from the big pine I had climbed. I walked about eight steps and could see the dark silhouette of my pack. Relieved I grabbed it and then just stood there not really knowing what to do. My body shivered and I felt the cool air of the night all around me. I couldn't stop shaking and I thought the last thing I want is to get hyperthermia so I figured I better make a fire quick. I set my pack down and felt around inside for matches. I always have them in a small Mason jar, but then I remembered I had left then in my glove box in my truck. Frustrated at myself I knew I had to get a fire going, and soon. While I was digging in my pack I felt the stones. I hated to but I need to get a fire going so I reached back in my pack and found the stones. It was dark but not black dark now. I guess my eyes must have adjusted some since I had come to. I grabbed my shovel and cleared a spot down to the dirt, dug a hole, then felt around for some grass and twigs. I placed the flint on the ground just under the grass and took the smaller stone and hit the flint. The entire area lit up with the same bluish color and then there was a wave of such force that I felt it push against my body almost sending me flying again like the last time. This time I didn't care because I was so cold I needed to get a fire going and thankfully it worked again. There was a small flame so I blew on it for a few minutes until there was a good fire going, then dug around and found some bigger branches and broke them up and placed them on the fire. I looked up and the sky and area around me was flashing those same colors. I sat back against my back pack and just watched it for a few minutes while the fire started to warm my body, then got up and pulled my tent out and set it up. I looked down at my wrist. I wanted to check the time because I hadn't had a clue as to what time of day it was but my watch was gone. I reached over with my right hand and grabbed my wrist checking to see if there was a rub mark or something, maybe when I fell out of the tree it hooked a branch and got ripped off my wrist. I looked around the area I was standing with no luck, then I looked over at the big pine. I could see it with the reflection of the fire so I grabbed a burning limb and made my way over by the tree. I looked for what seemed like twenty minutes with no luck. Frustrated I went back to the tent and knelt down next to the fire.
No comments:
Post a Comment