Somehow, I found myself separated from my five-man crew, and it happened overnight, because when I woke up from my hiding place in the thick brush, covered with scratches and bug bites, my comrades did not return to our pre-determined rendezvous point. I do remember hearing those voices with a foreign accent muttering sardonically, “stoopeed ahneemals.” So, I figured my buddies were captured either individually or in a group, and I was the only one they couldn’t find. Maybe that is because I chose to “sleep” if you want to call it that, in the most uncomfortable place possible so as not to be found. It worked, but it took it’s toll on me: no sleep and pure misery and that is not what I needed to continue to evade them during the daylight.
I figured they were specifically looking for one man now. Me.
I wanted to go to the stream at the bottom of the ridge and drink like a thirsty cactus, after putting some iodine pills in my canteen to kill the bacteria and giardia, but I knew they would be looking for the last ahneemal at the most logical place a human would go: the river bed.
Despite my overwhelming thirst that seemed to cake my mouth and lips like dried glue, my desire to avoid capture became primary to thirst, so I camouflaged myself with mud and tree branches, and slowly and quietly traversed the ridge, about a third of the way down from the top, so as to be less likely to be seen, just like they taught me in survival school. I was able to find some early morning wetness from dew, pooled intermittently on some wide-shaped fern fronds, and was able to gather a small amount of water that way, ate my last protein bar because my dry long range patrol food packet was unusable without water.
I knew I needed to find a perfect hiding place again, before nightfall when they roamed the mountainous forest with their helmet lights for guidance, and I found it: a rock outcropping, hanging precipitously over the high mountain ledge, about thirty feet up, accessible only by climbing the trees that were surrounding it, as if protecting it from being seen. The only way I was able to descry it was because the late afternoon sun briefly reflected on a piece of shiny quartz on the stone face, just behind the protection of the trees. After waiting about fifteen minutes, listening for human sounds on the forest floor, I found it was the opportune time to start tree climbing, which was difficult in my weakened condition, so I climbed slowly, resting on tree branches when I could, every five feet or so, keeping my mouth closed and breathing through my nose so as not to make noise. Finally, I arrived at the mouth of the cave, and it had a small opening of about three feet, I could see a place to lie in the back, with boulders strewn all over. Luckily, I was able to pull myself halfway in, without breaking any Blue Spruce branches, and pulled the rest of my body in, hiding in the back of the cave. I pulled several boulders to the front, just to make sure no one could see inside, in case the next day they saw the shiny quartz sparkles from below.
Sleep descended upon me quickly. My body demanded it, and suddenly the darkness struck and I felt more alone than ever before. The cave was hanging right over a mountain cliff, and I knew that if I made a hasty move, I would fall down into the valley, a thousand feet below. It seemed to me at the time that it was likely a bear cave, and may have rattle snakes as well, but that was the risk I took and I hope the bears were long gone, out looking for food that was not human.
I survived so far and thought of my comrades. I hoped they were being treated well. But, right now, I saw the most beautiful sunrise ever known to man. Silvery orange arrows emerged over the tree line on the opposite ridge, and they slowly illuminated the mountainous expanse of breathtaking wonder and dense growth of majestic trees with bald eagles sitting and watching me with aloof curiosity. I thought to myself, how could I be in such a precarious position in a scene of such natural beauty, and yet, only humans could spoil it with their hide and seek war games? I enjoyed the immense beauty that God had created, and I was filled with wonder at what he chose to accomplish. At that point, despite my thirst, hunger and weakness, I prayed to the almighty God and his son Jesus, that I was lucky for the blessings that I had, and that I needed divine help to figure all this out and get back to safety. I then opened my eyes, saw the sunrise even brighter, and I was filled with warmth and strength inside, and vowed someday to come back to this mountainous countryside when this was all over and I was safe
As it turns out, I did reach the safety of my platoon, had a long drink of fresh water, and yes, I came back to this beautiful area years later, and eventually made it my home.
© SRCarson.com 2023
it’s so superb! I am sure that your home is the main place of power for you .. the more I read you, the more you inspire! thank you
Thank you
You should write more posts like this, love it. I love adventure genre