Oh well. It had been a good run. Satisfying while it lasted. At times even fun. Hard. But worth it. And if it had to end, at least this was a good place for it. At least he had a good view.
Andre sat on the ground with his back propped against a rock, gazing out over a stunning valley rimmed by white and purple mountains. Rocky peaks stretched as far as he could see. Late spring flowers bloomed around him and new leaves covered all the trees. If he had to go, this was a good place for it.
He sighed. It hurt to sigh. The effort nearly exhausted him.
His pack lay next to him. A half-empty bottle of water stood just within his reach. He lifted it, unscrewed the cap, and drank. How good it tasted. And sad to think this would be the last thing he ever tasted. As he slowly turned his head to survey the valley below him, he reflected on his brief life.
He had accomplished so much. Yet he still had so much left to do. Strangely, he found that the realization that he still had so many places left in the world that he wanted to see and now never would did not sadden him. A strange feeling of peace descended upon him. He looked up at the sky. It was late morning. A bright sun warmed him and puffy clouds broke the cerulean sky. Andre thought it was the most beautiful sky he had ever seen.
“Get up off the ground there. You ain’t dying.”
The thought trickled down through his languid consciousness and emerged as a question, “I’m not?”
“No. You haven’t had any coffee and I know that little fall you took hurt but you’re not even bleeding. No broken bones. Hell, I’m pretty sure you don’t even have a concussion.”
“I’m not?” Andre asked again. He looked himself over. There were a couple bruises on his arms and he seemed to have scraped his back a little, but no blood soaked his shirt. In fact, he did not even feel much pain. He had assumed that must be the shock, but now a ray of hope filled him. Still, he had his doubts.
“How do you know I don’t have a concussion?”
“You didn’t even hit your head.”
“I feel very tired.”
“You’re always tired. You haven’t had any coffee and we’ve hiked 10 miles since dawn and you haven’t eaten anything.”
“I feel like I can’t get up.”
“You can get up. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Andre looked at his friend skeptically. “How can you be sure I don’t have a concussion?” he asked.
Smitty sighed, pulled a flashlight from his pack, and squatted down in front of Andre. He shined the light into Andre’s face and watched his eyes.
“You don’t have a concussion,” he said.
“You sure?”
“What’s your mother’s name?”
“Andrea.”
“Who was the first president of the United States?”
“George Washington.”
“What year was Bacon’s Rebellion?”
“1676.”
“What’s 17 times 24?”
“Uh, 408.”
“You don’t have a concussion. Get up.”
Smitty stood back to his feet and put away the flashlight. He gave Andre an exasperated grin. “You remember the heart attack?” he asked.
“You mean when my heart was beating out of my chest and I went to the hospital?”
“Yes, and it turned out you didn’t have a heart attack, you just drank too much coffee?”
“Well, it felt like one.”
“How about the time you decided you were dying of influenza and the doctors told you it was just allergies?”
“Are you making fun of me?”
“I’m saying that you have a tendency to exaggerate. You aren’t in shock. You fell five feet. You aren’t about to die. You’re fine.”
That ray of hope began to grow into a dawn. The happy thought that he might not be dying began to take over Andre’s mind. He had not considered that possibility. His life might not be over after all. He still had a chance to see those places he had not seen yet. When he had slipped and fallen, he had been sure it was the end. But now he had a chance. Suddenly, he started to feel better.
“My stomach still hurts,” he said, “and I feel very weak.”
“Eat this.”
Smitty tossed him an energy bar. The label said it contained 25mg of caffeine. Well, that ought to be enough to get him through for now. As Andre ate it, he realized that he did not feel very bad after all. It must have been a close call. A very near thing. But luck had saved him once again.
He finished eating and stood back up.
“I feel much better,” he announced to Smitty.
“Glad to hear it.”
“I feel like I could tackle another couple miles. Maybe even make it to the next campsite.”
Smitty smiled and put his pack back on. Andre drank some more water, slipped the bottle into a pouch on the side of his pack, and then lifted the backpack slowly onto his back. Smitty began walking back to the trail.
“Don’t go too fast. I still feel like I might fall down again,” Andre called after him.
Smitty kept walking. Andre took some lumbering steps towards the trail, and then quickened his pace in an effort to catch up.
“Wait up,” he called, as he hurried after Smitty. Smitty slowed to let his friend catch up.
The trail they walked upon was wide enough for them to walk shoulder to shoulder. Andre matched Smitty’s gait. As he walked, he decided he was feeling much better. He said as much to Smitty, who nodded.
“I really mean it,” said Andre, “I was feeling very bad there for a moment, but now I feel I could keep going all day.”
“Glad to hear it, because you’ll have to if you want to make it to the campsite tonight.”
“Really. I feel much restored. I could take anything this trail throws at us.”
Smitty glanced at his friend but said nothing.
“I feel ready for another adventure,” said Andre.
They continue walking through the trees, and soon they came out on the edge of the valley again. The trail descended, and they did as well. Forest gave way to rocky slopes dotted with occasional grasses and bushes. The whole valley lay spread out before them and its striking landscape shimmered in the late morning sun. Andre gazed at the farthest peak he could make out. He felt strong again. Excited even.
“Bring me that horizon,” he said.
Smitty gave him a sidelong grin and shook his head. Andre looked at him, smiled, and held his head up with his face towards the mountains. Smitty laughed silently, still shaking his head, and they continued descending in silence all the way to the valley floor.
Was rereading some of your stuff, and this is still one of my favorite stories.