Here
it comes again!
Story:
Here it comes again! It’s
no matter how hard I try; this beast with it’s’ claws and jutting fangs
sniffs me out! I run, hide, yell,
nothing frightens it! If I turn and
face the menace and challenge its domain, it simply lowers its head and stares
back from a distance, drool dripping from its fangs!
It's getting bolder and bolder, it has no fear!
Recently, I turned quickly, just in time to catch it darting up close while my back
is turned, only when it sees my eyes, it changes course at the last minute and runs away!
I have learned to drop suddenly into a crouching position in an effort to
change my demeanor and project a posture of defense.
Sometimes it works, others not. I’m not sure of its intellect, because
sometimes after sensing my hostile behavior, the creature will stop at a
distance, start making odd whimpering noises, and then in a flurry of dust, all
feet kicking, start darting back and forth! As with other vicious killers, these
actions are most likely a ploy to confuse the enemy before an attack. Ha,
I am not that stupid! Its mouth is
full of fangs used for ripping the flesh from it’s’ prey!
When I run and dart about trying to evade those same fangs, it toys with
me. It will catch me near
exhaustion, and then start nipping at my heals to test my reaction time, all the
while gauging the level of my exhaustion.
An obvious yet vicious ploy garnered from decades of survival skills and
honed to a cunning death strategy! He
is trying to make me collapse from exhaustion, and then the carnivore attacks!
Think! Think, I keep telling myself.
Hit and run, hit and run! I’m
too smart for the obvious, keep moving! This
tactic is surely the means by which the creature brings down its prey, it runs
them to exhaustion, biting at their heals to tire them and bring them down!
When they drop, amid screams of terror, it rips them apart limb from limb
devouring muscle and sinew. I shudder to think of the end. I can see the vile
beast off in the distance, about two hundred feet away.
Crafty devil, lying with its claws toward me, and its head resting on its
front legs. Obviously, a low attack
silhouette to confuse and frighten his victims. This creature is full of
surprises. If I stand, its
head raises quickly, ears raised with tongue and fangs showing, staring intently
in my direction. I fear continued
movement on my part will entice it to attack without mercy.
Why tease it, I’m at a loss; I’m on open ground, ‘don’t be
foolish’ I told myself. I will
rest tonight and tomorrow I will run for my life!
My gait is longer than this demon from hell!
If I can hold out, I’m sure I can outrun it, I must outrun it.
I will sleep with one eye on the creature and save my strength for the
morning run. I’ve had water the
day before, I should be OK.
It’s morning now and the loathsome creature has crawled closer under
cover of darkness. It assumed I was
‘all in’ and didn’t see its tactic. I
peered intently through the darkness to finally catch a glimpse of the monster
using its claws and stealth to crawl towards my resting frame.
Lying on the ground, my large, dark silhouette against the light of the
early morning sun and my shallow breathing must have given away my location.
I won’t give up, I still have some strength!
If my plan has worked, I have fooled my attacker into thinking I am
without strength; and therefore, easy prey.
If I catch it off-guard my plan may succeed.
I slowly rise to my feet. It’s
piercing eyes watching me intently now, head raised, ears forward, and tongue
hanging out with drool dripping on the hot sand.
I have no choice! I turn and
start running. I look back and the
creature has leapt into the air, dust flying in the frantic commotion to catch
its prey. Like a gazelle, I leap and
jump across the plateau, I zig-zag, darting from one direction to another, but
still the creature keeps pace! The
dust is stinging my nostrils as the hot desert air burns my lungs. I look back,
is the monster slowing? With every
stride I am increasing the distance between the two of us!
I can’t believe my eyes! Jesus,
I may have done it!!! I am outpacing
the attacker two to one, he will not eat tonight!
I will use my renewed spirit to carry my aching legs out of his sight!
Looking back, I try to focus my burning eyes on distant objects; and with
heat waves rising from the sand and obscuring my view, I can only wonder, is it
him or have I won my freedom? Is it
him, or something else, a rock perhaps, a distant sand mound?
I can’t tell, I can’t see the ‘fanged one’; my eyes slowly shut
for what seems like forever. I am
exhausted and can’t stay awake anymore. In
my delirium I fall to the ground and with the sensation of falling down a dark,
deep, well, I slowly pass into unconsciousness.
Upon awakening I have no idea how much time has passed.
I quickly regain my composure and look frantically around for the killer,
stalker. I see nothing!
Have I outsmarted the vilest creature on the plateau, one that has no
mercy? One that chases and
torments its prey before attacking; ha, one
that sleeps on an empty stomach tonight! Hah!
I don’t know how long I have slept, but I’m sure the sun has come and
gone at least twice. The creature is
not in view. A primal chink in my
armor is compassion. I was forced into an exhausting effort evading my own death;
and somehow I feel sorry for my foe. Even
though our struggle was a life and death duel, I will remember this event when
the dregs of boredom are upon me. And
yes, I will miss the ‘chase’. Although
surely dangerous, not often does excitement of this caliber present itself.
Survival is an amazing instinct and one which I am the proud winner of
the duel. I have out-foxed even the
most dangerous of primal hunters. Yet
somehow I feel saddened by the fact that I am alone again.
I wonder, is it better to constantly face conflict, regardless of its
severity, than to live with loneliness? Is it better to be in the cage with the
lion, than to experience boredom and isolation every day? Today I can say I have
experienced both. I have triumphed
yet driven myself into isolation. I
cannot stop scanning the distant sands looking for any sign of movement,
searching for that vial creature who became my excitement, my partner in
evolution, if only for a few days. I
will miss my foe.
Suddenly, as if ordained, and while basking in self admiration, I was suddenly reminded of the first rule of life on the plateau, ‘never let your guard down’!! During my special moment of reflection, a cold, sharp, pain has touched my ribs! Looking down quickly, I was amazed to see what I had been dreading for many days now; the creature was upon me! Had it bitten and ripped me with a fang, those fangs I have dreaded for so many days? No, thank god, the stinging pain was its cold nose touching the sensitive skin of my rib cage. Can you believe it? It looked up at me, tuned, and tucked its head back inside my shirt. I lay frozen in fear! I’m sure these vermin sense fear and will tear me apart if I dare move! My breathing all but stopped. Any moment now it could tear into my exposed flesh and vital organs and rip me apart. I am at its mercy, helpless and unarmed. “No sudden moves” I told myself. What a cunning foe. I lower my head and lay motionless. I lay frozen in the mid day sun on a dessert waiting to be torn apart, what the hell happened? I swear I heard the creature sigh, and with that, it dosed off!
for lack
of a better word, I will call this creature, “Cocker Spaniel”.
RJ