aaron_the fall of america_chapter_17

Chapter 17

Following an early trip to the stream and a breakfast of red berries and a big purple fruit, I climbed the tallest tree I could find to study the topography of my surroundings. I thought my ship might be on higher ground so I wanted my next journey to be up hill.

It was the least accommodating tree I had ever climbed. The branches were too far from each other. I struggled to climb high enough to see that I was in a valley. It was magnificent. The land gently rolled but not much more than in Saskatchewan. It almost looked like a manicured German forest. I decided on the direction of the nearest hill as my next destination. I wasn't confident but I thought I saw the gleam of my ship. I estimated distance and direction. From my experience in the last few days, I suspected the little trip might take two days. In case it wasn't my ship, I'd take a good supply of orange berries.

I remained sitting in the tree looking out with amazement and bewilderment. I felt desperately alone. Somehow, it was not at all my home.

Eventually, hunger suggested I get down from my perch. I didn't fancy the long climb down.

"Maybe you should jump."

"No. I don't think so."

I looked around to see who was talking to me but there wasn't a creature in sight. My brain felt like it was splitting apart and collapsing inside out. I knew a battle had started. While I still had partial command, I started my long descent. I managed to get close to the ground before disassociation raped my perception. I lost hold of myself. I was falling from branch to branch to the ground.

"Shut up!"

I wanted to vomit but my stomach was empty.

"Shut up!"

I struggled over to my hole.

"Shut up!"

I fell into my hole, crawled to the end of the tunnel and kept screaming.

"Shut up!"

I fought to get my clothes off. I tossed them out of my hole and started clawing at the roof of my tunnel.

"Shut up!"

I clawed and dug until I had constructed a wall to close out the outside. I left only a small labyrinthine hole for air. I had returned to complete darkness. I kept clawing and thrashing until I was dripping with sweat. I was completely exhausted. I curled up into a fetus position, holding my ears and dove into a sleepless trance.

Finally, I slipped into sleep and didn't wake until I found myself chewing dirt in search of moisture. The panic had subsided enough to want to dig my way out of my grave. I crawled from my hole all the way to the stream.

I eased my dirty, naked body into the fresh water hoping for yet another rebirth.

I was a vacancy. I spent the day staring blindly into the clear green-blue sky.



read on. book_01 chapter_18



by Joanne B. Washington

© 2001 | the jose wombat project