Page 17 (2/2)

If you believe in that kind of stuff

I’ht I’ve ever seen on these trails Another hiker bursts fro at the air around his head, and blows past me at a speed I’ve never seen It takesup dust clouds in his wake, but when I do, I curse and back up

The air around hiled screa to coone, disappeared over the crest of the trail The only reason I have to believe he was here at all is the screeching I can still hear beyond the hill

Then the screa to see what the hell is going on The bees are dispersing as if they’ve lost interest and I can see why

The hiker is rolling rapidly down the hill

“Dauy tu and hold up e of the trail and make my way after the poor lost soul

“I’!” I shout after him as he crumples at the bottoonna radio for help”

Any good hiker knows to bring a radio with the around at the botto as carefully as I can as I radio for a helicopter At least he isn’t dead

“Can you speak?” I ask when I reach his side, wiping atin pain, and he grits his teeth and opens one eye to stare at h of relief

“Fuck It’s … is it broken?”

I very carefully move away one of the rocks that helped slow his fall and see his leg is bloodied So are his pants He screws up his face, setting his jaw as I nod “It doesn’t look great, but it’s just your leg It could have been so much worse The helicopter is on its way”