Disenchantment 4

I made my way back to where I had been earlier, feeling the
stone I had set down, while exploring forward slowly and softly with my feet. I
lifted my hands up in the air and started feeling around blindly for any low
hanging branches of the tree. There was nothing. I moved to my right and did it
again, forward, back to each side a little, arms outstretched to feel for
anything. After some time, I moved farther to my left to repeat the process.

 

“Ssssss,” the sound came from behind me. I almost looked,
but realized that there was no point in even trying to as the darkness was
complete. I remained motionless for a couple seconds, then proceeded to search
with my fingers for any low hanging appendages from the tree, carefully sliding
my feet along the ground when I switched positions, instead of lifting them.

 

I still wasn’t afraid for my safety at all. Maybe the
alcohol added to my lack of caring for my personal safety. I wasn’t angry,
maybe a little annoyed with my wife, and probably increasingly concerned that I
might have to walk a couple miles to civilization to call a cab, but not an
actual fear. I have gone on multiple hikes by myself, slept alone, far away
from any other person. Being alone in the dark is nothing to be afraid of—just so
long as there is nothing in the dark.

 

I didn’t know it at the time, but fear was about to come
into the picture.

 

While flailing my arms around like an idiot, I had a sudden desire
to look back towards where I had seen the fire. I first I couldn’t locate it,
then it blinked into existence, before I could look away, it disappeared, then
reappeared again.

 

I almost didn’t think anything of it, and kept searching for
something, finally, my hand brushed against something. I stood up on my toes,
reaching higher, it was a leaf. The tree definitely had at least one branch
down below the trunk, hanging into the wash. I momentarily stopped thinking
about the fire.

 

Then, of course, I realized why the fire had appeared to go
out a couple times. Someone or something was moving between the fire and my
line of sight. I stopped and listened. There was no sound.

 

I continued, felt around and my hand came into contact with
another leaf, or maybe the same one. I did a little jump up, not expending much
energy, and grabbed on to the tree’s branch a little higher up. With my feet
both back firmly on the ground, I had the branch solidly in my hand, and I
pulled it down lower until there wasn’t much give. I couldn’t climb straight up
it, as it was difficult to hold onto while I was covered in mud that was
beginning to dry and itch. If I could just partially use it, to climb out, just
to offset the lack of traction I would get with my feet. I put a foot on the
slimy ascent, that was too lubricious and tricky. It occurred to me that I
might get better traction, a more solid footing, without my shoes.

 

Reluctantly I let go of the branch and sat down to take off
my shoes. In the stillness and lack of sound, while taking off my shoes, I
thought I heard a sound. It was maybe movement of some sort. My canvas shoes
were just slathered with gunk and grime that had started congealing. I tied the
laces together and put them around my neck, no pocket on my shorts would have
held them. After I took off my socks, I opted to just leave them there. Socks
aren’t expensive, and I wasn’t sure that I could get the awfully foul smell out
of any of my clothes anyway. They might all be trash now.

 

I stood up, and the sound was becoming clearer, more
pronounced. Tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch.

 

It only took me approximately three or four seconds to realize
the sounds were quite distinctly footprints.

 

“Hello?”

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch.

 

“Hello! Who’s there?”

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch tsch.

 

“Hey, let me know who you are!”

 

Tsch, tsch. The sounds were definitely getting
louder. I was positive at that point that it was the sound of someone walking.
The person certainly was getting closer.

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch...

 

That’s when fear came, seemingly sobering me up. I moved my
arms about wildly, standing on my toes, attempting to find the branch I had
released earlier.

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch...

 

I connected with a leaf, and grabbed on to it, a slight
relief overcame me.

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch, tsch...

 

Due to my nervousness, I pulled on it too hard while
attempting to lower the branch for a firmer, stronger grip. All I managed to do
was lose it, a couple of leaves that had rudely been ripped from the tree were
all that were left in my hand.

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch...

 

I flailed about wildly, trying to find the branch again.

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch...

 

I jumped up in the air, swing my arms around... finding nothing

 

Tsch, tsch, tsch...

 

The sound was getting closer, very close.

 

Tsch, tsch...

 

“Hey, fuck off, man,” I yelled, jumping up again.

 

Tsch, tsch...

 

I jumped up again this time, high.

 

Tsch, tsch...

 

I had it! A firm grip on the branch.

 

Tsch...

 

I forced myself to calmly pull it down until I had a firm
grip in my hand.

 

Tsch...

 

I felt like I could hear each grain of sand and dirt move as
the person, or thing, neared.

 

Tsch...

 

Holding the branch tightly, I put one foot on the sharp
incline.

 

Tsch. The sound stopped, close, oh so close.

 

I put my other foot on the slimy, concrete slope. That was
my do or die moment, if I slipped back down...

 

I didn’t slip! I held steady. Using my hands on the branch
and carefully moving my feet up the grade, I could pull myself out.

 

It was right then, both feet on the side of the wash, before
I could start pulling myself up, when I felt something. It was very subtle,
momentarily making me wonder if it even happened at all.

 

I felt the warm exhalation of breath on the back of my neck.