“Pssst. Hey, wake up.”
My eyelids pop open. I sit upright.
Instinct turns my head a couple degrees to the right. Trying to see if I was in “reality”. And hearing right.
Again, I hear from behind, “Pssst, wake up.”
OK, I’m not dreaming.
I start to turn around.
But, the voice stops me in my tracks, sharply, “Do not turn around!!!”
I twitch a little, just a skosh. And acquiesce completely.
“OK! But, who is this?”
“Just don’t turn around!”
“OK. I won’t.”
“Find the Meadows.!!!”
“The Meadows.!?”
“Yes, find the Meadows.”
“Find the Meadows”, I repeat.
“Yes. Find the Meadows.”
“OK. I’ll find the Meadows.”
“But, who is this? Why the secrecy?”
The voice was disguised. I couldn’t tell if it was Wilson or who it was. Even male or female, it was that disguised.
Was it the general? Or Lieutenant Rossi? Sergeant York? Ashley?
A new character?
It was just plain one weird voice.
You could definitely understand what “they” were sayin’. No problem. I mean, what’s not to understand, “Find the meadows.”
I pause and there’s a moment of silence. An eerie, still, kinda silence. But, from behind me, the voice was a lot softer this time. Like a whisper. “The Meadows.”
“I know. I know.” “Find the Meadows.”
I pause again. Finally, “OK, that’s it! Who are you?”
And I turn around.
Whoever it was, was long gone. Phoosh! Nothing. No rustling. Or sound of any kind.
Like it never happened. But! It did.
I think.
It was like that ol’ “disappearing game” again. Here now. Then not. I thought I’d left those shenanigans back in Alaska. At the Lodge.
That’s when my tummy growled. And broke the silence.
I remembered I hadn’t eaten for a while. Or drank anything. So I yell out, “Hey, I’m thirsty and hungry here.!”
No reply! Damnit. Well, . . . a guy can always ask.
I was hungry. And thirsty.
Frustrated, I turn to take one last look off the Escarpment.
Dusk was just starting. The East looked really stunning tonite.
With a small sigh, I turn back to the West and decide I best be getting’ on.
FINDING THE MEADOWS.!!!
Oddly enough I knew where the voice was sending me.
I’ve never been there before. But, I knew of it.
It was one of those places I always wanted to go.
It looks awesome on the map.
So I knew where I was. And I know where the Meadows is supposed to be.
I get up, growling tummy, parched throat and all.
And start heading West Northwest.
The Meadows is down in a nice, long, big canyon. The head waters start up here on the Flattops and empty into the White River. Down by Buford.
“We’re off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz.”
I need to make it to some shelter for the night. Get some good sleep.
Hope the bed bugs don’t bite.
And, in the morning,
“find the Meadows”.
“Find Wilson.”
I choked up a little. In my heart.
“Find Wilson.”
BSOT Ian
P.S. I take another one last look out East – dusk is starting to set in.
me, the Dalai Lama & Jack Nicholson 