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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: FOLD (10/08/15)
No Longer Last
I quieted our big machine and suddenly the silence of the forest was deafening. White noise filled my ears and gradually began to subside, residual noise from the 2 hours of our machine droning on as we rode through the afternoon. We were near the camp, but I wondered aloud to Laura, “What do you think he is up to!” A smile formed on her face as we walked forward to the lead Rhino to see what was going on up front; grateful for the walk to stretch our legs and ease the cramping of our bodies from the bumpy ride.
Lucky was grinning his huge squinty smile as I reached the side of his rig, a cold beer already open in his hand. “Take a look Mike!” His gloved right hand waved me forward to the trail ahead, which disappeared below a few yards further. I hadn’t noticed we had stopped at the edge of a ravine, the trail continued down the side. It went straight down around fifty yards and entered what appeared to be a swampy area, a bog if you will. The bog was large, around thirty yards across, the trail distinctly exiting the bog and up the other side.
The gauntlet was already on the ground when I saw the bog; as I turned around the others were already climbing back into their rigs to move out of the trail so I could pass with the Ranger.
“I have never seen anyone make it through this bog man!” His challenge etched across his face in that huge smile. Then it came, “Betcha can’t make it through in that Ranger!” He jerked his thumb back behind his head placing my Ranger where he believed it should be, last.
Laura looked at me as we climbed into the Ranger and geared up; the group was laughing and joking about the pending events. I looked at her through goggled eyes and started the machine, dropped it into low and hit the throttle; the Ranger surged ahead between the four Rhinos and eased over the edge of the trail moving down into the bottom of the ravine. I braked as we neared the black waters which stretched out in front of us like obsidian glass. The other side showed no tracks of wheels exiting the bog in recent weeks and I knew this could be a short journey; a vision of me stepping into the black mire to hook up the tow chain to have my rig dragged out of the bog flashed into my mind.
I shook my head, “Not today!”
Easing the front of the Ranger into the bog testing for firmness of the bottom, I sensed that it was deep.
“Well, I’m in it now!” and dropped the throttle to the floor. The Ranger lifted up with the power and all four wheels spewed mud and black water around us. We surged forward and bounced off something hidden below, the Ranger lurched to the right and then immediately back to the left and the right found something to grip under the blackness. Halfway across the Ranger hit a wall, a log began to lift out of the water as the rig pushed forward. We slowed and began to bog down in the front, the wheels driving themselves deeper into the mud. I released the gas and dropped the machine into reverse and floored it, the rig exited the bog in seconds. I heard the cheers of derision from the top of the hill behind me and Laura turned to look at me, “Is that it?” Her voice was excited and eager.
“No.”
I dropped the machine into high gear and tromped on the throttle. When we hit the submerged log the rig bounded up at first and then dropped back down; power shook the Ranger as the log began to push aside and the rig slid ahead through the bog. The wheels found good ground on the clear side of the bog and I hammered the throttle again as the machine escaped the black mire to the trail on the other side.
Reaching the top of the ravine, we stopped and turned to see the group shaking their heads and cursing the situation as they knew what was now going to pass.
The gauntlet was now on this side of the bog, and it was mine.
We pulled into camp ten minutes later, first and breathing clean air: comfortable in the fold.
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This article has been read 355 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Donna Powers
10/15/15
I could clearly see the scene in this story, and you kept me in suspense until the end
Pat Small
10/15/15
Exciting tale. I would have enjoyed the ride. Some more white space would make it much easier to read.
Bonnie Bowden 
10/16/15
Exciting tale. I can just picture the vehicle escaping through the bog.

I would suggest that you double space between paragraphs for easier reading. I'm not sure if the judges will rate you high with staying on this week's topic, however.