Discouraging Day
It had been a very discouraging day. Herb and I tried desperately to remain optimistic, but it wasn't easy.
"Nothing!" Herb screamed. My heart jumped, myself deep in thought and not expecting the outburst. "No deer, elk, grouse, turkey - nothing!"
He raised his 7mm Remington above his head then slammed the butt down hard on the solid gray granite of the mountain below our feet.
"Hey, better watch it. That's a pretty expensive gun," I said, noticing that all of Herb's hunting attire looked expensive, although worn. His camouflage coveralls and thick black boots gave him that Marine look. His long, shaggy hair, however, contradicted that theory altogether.
"Aw, it's just a..."
Herb stopped his sentence short as he looked up.
"What's wrong?" I asked, looking up as well. Herb didn't need to answer. To our left, on the other side of a staircase-like waterfall, a majestic elk stared back at us.
"Oh my God!" whispered Herb, "That's at lest a ten point!" He slowly raised his 7mm, and as I started to raise my Browning 30.06, the elk bolted away into the woods.
"That's why we haven't got anything today," I said, "All the animals are on the other side of the river!"
We quickly agreed to cross, both of us excited, anticipating the envy of our friends when we returned with the elk. We discovered that the only place to cross was the waterfall. The river before and after was too wide, too deep. Without further ado, the thought of elk steaks beaming in our heads, we approached the waterfall.
"Shouldn't be too hard," Herb said, but I didn't agree. The waterfall wasn't a large one, barely fifteen feet tall, but it looked dangerous anyway. Black rocks, slimy with algae and other river muck, jutted from the cascading water at different levels. One wrong step and it was into the river for both of us.
Herb, being more anxious than myself, was the first to step in. The sure-grip soles of his boots found a flat rock and he slowly walked on. I followed, more cautious and feeling every step would be my last. The varying angles of the rocks made it difficult to find a good foothold and the further along we got, the harder it became. Cold, heavy water rushed at and nearly over us in spots, our rifles getting soaked. Once, I nearly turned around and went back, but I stuck with Herb.
Eventually we had crossed. Dripping from head to toe, I looked back to the waterfall. It glistened peacefully although the aura surrounding it was powerful.
"So," said Herb, turning around and ignoring the fact that we were drenched, "Where's that elk?"
I was about to suggest walking in the direction where we saw it run off, but then we looked back across the river to where we once were. The same elk stared at us from the other side. Herb and I looked at each other, astonished. Remembering being chest level in water, we took a breather before crossing the waterfall again.
THE END