4:00 pm, Saturday, October 13.
{ } refers to radio chatter
(Stereotypical 80s music)
(Nom, nom, nom.....)
(more stereotypical 80s music)
{(over radio) nom, nom, nom...}
{Dude, this soup is killing me....you gotta come over here sometime! Admit it, I make it better than you}
"Shut up Shawn, let me finish my meal in dignity. I cook it alright."
{Mr. Edward Warren, aged 20, finished schooling from St. Paul's School somewhere in Arizona, knows how to repair vehicles, worked as a waiter down at Portland, Oregon, avid camper and outdoorsman, worked security at Wrenson Reserve.......Boy! you're all over the place. That's quite some CV alright!}
"Stop reading my 'resume'."
{Dude what's wrong? You hungry? Need some of that hot, spicy, juicy, finger licking, delicious soup that I can make way bette....}
"Cut the crap Shawn"
{Ok, ok, little boy's angry, leave him alone}
{Now, remember to keep looking for miscreants off the trails and any signs of smoke in places they aren't supposed to be. And yeah, don't forget the weather report before you sleep. Take care of all these things and you can survive one more day in paradise. And yeah keep some logs in reserve and extra batteries, it gets cold this time of year}
"Yeah I hear you, and thanks again for this job, I owe you one."
{No, no...Had to make it up to you....you practically saved my life out there in the woods. I can't understand how you got that rustbox of a car to work, it's like magic}
"Yeah, me neither. You were just another stranger and I, another drifter, who drifted into this place, I mean look at this, this is huge, this is enough."
{Uh, enough for what?}
"Ah, nothing, just talking to myself over getting a decent job and settling for a while"
{That's quite specific and to be honest, you went out of our way to ask me, for this. I mean, look at the coincidence of saving the very guy who's gonna get you the job you want. And in no time, we became partners. Tower 9 and Tower 10. Kingfish Reserve. Favour's a favour in my books, even to a life saving stranger but....Why did you want this job anyway?}
"..............."
{It's not upto everyone though, living like this, I mean I rarely get time to shop and get into town. Speaking of town, How was Kingfisherhood?}
".............."
{Ed? You still there?}
"...Huh? Yeah, yeah, I was just finishing my scan. What were you saying?"
{How was the neighbourhood?}
"Oh yeah, it's a nice little town you have, nice lake, nice food, nice view, but do you come with really annoying kids?"
{what do you mean?}
"Ah, there was this young girl I ran into in the depot. She ran her cart over my toes. Had sarcasm written all over her face. Quite annoying. She seemed strangely preoccupied with something."
{Ah, kids these days, I guess she's one of those nut jobs who's deep into this nuke thing. They can be really creepy}
"Huh. Tell me about this reserve, any specialties, any thing that stands out?"
{This piece of paradise stands in the middle of nowhere, but it is one of the largest national reserves with a sizeable population of diverse and endangered species, and is pretty prone to wildfires. That's why the watch is tight, don't want them nut job campers barbecuing the entire forest. Fires start quite a lot. Nine times in the 60s, nine again in the 70s, and I think, this time all hell's gonna break loose. Apart from that, this place's a charm, my Pa has been in this job, so was my grandpa, and so am I. Nature is our family's middle name. And yeah tower 9 has a stream nearby, we got loads of those along with undiscovered caves and.....mishaps}
"Mishaps?"
{Yeah, accidents, at least according to reports, but campers gone missing and discovered in random places with no idea how they got there, is sketchy, ain't it? If you take my word for it, I would say, it's one of them doomsday cults. Me and some other folks been hearing chatter on this. We surely have no evidence, and we are spread thin in such a place. Take our towers for example. I can see you from here but it would take me at least an hour to get up to your place, and serve you some of that hot, juicy, spicy, finger licking....}
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"Oh come on! not again."
{Sorry, sorry.....}
"Hey, How do I get this ane..analo....anemo..."
{Anemometer, just click the button on left twice and then the one at the center, right one to turn off}
"Gee thanks."
{You got the room set?}
"Yep, got everything I need in here, books, food stock, logs, flashlight, extra batteries, a flare gun, binoculars, bed's well made, got a set of them warm blankets down at the town, for a good price, all the instruments and maps kept in a corner, a few VHS tapes, a boom box, yep, I guess I can call it home."
{Hey, I don't see any smoke from your roof, you light that thing up yet? It's getting cold}
"Hold up."
"Done [https://img.wattpad.com/f04e6f080da6a8b0207d079ecb8b18cd8341a89d/68747470733a2f2f73332e616d617a6f6e6177732e636f6d2f776174747061642d6d656469612d736572766963652f53746f7279496d6167652f664c34586f44772d4251495353413d3d2d313431353630333138392e313761633265383338613734396338323738353232353530393339342e6a7067?s=fit&w=1280&h=1280]
"Done."
{Great, hey, I am gonna hit the loo, catch you up later}
A few (and quite long) hours later......
Nightfall
(Sips of coffee)
Nothing beats a cup of coffee, a chilly wind on your face, and........a few violent gunshots in the distance.
??????
Pretty sure we're in America, but should I call Shawn?
"Shawn, hey Shawn, you copy?"
{radio static}
"IF YOU NEED ANY HELP, DON'T HESITATE TO CALL ME UP", he said. So much for help.
Alright, calm down, what would Shawn do in this situation? (He would hide under his bed, bad example), I gotta investigate this. Out of 22 towers, it had to be me, huh?
Okay, I have the flashlight, emergency radio, flare gun, I guess rookies don't get guns. I am taking this fire poker to insure my life, in the events of unexpected and "Oh, you don't need any combat training, it's pretty chill out here" events.
The sounds came from west, near the stream. Let's go!
(Few minutes later)
(Grunting, panting, ROOOAR!!!)
(BOOM, ROOOAR!!)
Kid: "Take that you furry piece of crap!! Yeah that's right, nobody trespasses Roywood Jr's emergency campsite!"
Huh? All I see is a kid, a retreating bear, and lots of wasted flare gun shots.
Ed: "Hey kid, what are you doin..."
Kid: "Whoa stay back, I said stay back....(BOOM!!!)"
Ed: "Goddammit kid!! What the hell is wrong with ya? I am a ranger, I am here to help."
Kid: "Whaaat?"
Ed: "I SAAAID I AAAM HEEERE TO HEELP YOOOU!! NOOOW IF YOU WOULD PLEASE COOPERATE!!"
Kid: "Oh...Okay Sir, I am coming out, and I promise that there ain't no drugs here"
Ed: "Who said anything about drugs? Whatever....what are you doing here?"
Kid (in rapid speed): "I am kinda lost, I have been camping in different places, but I am new here, I didn't know when I went off the trail, you know, first there was this Jefferson guy who told me that I should definitely check out KingFish Reserve, but there were no transports and I had to literally hitchhike my way up here, oh my God, it's so beautiful and I have like camped in two places already!! but I heard some crickets, and I thought I should check it out, because it's kinda weird to have...."
Ed: "Woah, woah, alright, slow down, which way are you headed?"
Kid: "Umm.....whichever's the nearest camping ground?"
Ed: "Alright, follow me"
(A few minutes later)
Ed: "Here we are, taking left from this crossroads will take you to Buckfin Campsite, about 35 min walk."
Kid: "Thank you sir, you saved me. I am Roywood Jr. by the way...."
Ed: "I am Ed. Now, you be safe out there. Go on, it's getting late."
We two parted ways. Phew! Quite the night eh!?
Back at Tower 9
{Ed, Ed, you copy? Have you been calling me?}
"Yeah, Where have you been?"
{I was still in the loo. I guess I put a bit too much of that hot chilly sauce in the soup. Anyways, I am fine, thanks for asking, What's wrong?}
"I didn't ask you how you.....(sigh) anyways, I had a little trouble..."
(Proceeds to explain the entire encounter)
{Hah, I gotta say, most rangers spend their first week bored, but you are already getting a head start}
{Did you work on that report yet?}
"Oh wait, I forgot, wind speed, sky, temperature, and?"
{Write your observations, like tourists assisted, or should I say no. of tourists who scared the bejesus out of you...Boy! that would be one hell of a report!}
"Shut up Shawn!"
(A few minutes of 'trying to figure out how to use the anemometer' later....)
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Tower 9, King's Mount, KingFish Reserve- 23:10 hrs, October 13
Tower Personnel: Edward Warrens
Weather Report
Wind: Windy, NW at 15 mph, gusts to 20. A bit of moisture.
Temperature: 39.2°F, Chilly weather.
Fire Danger Index: Medium
-A bit cloudy.
-Leaves crunchy under foot, dry ground.
-Visibility clear.
-No smoke trails found.
- No signs of lightning.
Observation:
One tourist found towards west of tower 9 near a stream, engaged in a grueling battle with a bear for ownership of land near the stream. Flare gun shots fired in a desperate attempt to scare the beast. Tourist open fires on me, with the same said weapon. Differences cleared while taking cover behind a rock. Tourist identified as Roywood Jr, who was lost and in search for a camping ground. Tourist duly assisted.
Present state around Tower 9 normal, with the usual sound of wind, stream of water, a few owls hooting, dry leaves rustling in the wind , and some crickets.
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"Phew, I am done."
{Hey, it's your first one, read me the report}
"Okay"
(Proceeds to read the report)
{Hahaha! duly assisted, hah!!}
"Wait, wait lemme finish....and 'with the usual sound of wind, stream of water, a few owls hooting, dry leaves rustling in the wind , and some crickets'."
{...............}
"That's it. I am done. Tired. I am gonna go to bed now, you do the same, Shawn. Good night, this is Tower 9, over and ou..."
{Wait...........}
{Did you say crickets?}
"Yeah, Why?"
{We don't have crickets here.....}