It took three hours for the meat and plants to cook the way I liked them to, and still the girls hadn’t made it yet. I had made my calculations perfectly there was enough for twenty four but I knew that none of it would go to waste. None of us had eaten anything since the granola bar and water at two a.m. this morning. I decided I would get up and check if I could see them. I was still in my wet clothing. I hadn’t changed yet because I wanted to greet them. However, as soon as they arrived and ate we would change and go to bed. Just then I reached the hill there were five drenched figures trudging up it. Good. The food is still warm it just barely finished. I decided to go set the food on the plates and make the hot chocolate by then they would be here. After I finished I ran to meet them, and to hurry them up. I knew that if they knew about the food they would be by the fire under the parachute in two seconds flat, and I was right. As soon as they realized I had made food they ran for it. I watched there expressions as they saw what was In front of them. A huge fire was blazing under a parachute to keep out the rain that was currently drenching us, and the food. They were amazed.
“Come on then the food and hot chocolate is going to get cold.” I said walking over to the fire and putting more wood in.
“How did you?” Redfern gasped. She was the first one in the shelter of the parachute.
“I just gathered plants and the dried meat out of my backpack.” I said.
“Not the food this.” She said gesturing around her.
“Oh I just decided I would carry my parachute with me and it came in handy all it is, is some wood and a parachute. I had brought the hot chocolate and eating wear and the dried meat. Don’t worry about the plants it is perfectly edible. It doesn’t taste so bad.” I said.
“You are amazing.” She said hugging me.
“How do you mean?” I asked.
“This. The food, none of us would have been able to pull it off never the less think of it. And how the heck did you get here earlier then us?” she said.
“Our maps were tampered with I had a magnifying glass and if you look closely enough you could see it.” I said. “I followed the shorter one.” I added.
“Maybe we gave you the wrong name. Lucky doesn’t seem to cut it.” Coppertone said scowling. “You’re name should be reckless or stupid, or idiotic. Hello! this parachute could get us caught in a dangerous situation it could get as killed are you insane?” She yelled. “Actually I did think about that.” I said blowing it off
“And what conclusion did you come to?” She hissed.
“That death was better than being wet.” I said the corners of my lips turning up.
“Now eat your food, before I eat it for you.” I reproached with a smile.
The night was long, I bunked with the always quiet Evergreen who wasn’t completely happy about the arrangement. At least she was kinder then Coppertone would have been. If I had bunked with Coppertone I would probably be stranded or dead somewhere. The wind was the only relief from the humid air but it brought with it the smell of the swamps which I would be extremely happy never to visit-or smell-ever again. I welcomed the morning, hoping it would be better than the night only to be disappointed. Even more disappointed when I was interrupted from making breakfast by a helicopter landing just a half mile from our camp. I recognized that it was an official plane the CIA used. I knew that nothing good was going to come of this. Our trainers, L Johns, and Mrs. Adams walked towards us. All the girls and I met them in the middle.
“You have done well. You will now be flown over to the Moab desert in Utah. You will be deserted there, continuing your efforts of survival in extreme conditions.” L Johns said.
“How is this not extreme conditions” I exclaimed appalled at his indifference.
“Well it would have been, yes but some of you came a bit too well prepared.” He said eying me.
“You will temporarily be stripped of your belongings except for one small water bottle and a pocket knife.” He said. I gasped. “Excuse me?” I choked.
“You will abseil down from the helicopter. You must get out of the rope as fast as you can or the helicopter will fly off without you.”
“What about food? The water bottles will have water in them right?” I was beginning to hyperventilate.
“There will be water in your water bottle.” Mrs. Adams said. I knew what she meant. No, food. As if hell didn’t exist already.
“What are we supposed to eat?” I shrieked.
“I hear snake tastes just like chicken,” L Johns said. I had lost. I walked off.
“Where are you going?”
“For a walk, don’t worry your precious, psychotic, delusional little head, you’re precious minion will be back in no time,” I said. I ran to a spot I had seen earlier that was just out of sight of L. I sat staring at the distant sun above the mountains.
“You okay? I made you a snack. You’ll need it,” Evergreen said a grim look on her face.
“Thanks,” I replied, even though I was still nauseous I knew that she was right I would need it.
“abseiling.” I mumbled.
“abseiling” she repeated. In just a few hours time we would be flying to Utah in separate helicopters and we would have to abseil down to what could possibly be our deaths. One slip. one unintentional bad move in the abseiling process and you would surly die.
Operation You've Got To Be Kidding Me Page 11