by Nathan Wolf
He said not all snakes survive hibernation. A skinny snake will not live through the winter, nor will a snake with food in its stomach or intestines when they cool. The undigested meal will rot and kill them.
Other than a heavy-duty icky factor, the slumbering reptiles posed little danger to us as long as we left them alone. I shuddered to think about it, but our slumbering cavern mates might prove to be a useful source of food.
The first priority was to help Alice regain her composure. I shared and understood her fear of snakes. Fear is useful and can provide the necessary adrenaline to power us through dangerous situations. On the other hand, too much fear has the opposite effect; often paralyzing a person into inactivity. The secret was to find a healthy middle ground between terror and bravado.
While I comforted Alice, I used the beam of my flashlight to explore our shelter. The dry soil of the cavern's floor could just as well have been talcum powder. The ATV's survival gear lay scattered about where it Alice tossed it when we scrambled to get everything inside the cave.
To survive the blizzard, we needed to organize ourselves. Our situation reminded me of the scene from the movie, 'The Martian' when the stranded astronaut faced the camera and said, "to survive I'm left with only one option, I'm gonna have to science the shit out of this."
In our case, we needed to use our heads and think the shit out of our predicament. Our biggest threat wasn't sleeping snakes, it was creeping hypothermiaa. The chill air drained our bodies of heat, and unless we figured out a way to keep warm in our shelter, the cave would become our tomb.
TO BE CONTINUED - (Return to index)
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PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU GO
Secrets of Liberty Mountain is my first work of fiction and the first book in an all-new post-apocalyptic adventure series. SLM is an ongoing work in progress. As a new author, I invite you to become a partner in the creative process by posting your comments, reviews, and suggestions as I post new chapters to the story as they are completed.
Reader involvement as I am actively engaged in writing my book is a thrilling and rewarding experience in “transparent creativity, ” and I invite you to take part.
If you like the story and want to read more, I would love it if you would join my team of Wolf BETA Readers. Please visit my Facebook page and message me. I will add you to the team. As a team member, you will receive advanced copies of new chapters under development and have the opportunity to share your thoughts and suggestions as the story unfolds.
Before you go, please take a moment or two to share your thoughts. What did you like, or not like, about the story? Please vote, post a review and, if you wish to read more, please add a comment.
Thank you,
Nathan Wolf
About the Author – (Return to index)
The Secrets of Liberty Mountain series is my first venture into the world of fiction. I do not live in a world where every female is a contender for Ms. Universe and every man endowed with a package of above-average junk. I decided to tell the story of ordinary people doing the best they can in extrodnary times.
I have been a writer, on and off, for about forty years. Once upon a time, I was the Editor and Publisher of a defunct community newspaper called the North County Advocate. Most, but not all, the back-story for Dennis Richards comes from my life. The ‘clothing optional’ all-women commune actually did happen.
My girlfriend and I spent a good chunk of one summer living with several women who decided clothing limited their free expression of sexuality. Given the choice of either removing my clothing or removing myself from their company, I disrobed and helped feed the flying bugs of northern Maine.
Living with a group of naked young lesbians was fascinating as well as frustrating. I felt like I was starving to death in a cookie factory because of lockjaw.
Thanks to my exposure to Agent Orange, while based at MACV in Saigon. Today the Veterans Administration classifies me as 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran.
I have held elective and appointed office in my hometown served as a church elder for 30 years and have been a community journalist for most of my life. I have a loving wife of 34 years and two fantastic children who still live at home.
Life is good. Except for the parts that suck.