Antithesis

by Allison Crews

  Twenty minutes passed, then thirty. No sound on the radio.

  “William, this is Elliott, they’ve checked. I am in the west – far west somewhere – moving northwest.”

  Silence.

  I dug deep into my Ariat pants pockets for my cell phone. No service. Of course. I stopped for a minute anyway and sent three text messages. One to Griffen, one to William, and one to Ben.

  In the west. No cell service here. Moving northwest. Have seven couple with me. 2:00.

  They’ll never get that, but at least I tried. Already 2:00? I couldn’t believe we’d been out that long. No wonder I’m thirsty. I stopped Viva briefly as she and the hounds drank in the slew. Think. This is not good. We need to get the hounds to a road and find someone to let everyone know where we are.

  “Hounds, hounds, here hounds,” I called, partly to cheer them and partly to make noise hoping someone would hear us.

  “William, anyone, can you read?” I said into the radio again.

  Silence.

  I checked my compass and set a course for due west. I was sure we would hit a north-south trail eventually that would take us back to that south border road. At least it had looked well traveled. If I found a good trail, we could easily work our way back to someone. There had to be plenty of trails in these woods. At least it would be easier for them to find us on a trail.

  “Here hounds, whoooop!” I called. “Come on, come come on!”

  We wandered west for another hour and thank goodness they didn’t strike again. Finally, we hit a trail, and I turned south hoping to find that main road. The trail wound south only for a moment, then turned west again. I could hear the dull rumbling of riverboats and knew we were not far from the Mississippi River. At least we were on a real road.

  I kept calling by voice and radio – still no response. On a whim, I changed the channels and tried them as well. Nothing.

  At last, we hit another trail, and again, I turned south. We had not gone a mile before, thank goodness, I saw two four-wheelers.

  “Hey!” I called, and cantered over to them. Relief washed over me, and I realized just how anxious I had been. I’d never been so delighted to see four-wheelers in all my life.

  “Hello!” I called again as I approached. They were still and didn’t wave back. Maybe they were on the phone...their service may work here...good, we could call the camp for help. I slowed to a walk, but continued towards them.

  “Hello, sir? Can you help me? I’m Elliott Marks – my radio’s…” I stopped in mid sentence as the man stepped toward me a little too quickly and reached out for Viva’s bridle. In that instant, I saw what Griffen had not known to look for. When I met his eyes, I saw evil – anger – hate – behind the unsettlingly kind, round face.

  “NO!” I screamed at the top of my voice and jerked Viva’s head away from his reaching hands, urging her away from his grasp.

  “Hey now, little missy, come on back,” he shouted. “We can help you!”

  I spun as fast as I could kicking him in the jaw with my stirrup iron and boot and knocking him to the ground. The other man jumped from his four-wheeler and lunged for Viva’s bridle as well. I sliced his cheek open with my hunting whip, but before I could pull it back, he snatched it from my hands.

  “Settle down, little lady, we can help you find your friends,” he growled. “They sent us this way lookin’ for you.”

  I hesitated at a safe distance on Viva for a half-second in shock not believing I had just attacked these men…but they had attacked me…hadn’t they? Or had my oversensitive female sense of being wary of all strangers caused me to overreact? I’m so embarrassed if it did. What now?

  I wanted badly to believe they were trying to help me, but I knew they were lies. Viva was not second-guessing what she’d seen and just before my head cleared, she took off like she’d been shot, and we galloped as fast as we dared in all directions.

  On an on we galloped much faster than we should, pushing their evil eyes from my mind and focusing on avoiding trees. Thankfully, the land was flat, and I could see a long way through the woods. Then again, so could they. I heard their four wheelers behind me, but not for long. They were no match for a flying fleeing Thoroughbred in the swamp, and soon the woods swallowed their sound.

  Why were they so angry? What had I done to them? Does this have to do with the incident at the party, still? What would they have done to me had they been able to catch me?

  My body tensed, and we almost struck a low vine – Viva was not reading my signals. Not again! Can’t fall off - Focus on riding, fast, anywhere, just get away and get them confused! Grand hissed, “Go go go get away as far away as you can! Gallop through the water in case they try to track you – They’ll kill you if they catch you – but probably not right away…They’re pure evil and coming after you! Run!”

  Viva’s muscles surged beneath me, so comforting, so fluid. We raced through the trees twisting and turning, dodging vines, crashing through chest-deep icy water-filled brakes. Deer exploded all around me and in spite of my panic, I marveled at the beauty of this swamp. We crossed a trail and charged along it putting even more distance, hopefully, between the monsters and us.

  Thirty minutes later, I slowed long enough to think and get a compass bearing…with both compasses. I left the trail knowing that would be an easier way for me to be tracked and continued through the woods as fast as I could safely travel. We kept galloping east until

  I felt like there would be no way they could find us. I felt terrible about the hounds. William was going to kill me. Then I remembered… the hounds have tracking collars. If I stayed near them…no way. I would not go back and risk being jumped by those…fiends.

  I listened again. Nothing. There was perfect silence save the sonorous rumble of tugboats on the River. I started to announce where I was and try the radio again, but thought better of it. Did they have one of our radios? How else did they know where to find me?

  The light was fading, and I knew daylight would be gone in a matter of minutes. The sky, too, was cloudy and getting darker – no moon tonight. Dear Lord, please don’t let it rain. I had to find a place to stay…to hide. But how do I hide a horse? I have to keep Viva with me. She’s the only reason I’m safe now.

  Ahead in the dimming light, I saw a deer stand – a two-person one that would enable me to at least sleep off the ground. I decided against it, though, because that would be the first place those brutes would look, and I wouldn’t be near Viva.

  After passing it, I realized that I may be able to get a cell signal if I climbed higher. We turned back, and I tied Viva to a limb. I climbed the stand and reached up on tiptoe to see if it would pick up – something. When I brought it down, it had one bar. Certainly worth a try.

  Attacked by two angry men on four-wheelers. They tried to grab me. We have lost them and are moving east and south. They may have one of our radios. Planning to spend the night in hiding. Will continue south in the morning. 6:00 pm now.

  I stretched up as high as I could and held the phone way over my head. The message would go to Griffen, William, Ben, and Addy, I hoped. When I looked at my screen, it indicated that they’d been sent. Now, hopefully they will find me or at least send someone after those monsters.

  We kept going until I found a cane thicket. Viva and I punched through and discovered that the interior had been stomped, but that the area around it was solid cane. This would be a perfect hiding place as well as an alarm should anyone be following us.

  I dismounted Viva and let her graze on the cane, holding her reins lightly to give her space. My thirst was back, burning now. I ate one of the two peppermint candies I had in my pocket in case I was lucky enough to have been riding with Griffen today. Griffen. Oh my. Oh no. What is he going to do when he finds out what those men tried to do? I can’t tell him – he’ll kill them – and then…stop this! I’m getting delirious.

  After a few moments, the adrenaline rush dissipated, and my whole body ached with exhaustion. D
arkness fell, and strangely enough, I began to feel calm. I thanked God for that, and spent the next few moments in prayer. A great wave of peace blanketed me, and I knew everything was going to be all right. I began to think I may even be able to sleep – at least for a little while.

  The great cypress trees that surrounded this cane thicket reminded me of Griffen and our lovely morning together in the swamp. He had described the swamp as his favorite cathedral, and I felt as safe here as I would have with him…in a church.

  All of a sudden, the darkness was complete. I could see nothing past my hands, for there were no stars. After letting Viva graze for an hour, I tied her to a sapling I had spotted before the blackness enveloped us and looped my belt around her legs.

  I found a place to curl up out of reach of her hooves, but remained very close to her. I had always dreamed of camping out with Viva, and this, in a way, was a treat. My favorite part of summer camp when I had gone years ago was the horseback campout, so I tried to remember those days and enjoy this time in the woods with my beautiful, brave horse that may have just saved my life. Thinking about this as an adventure was far better than dwelling on the reality of having evil men hunting me in the dark swamp, so adventure I would make this and try to get some rest.

  It was very cold, and I shivered for a while, in spite of the layers of long underwear and wool I had chosen to wear that morning. Earlier, they had been a too-warm nuisance, but I was ever so grateful for the layers now. The ground must have warmed around me somewhat and I drifted off, momentarily, to sleep.

  In my dreams, I heard walking, snuffling. I opened my eyes to darkness and cold and sat bolt upright – frozen momentarily in terror not remembering where I was. Viva stamped and made little shuffling sounds nearby and reminded me what we were doing, but that did nothing to settle the panic that rose in my throat. I wished I could   curl up underneath her. I wanted to see what time it was, so I pressed my cell phone. The bright light startled and blinded me – Why did I do that? Stupid! Now they know where I am! In the brief moment I let the light flash, I had seen that it was only 11:00 pm. What had wakened me?

  Shuffling sounds again – coming to me – closer. They know where I am. Why did I turn on that light?

  Maybe the light will scare them. I need to get off the ground.

  Dear God, what was coming through the cane in the dark?

  The calm assurance with which I fell asleep had vanished, much like someone had snatched off my comforter. The darkness had me completely disoriented as to how far away the sounds were and in what direction they were coming. Using the dim light of my cell phone, I inched closer to Viva, untied the belt from her legs, looped the reins over her head, and climbed on her back. She nickered in protest. My fear abated…somewhat.

  Shuffling, sniffing sounds –

  Not a person, thank God. But what else? A coyote? Maybe? Fox? Maybe? Hog? Do they sniff?

  I shone my cell phone and hoped it would fear the feeble light…

  What in the world was coming for me through the cane?

  Moments seemed to last forever. My heart thumped so loudly I was sure the beast could hear me and smell my fear. Viva stamped nervously, but I was so glad to be on her and not lying helplessly on the ground in the darkness.

  The snuffling stopped. They’re here. Fear paralyzed me – all calm comfort gone – wondering what evil loomed in the darkness.

  Silence. No movement, no breathing.

  Where did it go?

  I reached out a little more trying to get the pitiful light to show me what awaited me in the darkness.

  Should we run? If so, where? What are they?

  Brown eyes met mine in the dim light, and I almost cried with relief.

  “Pout!” I called, leaping down from Viva’s back. I grabbed his neck and hugged him so tightly he coughed. As I was snuggling into his neck I saw, with dismay, that he had no tracking collar…one of the puppies.

  “That’s ok,” I whispered to him. “You’ll make a great pillow, I hope!”

  I tied Viva back to the sapling, then unhooked her breastplate and looped one end through my arm, and the other to Pout’s collar. My belt went around Viva’s legs again, just in case. Pout was all too willing to curl up with me, and I snuggled up with him like he was a great big teddy bear. In moments, I was asleep.

  Daylight broke around 5:45. Before I could see well, I heard the woods waking up. Surrounded by the cane, I couldn’t see much, but I stepped over to my restroom, checked that there were no more hounds around, and prepared to continue my trek south. I let Viva get a mouthful of cane while I returned the breastplate to its place on her, mounted, and started moving.

  A buck leapt from the other side of the cane brake spooking us both, and I almost fell. Fortunately, Viva and I jumped the same direction. He was magnificent, but noisy. Pout considered him for a moment, but looked at me, making sure I saw him ignore it. I praised him for resisting.

  “Please stay with me, Pout,” I pleaded. “I need your company this morning, badly.”   The woods were light now, and I saw another tall deer stand – unoccupied. I did not know what was going on this morning, but I had to get word to everyone that I was, so far, safe, and heading south.

  Heading south now with Pout. Nice evening in the woods. I am fine. 6:15 am now.

  I climbed the stand and hoped to send this text and see if anyone had replied to mine yesterday. No service. I waited for a few more minutes, then gave up, ready to get moving.

  Once I found a southerly bearing we picked up a canter. At this rate, surely I would find someone soon, but how would I know who to trust? I would make that decision when I ran into that problem. We ran into hogs, scattered more deer, and thankfully, Pout stayed with us. At last I could see a clearing ahead. The road!

  Once we hit the road, we galloped east as fast as we could go. About fifteen minutes later, I started seeing camps. We slowed to a trot, and I went up to the first one and saw there was no one inside. Tying Viva to a loose branch, I walked up the steps and tried the door. Locked. The windows. Locked. I went around to the other side and tried the back door. Open. Thank goodness!

  Inside the cabin I searched in every room for a telephone. Kitchen, bedrooms, den, no telephone…anywhere. Back down the stairs – back on Viva – we trotted to the next camp. Deserted as well. Where was everyone?

  Once again, I tied Viva to a tree and started up the stairs. Before I could reach the top, I heard a truck. I dashed back downstairs, mounted Viva, and eased into a cane thicket, out of sight. The truck was getting closer, and my heart pounded.

  Do I trust them? Should I stop them? Against all my fears, I walked into the middle of the road. The truck slowed, then stopped. I remained in place.

  “Miss Marks?” a hostile voice growled.

  “Who are you?” I asked, ignoring his question.

  “Duncan,” he said. “What the hell are you doing?”

  My blood went cold. How did they know my name? What are the chances that the only truck I found would be one of theirs?

  “I have hundreds of people looking for me,” I said. Much more bravely than I felt. “I called my friends earlier this morning when I found a signal,” I said, not moving. “They know I’m coming in…and where I’ll be…they’ll be here any minute. I need you to tell them that I’m all right.”

  “I already radioed in that I found you,” he grumbled. “They didn’t seem to have gotten your message. At least they hadn’t just now.”

  His words spurred icy shivers. Fear gripped me, and I almost bolted. Almost.

  “Mr. Hinton and his nephew Griffen Case are on their way,” I said hoping the names would be familiar to him and make him reconsider killing me now, thinking others were not far away. “They said they were almost here.”

  “I did, too. Mr. Hinton’s the one who sent me.”

  I almost swooned with relief. So he was not one of them? I sat on Viva, speechless, but still couldn’t bring myself to move.

  “Now, y
ou gonna get down off that hoss or am I gonna haveta come get you?”

  “Where are they, then?” I said, longing to see someone I knew before I believed I was truly safe.

  “How the hell do I know?” he barked. “Get on over here, honey. This coffee won’t stay hot forever. You bound to be cold.”

  Coffee was going to be my death. I was so tempted. I didn’t move. I wanted to believe he wasn’t bad, but all my instincts still screamed run!

  “Please sir,” I said, my voice wavering. “What do you want from me? Why are you after me?”

  “I told you, Mr. Hinton has had half the county looking for you, Miss Marks,” he yelled, really getting impatient now. “In case you haven’t noticed, you’ve been out all night!”

  “Mr. Duncan, why do you want me to get off my horse?” I asked again. “Can’t you just let me follow you to where I need to go?”

  “Damn it, honey,” he shouted. “My wife’ll have my hide if I didn’t even offer you a ride after you’ve spent all night in the cold. Now, come on over here and get something to drink. Hell, I’ve even got some do-nuts in here if you’re hungry.”

  Do-nuts and coffee. How bad could he be? I rode over to his truck and he extended his hand – and a steaming Styrofoam cup that gleamed in the early light. I reached out and took it from him.

  “Thank you, Mr. Duncan,” I said, relishing the warmth.

  “Duncan,” he growled. “Just Duncan. I’m not Mr. Duncan. That’s my father’s name.”

  “Duncan, you’re not going to attack me, too, then?” I grinned, trying to cover my embarrassment at still not truly accepting his hospitality. Manners had to be put a little behind survival. Just a little.

  “Lord no! Attacking you would get me in all sorts of trouble with the missus, much less the law! I don’t know who you are, or what’s going on, but you have a lot of people searching this swamp for you,” he grinned a semi-toothless grin that reached his eyes.