I really needed that three day weekend. I know towards the end of the week I will feel like I am missing something, but for now, I am just going to bask in the calmness that having a three day weekend brought. So timers at the ready and lets get into our morning prompt.
Why is it when I feel calm I almost but someone in mortal danger in my writing. Strange.
Tuesday, September 3rd: It swayed in the wind.
It swayed in the wind. He closed his eyes a moment waiting for the breeze to die down a bit. The closed eyes didn’t help and made him feel more nauseated than he did with them open. He felt that if he was going to fall he needed to see the fall instead of having it take him by surprise.
The ladder moved as the others continued in motion. He knew he was the last one. His responsibility was to make sure no one else was left behind and that no supplies were forgotten. He had two extra bundles shoved into his pack. They were items that were useful that someone else forgot to grab. After surveying the area, his last act on the ground had been to unpin the bottom of the rope ladder. His actions were part of why it was swaying so much in the wind.
Delaying also helped ensure that more people made it up to the ridge and the safety above before the ladder was un fastened. it would keep them from swaying and potentially falling either singly or taking those behind them with them. With fewer people on the ladder, there was less weight. Owen was certain he could feel each person leave the ladder behind in the increased swing of the ropes.
Then came the sound. He looked behind him wanting his eyes to tell him what his ears already knew. A small band approached from the south. They saw him, the still dangling ladder and they were making straight for him. He knew the rules. The ladder would be cut away before the troup arrived. It didn’t matter if he made it to the top before then or not. He would be sacrificed to safe the whole. He looked up and gauged the distance. He knew he would not make it. He looked down. There was one hope.
The river. Owen took a deep breath and used his body weight to cause the ladder to swing even further. He looked up and saw Sam. He saw what Owen was trying to do and nodded. Owen swung harder, trusting that Same would cut the ropes at the right time. He swung and even though he knew it was coming his entire body clenched when the ropes fell. He was on the apex of his swing and the momentum carried him further out over the river. For a brief wild moment he thought he swung too far and would miss the river entirely. Instead he hit the water on the far side of center. The river was deep and swift. He took a deep breath as he plunged in and by the time he surfaced he was quite a way downstream. He saw the band arrive and take aim. He ducked down as arrows feathered the river. They fell just behind him. He was just out of range.
The river swept him on. The current had him and all of his efforts went into keeping his head above water and letting it carry him out of reach of anyone who may follow. There was no time for other thoughts. everything he had wa bent on keeping his head above water and air in his lungs.
Ten til Midnight 