Write a short story entitled 'ESCAPE'
Answers
It was pitch black, not even the Moon lit her pathway. Her breath came in short sharp bursts matching her steps. The path she knew by memory got steeper, as deeper her feet dug into the shifting sands.
Pebbles now dug into her feet, she altered her position getting her bearings until the softness of sand was under foot again as she felt the small clumps of grass brush her legs, she knew now she was on the right track.
She needed to run faster for they were behind her, She knew she hadn’t long as she heard the noise of the engines behind her as around 50 yards to her right through the trees was the old road. The convoy was behind her gaining speed..
Her feet now were covering the hardened earth as higher and higher she climbed, half running, scrambling over unseen obstacles.
She saw the outline of trees to her left and dived amongst them as the beam of light shone in front of her. The motorcycle with the uniformed rider drove past her hiding place at speed, kicking up the sand and dust in his wake.
She counted to Ten, took another deep breath and set of running again higher and steeper, every step taking the breath from her lungs
But she knew she couldn’t stop, for the Wagons were coming.
She was alert with all her senses coming into play, as she ran through the darkness, relying on her awareness of memory of the trail and her sense of touch as well as her sixth sense that instinctively kicked in.
Her heart beat loudly in her ears as the sweat oozed from every pore. The noise from the wagons now droned behind her, she had to get to the top, and then she knew she would be safe. But as hard as she ran the steeper and harder it became and it slowed her progress.
The searchlight from the lead wagon was switched on, its beam shot a line through the trees behind her. She had to stick to the path for a while longer yet, to detour now into the unknown forest would be fatal
Her limbs ached as her lungs wanted to explode as the pain of running so fast and hard overwhelmed her.
She gritted her teeth in her determination as she dug her feet deeper into the moving slope, knowing her feet were bleeding, she focused on her climb as the sand bank slipped beneath her steps. Her instincts told her she hadn’t much further to go and she would be safe..
“ Keep going, keep going” she told herself, until she felt the blast of the ocean breeze hit her face. The wind hit her, blowing her hair back from where it has stuck upon her sweat laden brow, waking her senses. She breathed in deep gulping at the cold sea air as she heard the crashing waves below.
The wagons of war roared louder behind her and she knew it was now or never to put her faith to the test.
The Moon surfaced from behind the clouds casting some light upon her path. She was there, right on the edge.. She stopped. Knowing there was no way back.
She looked behind to see the head lights had stopped where the road had ran out. Torch light now was seen blinking up and down the track she’d just climbed as the soldiers followed her path.
Answer:
I had been very wealthy and prosperous and was leading a very comfortable life. I had all the worldly pleasures with me. But soon I became bored of my idle life. The urge to go on a voyage became stronger and stronger day by day. It haunted me like anything. So one day I boarded a ship and went trading from island to island with other merchants. When we started, the weather was fine and the sea was calm. But on the fourth day of our voyage, our ship was caught in a terrific/terrible hurricane and we wandered from our set course. The tempest continued for several days and drove us near an island. The captain of the ship was reluctant to cast anchor at the port as it was a much dreaded place. The violent waves of the sea had exhausted us. We were all tired and hungry so we went in search of food and water. We were fortunate enough to find fruit trees and a stream of fresh and cool water which gave us strength and energy and relieved us from hunger. It had started getting dark. As we were tired we went to sleep but were soon startled by a rustling noise which came from a very long and huge python like serpent gliding swiftly towards us. We ran to save our lives but the serpent was quick enough to swallow one of my companions. We kept running till we had covered a good enough distance from the serpent. We felt a bit relieved but at the same time sad as we had lost a friend of ours. We took shelter on the top of a tree and thought ourselves to be safe. But we were mistaken for we had hardly slept a little time when we heard a hissing sound which alarmed and frightened us. Coiling itself round the tree, the serpent reached my other companion who was positioned somewhat lower than me on the tree. It swallowed him and went away. Terror stricken I clung to the branch of the tree tightly and I did not know when I fell asleep. It was daylight when I awoke. I climbed down. It seemed to me that I had no courage left. It took me no time to realise that if I would not think of a way to escape soon, I would be a dead man. It was just a matter of time when I would also be swallowed like my two other companions. The instinct to prevent one’s life is greater than any fear or frustration. I thought I should spare no means to save myself. I collected a lot of dry wood and bushes and tied them into a bundle with reeds. I arranged them in a circular structure round the tree and tied some of them with the branches of the tree. In this way I made a tent like structure in which I sat after dusk and securely tied from within. I had the satisfaction that whatever I could do I did it to prevent myself. This time when the serpent arrived he crept round the tree but he could not penetrate the defensive structure I had made around me. It just sat and waited the whole night like a cat that waits for the mouse to emerge out of its hole. At dawn, the serpent crept back but I dared not come out of my fortress. I lay there half dead and almost suffocated. When the Sun began to shine, I came out of my wooden fortress. I was so desperate that I ran towards the seashore. When I was about to jump into the sea, I saw a ship sailing at some distance. I shouted wildly and the sailors on the ship and a rescue boat were immediately sent for me. This was my miraculous escape from the deadly serpent.