Will of Man - Part Five

by William Scanlan

  As they approached striking distance, I stood up and leapt over the side of the cliff. As I fell, I could feel the rope slack tighten and then the big pull. The fallen pine swept across the top of the cliff like a giants arm - scooping the wolves as it went over the cliff.

  The rope squeezed my chest and I gripped the rope with both hands and held on tight. I tucked my head into my chest and squeezed my eyes shut anticipating the incoming falling wolves.

  To my surprise, none of the wolves fell onto me, but to my greater surprise, they all went over the edge.

  As I dangled over the edge of the cliff, I looked down to see five wolves floating down river and one dead on the boulders below.

  I was so excited my plan worked, I forgot about the searing pain in my sides from the ropes and the huge dangling pine tree above me.

  My celebration ended with the pine crashing down on me scraping me up bad. The fallen pine may have crashed to the ground below, but I stayed tide to the standing pine above. I was only twenty-five feet off the ground, but it seemed like a mile to me.

  Fortunately I was dangling over a body of water and not a boulder. I took my knife out and cut the rope holding me up in the air. With a quick snap of the rope contracting, I belly smacked the flowing water below. The water was not as cold as I thought, but it was flowing fast and pushed me down river.

  I swam my way to the river bank and collapsed on the sandy ground. It didn't take long for me to remember the wolves. I quickly sat up and looked around. As I looked across the river I saw my traveling companions. They were huddled together, looking miserable.

  Fortunately for me, the wolves and I were separate by about 40-50 yards of slow moving water. I counted five and was disappointed my planned cliff dive didn't take more. But five sickly wolves are better than the seven strong original.

  My ribs may be bruised, but I look a lot better than them. They look miserable. A couple keep dry-heaving and the others just limp around.

  They didn't seem too eager to swim across the river, but they weren't leaving me either. I still have a few miles till I need to cross and meet up with Balow. I will wait them out and cross when possible. They may have me blocked for today. But they are wilting and I am strong. They will blink and then I will move. Soon I will cross this river and find my friend.

  Tyler's Journal Entry: 451

  Date: October 3

  Weather: Cool and cloudy

  Miles to go: 623

  I made camp across from the wolves. Strangely I feel more secure being able to see them when I want, rather than moving into the woods and having to wonder where they are all the time.

  I climbed a tree and tied myself to a large limb with my remaining rope and slept there for the night. My wetsuit and thermal blanket kept me moderately warm. I watched the stars and made small wishes with each fallen one. Looking at the night sky reminded me of sitting on my back porch watching the jets fly over. Flint and Detroit airports were to the east of my home and on any given time I could see a plane or two fly high above.

  There are no jets in the sky anymore to entertain me, but the falling stars will do. It is a lonely feeling being all alone anywhere, but here in the deep woods; a person's loneliness is magnified.

  Strangely I feel a connection to the wolves. They are mine and I am there's. It seems we will be forever linked in a game of cat and mouse. However I've been the mouse for too long and it’s time to change the game.

  I woke up and examined my friends across the river. They looked like they had been partying all night and were suffering the consequences today. A pile of beer cans is all that’s needed to complete the image.

  An MRE was my breakfast as I sat near a warm fire I built. I decided to relax and study the wolves a bit. There wasn't much to study though. They just laid on the sandy ground looking hung over and miserable. The antifreeze is affecting them and they are getting weaker by the day.

  I whittled a stick and tried making it into the shape of a wolf. It looked more like a wiener dog, but it was fine for my first whittle. I laid the wiener dog/wolf on a rock facing the sickly wolves and headed down river.

  The wolves noticed me moving on and slowly picked themselves up to follow. They followed on the other side of the river all the while keeping a watchful eye on me.

  Every time I stopped, they stopped. If I backtracked the opposite way up the river, they followed. I wasn't going to lose them. They may be sick, but they are not dead.

  What is their fascination with me? I'm sure there is easier prey to torment.

  I remembered watching a PBS show on predators. In one point of the show, the narrator commented that the most dangerous predator on Earth is humans. Because humans have the capability to plan and strategize. We can make weapons and tools. We are thinkers and thinkers think. I needed to think my way away from these wolves. They function on instinct. I function on choice and well thought out decisions.

  After eating lunch (another MRE), I decided on a plan. I took long branches and sharpened the ends of them into spears. The long branches were made from the only tree around (pine) and weren't very heavy to build enough moment to pierce the hides of the wolves. So I took some odd shaped stones that were long in shape and duck taped them near the end of the sharpened spears

  The extra weight gave the spears some needed weight.

  I made five of them and donned my wetsuit suit. The wolves seemed to be sleeping and or not paying much attention to me. I dipped beneath the river water and swam slowly towards the wolves.

  Once I got into striking distance, I slowly rose from the water holding a spear in my throwing hand above my head and gripping the others with my other hand. Without a sound, I threw my makeshift spear at the closest wolf.

  It missed and the wolves quickly jumped to attention. I hastily grabbed another and let it fly in the direction of the same wolf. I missed again. The wolves ran into the water without hesitation and gave chase. I threw the remainder of the spears - missing with each one.

  The wolves were about five meters into the water and about another five away from me. Realizing my failed attempt, I quickly aborted and swam back to my camp.

  The wolves may be fast runners, but they are slow swimmers compared to me. I am like a fish and they are, well - wolves.

  The wolves swam to mid river then headed back to their side of the river.

  I was disappointed in my failure, but happy to know I can out swim them at any time.

  I may have failed, but some other human traits that make us dangerous is our ability to evaluate, adapt, and overcome. I needed to rethink my plan.

  I rested and formulate another plan while I whittled another weiner dog/wolf.

  I came to realization that I've been playing their game all along. I need to take control of this game and bring them into my world. I've been running around in theirs and they've dominated me since the beginning.

  I've ran and hid from them, fearing them every second. I am a triathlete, who in the past, spent hours a day in the water training. I am fast, strong, and agile in the water. The wolves doggy paddle and are not built for swimming. They are slow and are lucky to keep their heads above the water. I can tread water for hours if needed, swim multiple meters beneath the water, and can cross this river in a matter of seconds.

  I made the mistake of taking the fight to them. I need to bring the fight to me - in my elements. I need to fight those wolves in the water.

  My plan is simple; I will lure the wolves out and into the middle of the river (they've already shown their willingness to go that far). I will keep them close enough to keep their interest in me, but never let them get close enough to strike. I will wear them down and make them tired.

  Once they are where I want them, I will swim beneath them and to their backs - blocking them from returning. As they try to return, I will take my spear and attack them one by one from beneath the water. My strikes will be to their underside (their bellies). I'll make sure to thrust my knife deep into them over and ove
r.

  I will swim deep beneath the water underneath them and hold my breath. My spear can reach far and I can hold my breath for a long time. I figure I can attack two with one breath. I will have to come up for a breath at least twice before I am able to finish them off.

  As the wolves rested, I took my spear with the sharp knife on the end of it, and slid into the water. Swimming to the middle of the river, I practiced my moves over and over. Envisioning my opponents swimming at the crest of the river, I practiced thrusting my spear upward where they will be, and then with the same breath, I swam over a couple meters and practiced thrusting again.

  I repeated this over and over until I was confident with myself. If I get within the wolves striking distance, I can just swim straight down and out of their range.

  Like I said before, the wolves are getting weaker by the day and don't seem to be eating or drinking anything. I imagine the wolves kidneys are failing by now from the antifreeze poisoning. With luck, they may die by the time I get enough courage to follow through with my plan. If they don't die, they will be very weak and easier for me to take out.

  I was pretty tired after training for so long. My plan is to rest all day tomorrow and fuel up on carbs while the wolves get weaker.

  Resting tomorrow reminds of the tapering before a race. Although tapering usually takes place over many days, I will rest my muscles and fuel up the best I can in one day. I will prepare my mind by visualizing the scenario over and over.

  Like my opponents in a triathlon, I will not underestimate them. I will treat them as though they are the most dangerous players in the game. I will show no mercy and I will attack to the greatest of my abilities. My effort will be one hundred percent till I am well past the finish line.

  I know I sound like a cheesy character in an over-the-top sports movie, but I have to be prepared to give it my all. There will be no room for weakness past tomorrow.

  Tyler’s Journal Entry: 452

  Date: October 4th

  Weather: Cool, cloudy, slightly windy

  Miles to go: 620

  Tomorrow is the day I end this showdown with my five "friends." For three days I've tried crossing this river. For three days they've stalked me and blocked my passage across.

  I sit here across from them and the only thing separating us is fifty yards of slow moving water. They just sit on their side of the river, staring at me.

  I'm tired of waiting. Part of me wishes they would make a move so I don't have to. But that's alright; I've practiced MY move over and over. And tomorrow I will make it. Tomorrow if all goes to plan, there will be five corpses floating down stream and I will be across the river continuing on my way to find my family.

  Dad always said, have a plan A and back it with a plan B. Well I have my plan A, a plan B, and a plan C if needed.

  I've watched them as they they've watched me. I count five all together. The big one seems to be the Alpha. I'm expecting to deal with him last. I suspect the others will come for me first. I'll need to coax them in one at a time or least keep them separated enough that I can take each one out quickly and then move on to the next.

  From what I know of this type; is that they are the best at working as a team. They will channel me in to where they want me, but I won't allow that. They will try to flank me from the sides, which I hope they try. They will be perfectly synchronized when closing in. But I will bust a crack in their circle of death and I will take them out one-by-one.

  They may think they have me trapped in their world, but they will be in mine. The water has been my world since I was little, and I will make them pay for entering it. By getting them to come into the water, I will take away their speed and strength and give myself the advantage I need.

  Tomorrow, when I'm ready, they will all die.

  Tyler’s Journal Entry: 453

  Date: October 5th

  Weather: Cool, cloudy, slightly windy

  Miles to go: 620

  For the past year, my dreams at night are of trees, hills, flowing streams, and me scavenging for food. But last night I dreamt of earlier days, back when I was a younger child.

  My dream took me back to when I was little. It was my brother Tanner's birthday, which was yesterday - October 4th. We always go to my Grandma Jeanne's where the whole family meets. In my dream, my mom, dad, Tanner, Uncle Rick, cousin Bethany, cousin Jonathan, Grandpa Buck, Grandpa Dick, and Grandma Jeanne are all there.

  The theme of the party was pirates (my brother's obsession when he was little). In the dream, everyone's sitting around cheering him on as he ripped into his brightly wrapped presents. Only in the dream I was outside the house looking inside from a window. The night was a cool fall night with a slight wind rustling leaves around the yard and through the trees.

  I remember the feeling of not being noticed. It was as if everyone had forgotten me. It was as if I had been dead or missing for a very long time and everyone had accepted my passing and moved on.

  I remember knocking on the window, but no one could hear me. After a while I was pounding harder and harder, hoping to be recognized. My mom was sitting quietly next to the window I was pounding on, but didn't notice me.

  Every year it's been tradition to decorate the trail in the woods next to my grandma's. Dad, I, and Tanner made it a long time ago for fun one day and it just seemed to grow more and more each year. We also use it for Easter and scavenge for hidden Easter eggs along its path.

  Since Tanner's birthday is around Halloween, my dad always brought our Halloween decorations from home and decorated the trail with a Halloween theme. He'd go all out with teekee torches, sound machines that made spooky noises, glowing pumpkins, glow in the dark skeletons, strands of orange lights, and everything else Halloweeny. Then when night came, all us kids would go find candy along the trail while the adults followed. Every glowing pumpkin marked a bowl of candy. Each year Dad would add a little more and eventually it became a really cool sight to see.

  Anyways, in the dream, I could see everyone go outside and start walking the trail. Tanner and my cousins took off exploring the trail for candy while the adults followed behind pointing out all the spooky decorations. Normally I would be right there with them running along the decorated trail.

  I tried running up to them, but even though they were walking, and I was running, I never seemed to be able to catch them. Slowly they began disappearing into the night. I could hear their laughter and chattering, but it slowly faded away until finally I was all alone. Even though the real trail was only a little over a hundred yards long, the one in my dream seemed to stretch longer and longer the more my fear and loneliness grew.

  In my dream I was running down the trail, passing teekee torches and glowing pumpkins. At one point, I looked behind me and saw a pack of giant wolves with red glowing eyes chasing me.

  I ran harder and harder, crying and stumbling the whole way, and screaming for my family to come back to me. And then just before the giant wolves with red glowing eyes bit into my neck, I woke up with my face covered in tears.

  I woke up crying and laid there the day after my brother's birthday, alone and terrified. It was the worst, most vivid dream ever, but expressed everything I'm feeling today.

  I ate a lite breakfast, just like I would before a race, because I want to be quick and lite. A bloated stomach can reduce performance tremendously and lead to cramps. I need to be my best today. My path home is blocked by these stupid wolves. Balow is hopefully waiting for me on the other side of the river - but for how long? He has his path to follow and his family to find. He can't wait forever.

  The sun was at its high point in the sky and I decided that would be the start time. I followed my prestart routine of warming up with a lite jog, stretching, going to the bathroom (got to stay lite), and then donning my wetsuit.

  To get the wolves attention, I did a couple warm up laps in the water, and shouted some obscenities in their direction.

  After I felt I was warmed up and ready, I took my sharpe
ned spear with rope attached and walked into the water. I looped the rope attached to the spear around my ankle and not my wrist. It would be hard to stroke with a dangling rope hanging from my wrist. If I have to get away fast, I can drag the rope behind and retrieve it later when I am a safe distance away. If it's looped around my wrist, it will not only be hard to do a proper stroke, I may also get entangled in it.

  The river is slow moving and not hard to cross directly. Thankfully, there is no strong current; otherwise my plan may have had to change.

  As I approached the wolves, they stood up and stared at me with curiosity. They looked as if they were asking themselves why was their prey was coming to them instead of fleeing? Well that's because, I am no longer the prey - they are.

  I was about ten meters from them when they started to tip-toe in the water towards me. They still looked curious and not sure of what I was doing. The water was shallow enough for me that I could stand with my chest and shoulder's out of the water. The spear laid in the water near me, attached to my ankle.

  I know predators look for signs of weakness in their prey and will pounce if the opportunity arises. I pretend to be hurt and struggling in the water. The wolf’s posture changed from curiosity to predatory. They entered the water more and walked closer to me.

  I gave a fake whimper with drew them in further. Now they were swimming towards me in a surrounding pattern. They were attempting to surround me. I anticipated this and felt my plan beginning to work.

  I gave them just enough enticement to keep them coming deeper out and towards the middle of the fifty yard wide river.

  As the first wolf reached me, I took a deep breath and disappeared beneath the water. My plan was to swim behind them and cut off their path back to the river bank, but they were too spread out to do so. So I targeted the first wolf and from beneath the water, I thrust my spear up and into its chest as hard as I could.

  My dad and I hunted a lot of dear after the LAST DAY, and I learned the kill zone for an animal (in the chest, either in front or just behind the front shoulder).