Beneath the Tombstone (The Tombstone Series)

by Martin Cogburn

  The two men stood in silence for a few moments before Jason spoke. “Have you ever known that you were going to die?” he asked without turning his head towards Tyler.

  Tyler was silent for a moment before responding. “Yes, I actually have.”

  “But you’re still alive,” Jason said in surprise, his eyes moist as he turned to look at the tall horseman.

  “Yep, I’m still alive,” Tyler said with a small, thoughtful smile.

  “How?” Jason asked, a bewildered look on his face.

  “God, fate… somethin’,” the tall horseman replied as he tipped his hat back a little. “Guess one of those things or all of the above weren’t finished with me.”

  “How’d you know you were gonna die?” Jason questioned.

  Tyler didn’t answer. He just looked down at the ground. “Now isn’t about me,” he finally replied. “It’s about you. You can learn more on the subject of me some other time.”

  With that, the tall horseman stepped back from the fence and said, “Load up your stuff. We’ll leave in a bit. You won’t climb until this afternoon, but I want you to spend the day at the gorge. It’ll give you a chance to prepare mentally.”

  Jason walked up the hill to his shack, and as if he was preparing to pay a visit to the grim reaper, he began packing a few things he’d need for the day. As he was placing them in his truck, Susan came walking up the hill.

  “Happy birthday,” she said, giving him a supportive smile.

  Jason ran his fingers through his hair and sighed. “Hadn’t even thought of that yet,” he admitted.

  “Well, we don’t have any candles for you to blow out, but you can still make a wish,” she said in a semi-teasing tone, trying to cheer him up a bit.

  “I think you know what that is,” Jason replied soberly. “I wish for me and Misty to both come back alive.” He paused for a moment before adding, “I guess I’m not supposed to tell my wish though, am I?”

  “I don’t know,” Susan said, cocking one eyebrow. “At Ken’s birthday party he blurted out ‘I wish I were a cowboy’ for everybody to hear.” She turned away from Jason, looking down towards the barn. “Seems like it worked out pretty good for him.”

  Jason followed her gaze down the hill to where Ken tagged along beside Tyler, sporting a brand new cowboy hat. “So when you scoop a horse’s poop out of his stall does he ‘preciate it?” Jason overheard his nephew asking.

  Tyler stopped with a thoughtful look on his face. “You know,” he said, turning to the boy, “in all my years of scooping poop, not one of them ever voiced a single word of gratitude.”

  Ken shook his head. “Shame on them,” he said, gaining a whole-hearted laugh from the tall cowboy.

  “See,” Susan said turning back to Jason, “wishes sometimes do come true.”

  “Sometimes,” Jason acknowledged solemnly, “sometimes not.”

  Susan reached up and placed a hand on his arm. “Don’t stop believing,” she encouraged. “Set your sights on things above. God will lift you up.”

  After Susan left and Jason had finished packing, he drove down to the barn and picked up Tyler. They headed down an old dirt road that followed what was once a railroad used to haul gold down from the Cripple Creek area. They passed through several dark tunnels that had been cut straight through the mountain. A while later, they parked, paid the entrance admission, and walked out onto the expansion bridge that spanned the Royal Gorge. Jason followed Tyler over to the railing and looked down on the north side of the gorge, almost directly beneath them.

  “And there it is,” Tyler said gravely.

  “Yep,” Jason responded, that old familiar nauseous feeling growing more intense than ever, “there it is.”

  There was a brief moment of silence before the tall horseman turned to him. “What time is it?” he asked.

  Jason looked at his phone. “Almost eleven,” he replied.

  Tyler nodded his head as he looked around. He appeared to be waiting on someone… but honestly Jason didn’t care. With a feeling that he was about to die, nothing else really mattered.

  “Are you Tyler?” a voice behind them asked.

  “Yes,” the tall cowboy responded as he and Jason turned.

  “I’m Nicholas, representing the Royal Gorge and Cañon City,” the approaching man spoke, shifting his clipboard to his left hand and extending the other to Tyler. As they shook, the man began speaking again. “On behalf of the Royal Gorge Company, I’d like to say welcome and we are happy to assist you and your climber in any way possible.” He paused briefly before going on, “Of course, there are a few technicalities to be worked out first.” He extended the clipboard out towards Tyler as he added, “I need both of you to sign an affidavit releasing the Royal Gorge and its affiliates from any legal ramifications that might come about as a consequence of your climber’s injury or possible death.”

  “Sure,” Tyler said, taking the clipboard. “Gotta pen?” The man pulled a pen from his pocket, and the tall horseman scribbled his signature.

  When the clip board and pen were handed over to Jason, his hand trembled as he scrawled a terrible representation of his signature. Obtaining permission to die didn’t really make him feel any better about it. He handed the clip board back to the man who gave it a quick glance.

  “That will work,” he said then gave Jason a nod as he sincerely added, “Good luck.”

  Jason returned the nod without a word, and after the man left, he turned back to the railing, gazing down at the Arkansas River flowing nearly a thousand feet below. For a moment, he let his mind drift along with the current towards home, miles downstream.

  An old black crow flew around the bridge several times before coming to rest a short distance from Jason. It cocked its head sideways, looked at him for a moment then gave out a squawk as it spread its wings, leapt off the bridge and soared away. As Jason watched the bird’s graceful departure, he envied its lack of concern over the law of gravity.

  Tyler stepped to his side and began explaining which way the original route went up the face of the cliff that lay beneath them. After going over it thoroughly, the tall horseman headed off to eat at the café inside the visitor’s center. Not the least bit hungry, Jason went a different direction.

  Finding a small bolder, he took a seat on the ground, leaning back against the bolder for support. Several hours passed by as Jason sat fighting with the fear down deep in the pit of his stomach. Rising to his knees, he turned and leaned against the bolder, whispering over and over again, “Lord if there is any other way to save Misty show it. Please let there be another way.” Sweat dripped from his forehead, creating dark circles on the rock where they fell. No answer came. Finally, he rose on trembling legs and made his way to his pickup, grabbed his two-way radio off its charger, clipping it to his belt at his lower back. Reaching into the glove box, he pulled out the induction loop, flipped it over his neck and concealed it beneath his shirt before plugging it into the two-way radio. Lastly, he put the earpiece in his pocket then headed over towards the gorge.

  Once on the bridge, he spotted Susan and Ken standing on one side, looking down at the Tombstone; they listened as Tyler gave what sounded to be a description of Jason’s route up. Unfortunately, they were not the only familiar faces to be seen. Susan’s mother and father stood close by. In no mood to undergo their condescending attitudes, Jason turned and walked on past the group.

  “Uncle Jason!” Ken exclaimed before Jason had a chance to slip away unnoticed.

  He turned back and saw the boy come racing towards him. “Don’t run on the bridge!” he cried out anxiously. His nephew stopped with a confused look on his face. “You could fall,” Jason lectured, feeling the inquiring stares of those around him. Honestly, he didn’t really care what they thought. “And stay away from the edges,” he added.

  Susan placed a caring arm around her son who wore a puzzled expression on his face. “It’s okay, sweetie,” she said calmly. “Uncle Jason’s just worried.”


  Ken walked forward and wrapped his arms around Jason’s midsection. “Don’t worry, Uncle Jason,” the boy said, looking up at him. “When I’m scared, I pray to God. He makes it better.”

  Jason forced a smile to his lips. “Thanks Ken,” he said. What the boy didn’t know was that he had tried that repeatedly. The fear was still there.

  Jason’s father-in-law, Kurt, approached with his wife, Grace, following behind. They stopped and stood beside Susan.

  “Are you really going to do this?” Kurt asked after a moment, a look of reserved admiration in his eyes.

  “That is the plan, sir,” Jason replied solemnly.

  “I don’t believe it,” his mother-in-law injected arrogantly, speaking to her husband. “You know how he is.” She flung her hands in the air and added, “If he’s our daughter’s only hope then all hope is lost.”

  Kurt, quiet and reserved as always, stepped forward. “Good luck, son,” he said, extending his hand.

  “Thank you, sir,” Jason said as they shook firmly.

  “Apparently, I’m the only one he hasn’t deceived,” Grace spoke hotly. Without saying a word, Jason walked passed her towards another familiar face.

  “Jason,” a voice filled with emotion spoke.

  “Hey Jenny,” he said, moments before he was wrapped in a big hug.

  “You come back now,” she said, like she was being forced to scold some careless child, “you hear?” Afraid words would betray the fear in his heart and lump in his throat, Jason simply nodded.

  “Jason, how do you feel about the climb today?” a reporter asked, sticking a microphone in his face as he turned.

  “We better get moving,” a voice beside Jason spoke. He turned. It was Tyler. “It takes a little while to get down to the base of the Tombstone.”

  Without a word to the reporter, they turned away and walked back over to Susan. She gave Jason a big hug as she said, “May God be with you, Jason.”

  “I can take Ken with me,” Kurt said. “He shouldn’t see if, um, you know…” He let his voice trail off. In his mind, Jason filled in what was left unsaid. The reason his father-in-law was offering to take Ken elsewhere wasn’t because the boy shouldn’t see his uncle rise victorious over the Tombstone. The other thing that could happen was Kurt’s obvious concern.

  “I don’t know why all the fuss,” Grace sighed. “He’s not going to climb.”

  “Yes,” Kurt said, looking deep into Jason’s eyes. “Yes, he is.”

  Tears rolled down Jason’s cheeks and his voice shook as he turned to Susan and said, “Tell Misty I love her, okay?”

  “How about we both tell her?” Susan asked.

  Jason nodded then said, “If not, you’ll tell her, right?”

  “Yes, Jason,” she reassured him. “I’ll tell her.”

  “Tell her about Jesus, too,” he added. “Okay?”

  “I couldn’t keep from it if I tried,” Susan replied with a gentle smile.

  As they walked away from the bridge, Jason saw another familiar face. “Tomas,” he spoke, greeting the doctor.

  “Jason,” the doctor returned the greeting. “How are you holding up?” he asked, giving Jason a big, awkward hug.

  “Holding,” Jason replied simply, once he squirmed away.

  “Just remember everything I’ve taught you,” Dr. Throckmorton advised.

  “Everything you taught him?” Tyler asked. “What exactly have you taught him?”

  “How to control a situation,” the doctor replied with a confident air. “If you learn to control yourself, you can control the outcome of any situation.”

  Tyler huffed in disgust before Jason spoke. “Not long ago, I bought into that,” he admitted, “but now I realize that God is the only one who can have complete control. Whatever control we think we have is just an illusion.”

  “Well,” Tomas said, “either way, I’ll be rooting for you from the expansion bridge.”

  “Alright, thanks,” Jason said as he and Tyler headed off once more.

  As they walked off the bridge, to Jason’s left was a place where the old Incline Railway had once ran. Years back, a fire had engulfed the park and the ride that descended to the gorge was one of its victims. It had been built in the perfect spot for a descent, and so Jason and Tyler took to its old pathway, heading down towards the Arkansas River that ran so far below. At one point, on the way to the bottom, a part of a rock crumbled beneath Jason’s foot, causing him to slip and fall. Tyler grabbed his arm, keeping him from tumbling on down the steep trail.

  “You gotta watch this stone,” the tall cowboy advised solemnly. “It has a tendency to crumble on you. When you’re climbing, make sure your hold is secure before committing to it.”

  Upon reaching the bottom of the gorge, they followed it back towards the big expansion bridge. The two men made their way up a large pile of earth leading to the base of the Tombstone and then stood looking straight up at the monster that had invaded Jason’s dreams and robbed him of rest, day and night, from the very moment he’d made the decision to climb.

  Tyler reached into his pocket and pulled out a little Bible. After flipping through the pages for a moment, he seemed to find the page desired and began to read. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me.”

  He closed the Bible, and there was a brief moment of silence before Jason spoke. “Isn’t that usually read at funerals?” he asked quietly. “You know, when someone is about to be placed under the tombstone, not rise above it?”

  Tyler gave a sympathetic smile as he reached over and placed a hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Right now you are in the valley of the shadow of death,” the tall cowboy said with a sweep of his hand, drawing Jason’s attention to the surrounding gorge. “You must fear no evil, for God, if you are with him, he will be with you.”

  “I’d rather you just tell me I’m going to be okay,” Jason spoke in a wobbly voice.

  “If you’ve given your heart to Jesus, you are going to be okay,” Tyler assured him. “He will give you the strength to rise from this valley of death… and, if not,” he added, his features grim, “he is stronger than death, and, God willing, I’ll see you again in heaven someday.”

  They stood in silence for a moment then Jason, trembling, sank to the ground. “I really don’t want to die,” he said, feeling his body convulsing from the fear.

  “I know,” Tyler said as he squatted down beside him. “Life is a precious thing.” He looked off down the gorge for a moment. “As the sun sets, the evening shadow will work its way across the gorge and up the face of the Tombstone.” He turned to Jason. “Don’t let it catch you, okay?” Jason nodded.

  Tyler began to back away. “I’ll be watching from the bridge,” he said. “Leave you radio off until the shadow gets to that big rock down there,” he instructed, pointing away from the Tombstone towards a large bolder down close to the river. “When it reaches that point, turn it on, touch base with me and climb.”

  With that, Tyler walked away, leaving Jason facing his demon alone. Finally, the giant shadow reached the big rock Tyler had pointed out. Reaching into his pocket, Jason pulled out his ear piece, put it in his ear and clicked on the two-way radio, which was still clipped to his belt at his lower back. Covering it with the tail of his shirt, he breathed deeply for a moment, trying to compose himself before he spoke.

  “You there?” he asked and was met by silence.

  “Yes,” the reply finally came. “I’m here. You ready?”

  Jason leaned over, hands on his knees, feeling a deep, sickening fear down in the pit of his stomach. After standing bent over for a few moments, he heard Tyler speak gently through the earpiece, “You better get going, Jason. The shadow’s gaining.”

  From his bent over position, Jason cast a glance towards the rock behind him that was the starting signal. The shadow was moving closer. It had already enveloped the bolder. He straightened up and approached the Tombstone, placing a h
and upon its cold, hard surface. He knelt down on one knee. Remembering the words that the preacher had referred to as belonging to a man name Caleb thousands of years in the past, Jason bowed his head, closed his eyes and whispered, “Lord, I pray… give me this mountain.” With that, he raised his eyes and set them on the summit.

  “Slow and steady,” Tyler’s voice instructed over the earpiece. “Take your time.” A few moments of silence passed by as Jason took several deep breaths. “See the crack there?” the tall cowboy’s voice came back in. “It runs up about a hundred feet or so to a rounded overhang.”

  Jason looked up at the crack and saw what Tyler was talking about but didn’t reply. He wasn’t able. “Follow that crack up and stop below the overhang. You’ll find a small ledge there. Ain’t much, but it’ll give you a bit of a break.”

  Jason took a deep breath then began to climb. Jamming his hands into the crack and snagging holds on the face of the cliff, he worked his way upward until, finally, he reached the ledge. Tyler was right. There wasn’t much of a spot here to rest on. He clung desperately to the wall, trying not to think about what would happen if he fell. He closed his eyes, trying to wish it all away.

  “All right,” Tyler spoke into the ear piece after a minute or so. “Let’s keep moving. The next climb is about two hundred feet.”

  Tyler began coaching him again. Finally, Jason made it to the top of the next pitch where he reached a walkable ramp, following it about ten feet to the right. There he stood at the base of a groove that went straight up the wall. “Another long stretch then you’ll reach a ledge to catch you wind on,” Tyler spoke into Jason’s ear. “Go for it. You got it, man. No problem.”

  Heart pounding, Jason once again began working his way up. About ten or fifteen feet from the big ledge and relative safety, he reached up with his right hand, grasping a new hold, pulling up. He felt the stone give way beneath his right hand a split second before he felt himself falling. Heaven and earth seemed to pass away and glimpses of light and darkness flashed around as he felt the full force of his body weight rip into his left arm. He dangled there helplessly, hundreds of feet off the ground, desperately searching for new holds, trying again and again to re-attach to the cliff. Finally, he hung limp. A tear rolled down his cheek. He had tried.