Christian Short Stories

THE FALL
By Byron Allenby

Michael Goodman conducted his mental checklist one last time.

This is only a day trip, he thought, as he tallied up his water, food and clothing he had prepared for his hike.

Satisfied he had everything he needed he picked up his backpack and opened the door of his apartment. Just as he went to close the door the phone rang.

Damn, who is that ringing? It’s probably my mother though it’s a bit early. I better answer it. I’ll use the excuse that I’m going out so I won’t have to get bombarded with all that God stuff.

“Hello?”

“Oh, I am so glad you’re there, son,” Michael’s mom said cheerfully.

“Hi, Mom. You’re ringing early. You’re lucky to get me. I was just on my way out. What’s up?”

“I had a dream last night from the Lord that you were in some kind of trouble.”

“Well, you got it wrong, Mom. I’m in no trouble. I’m just going for a hike for a few hours. Be back tonight. It’s an easy walk. I’ll be okay,” Michael explained.

“I just wish you’d ask Jesus to look...”

Raising his voice, Michael interrupted. “Mom, I don’t need to hear all that stuff right now! I keep telling you that I can look after myself. Stop preaching all the time. Can’t we have a normal conversation?”

“All right, all right, son,” Margaret said quickly. “It’s only because I care about you. Have you got plenty of food and water and clothes?”

“Mom, I’m only going for a day. I’ll be back well before dark,” Michael said trying not to lose his patience.

“Have you bought one of those beeper things to use if something happens to you? I saw a story on TV where a man fell over a cliff and used the beeper and he was found.”

“I know, Mom, I know. You’ve asked me before but they cost several hundred dollars and I don’t have the money. Anyway, where I’m going today is safe. I’ll be alright.”

“I just feel very uneasy. I’ll be praying for you today, son.”

“Yeah, whatever, Mom. Have to go. Bye.”

Michael shook his head in exasperation as he closed the door. He got into his SUV and headed off on the hour drive to the Ranger station at the start of the trail.

One hour later he pulled up in the parking lot of the Ranger station. It was still early with only a handful of vehicles belonging to early morning hikers already there.

Michael got his backpack out, positioned it comfortably on his back and headed to the start of the trail. It would take him about three hours to reach his destination and a little less to get back.

As he contemplated his hike he glanced at the sign erected by the National Parks Service and read the latest conditions and remarks about the trail he was about to hike.

Looking good he said to himself. He read the WARNING notice advising all hikers and campers to provide details to the Ranger’s office about their plans for the day or days. He went to the office, gave his details and car registration, and told them his hike was only a short day trip and he would be back mid-afternoon.

Michael headed off on his hike and soon settled into a steady, rhythmic stride. After several short rest stops he arrived at his destination and stopped for a rest and lunch. Forty five minutes later he packed up and started back having appreciated the rest and the beautiful surroundings.

Meanwhile in another part of the park, Trevor Morrison looked at the mountain peak before him. It would be a challenge but he was ready for his hiking adventure. He grew up around the mountains and he loved that he could spend quality time with God amongst His beautiful handiwork.

Trevor was a people person. Everyone in his church loved him. He had many friends and a special lady in his life. But on this trip he had decided to spend it alone, just him, the Father and his divine creation. He adjusted his heavy backpack and started toward El Picacho Mountain, one of the highest peaks in northern New Mexico.

Finally reaching the top of the mountain two hours later, Trevor felt his muscles screaming with exhaustion but all he could think about was the beautiful scenery. At the top, the terrain leveled off into a grassy clearing. Yellow daisies carpeted the lush green grass.

Trevor smiled remembering what his doctor had said, “take some time off or you’re going to end up having a heart attack. Get away for awhile; put your feet up, read a good book. I don’t care what you do, just have some time off. ”

“But I feel fine,” Trevor had said.

“Your tests tell me a different story. Too much stress in your life, Trevor. Take my advice, will you?”

That was the best suggestion anyone had made in a long time. So, he made arrangements with work, bought his hiking gear and here he was, feeling like he was at the top of the world.

Trevor walked through the clearing and found the perfect spot to camp for the night. Tall pines encircled his campsite. They would provide the much needed shade during the long hot summer days he was to stay here.

It was early afternoon when he finished setting up his camp. Trevor’s stomach growled loudly. He realized he was famished. He hadn’t had anything to eat since early that morning.

After having a light lunch, Trevor decided to explore the mountain he had heard so much about. His friend Donald had recommended coming here. “It’s beautiful,” Donald said. “You can spend weeks up there without seeing another soul.”

That’s exactly what Trevor wanted, time alone, time for prayer, and time alone with God. Over a coffee he sat down with a map of the area planning his hike for the afternoon. I think I’ll go around the mountain to the top of Trail 12 and walk down the track for an hour or so and then head back. That will put me back here just on dusk he thought.

He packed some food and water into his backpack. He debated whether to take his PLB or his flashlight as this would only add extra weight but he suddenly remembered the advise of his guide on a previous hiking trip who emphasized very strongly that, “if you are out hiking in a remote area, always, always, take the Personal Location Beacon and a flashlight with you as you never know what might happen. A simple fall could break a leg and you are stuck.” Trevor retrieved those from his tent and placed them in his backpack.

Michael was enjoying the easier pace of the downhill trek. On his right was thick bush while to the left the terrain dropped away steeply, over two hundred feet down to the river. As he walked he suddenly heard loud rustling from the bush to his right. He stopped to look expecting to see a deer but the rustling stopped. He set off again and the rustling started again. He peered into the bush but couldn’t see any animals. He set off again but this time there was a loud rustling sound with small branches snapping.

Michael looked behind him just as a large grizzly bear burst out of the bush onto the path and charged straight at him. The young man screamed in terror and ran down the track as fast as he could. The bear was gaining, and as Michael looked back over his shoulder, he tripped and sprawled face down on the path. The bear slashed at him with his huge paw and ripped the backpack off his back, shredding his clothes and inflicting deep cuts to his back.

Michael screamed in pain but saw the bear had been distracted for a moment by the backpack. He staggered to his feet but lost his balance and fell again with his legs slipping over the edge of the path. He clung to a rock with both hands and tried to find support with his feet. He looked down but all he saw was a steep drop to the river 200 feet below. Meanwhile the bear had finished destroying the backpack, knocked it over the edge of the path, and then charged over to where Michael was clinging to the rock. Michael closed his eyes, called out in absolute fear and desperation, “God, help me!” Then he let go.

Michael tumbled down the side of the cliff, bouncing off rocks, with branches from the undergrowth tearing at his clothing and inflicting many cuts and wounds on his body. With a sudden sickening stop, which knocked all the breath from his body, he landed on a rocky outcrop, breaking his leg and was knocked unconscious.

Trevor stood up, ready to start his hike but took a moment to take in the splendor of the region. He prayed “Father, thank you for your beautiful creation. I can’t see how anyone could not believe in you after seeing the beauty all around here. Please use me to reach out to others to show them your love and how much you care for them.”

Little did Trevor know how quickly and powerfully God would use his yielded heart to impact the life of one of God’s wayward children.

It took him two hours to get to the top of Trail 12, over twice as long as it would normally as he kept stopping to sit and commune with God. The stillness of his surrounds, pleasantly interrupted by the calls of the birds, encouraged him to sit and pray and just listen to the voice of the Spirit. He prayed again as he headed off down Trail 12.

“Father, this has been such a wonderful few hours alone with you. I wish everyone could experience it. Help me to be a willing vessel to tell people about Jesus and lead them into eternal life.”

It was late afternoon in the Ranger’s office when Tom, the head ranger, sent Steve, one of the park rangers, out to the parking lot to check the vehicles which were still there against the details provided by the hikers and campers. Steve returned with the list and matched them against their records.

“Hey, Tom, there is one guy who was only doing a day trek that hasn’t come back,” Steve said. “He was only going to the top of Trail 12 and should have been back a couple of hours ago. What do you want us to do?”

“He’s probably just running late but we better check,” Tom said. “You and Ray jump on the bikes and go up the trail and see if you can find him. Take your time. Keep in touch on the radio.”

“Okay,” Steve replied. “Ray, let’s go.” The two headed off on the trail bikes.

Thirty minutes after Steve and Ray had left the station, Ray called in on the radio. “Tom, there’s no sign of anyone up here. I’m thinking he’s decided to go to one of the other campsites further up. It happens all the time, you know that.”

Tom replied “Yeah, I know. Well, I’m not going to get the Emergency Services out looking for him. A night alone in the bush won’t hurt some of these city slickers. Teach them to be more considerate.”

“Not wrong there, Tom. At least there are no bears around this area. He may get attacked by a wild squirrel, though.”

Both men laugh. “If his car is still there in the morning then we go and have another look up the trail,” Tom ordered.

“Okay. Coming back in,” Ray said.

As Trevor walked slowly down the path he heard the sound of trail bikes receding into the distance. Must be the rangers as bikes are banned in the park he surmised. “Well, I had better start heading back. It’s getting late,” he said to himself.

Steve and Ray returned to the Ranger’s office. They were finished for the day and Tom locked up after everyone else had left.

Trevor stood on the edge of the path overlooking the deep valley with the river running through at the very bottom. He was once again overtaken by the magnificence of God’s handiwork. “Use me, Father. Use me” he whispered.

At the very moment Trevor had asked God to use him, he felt a slight shaking under his feet, then another, and then another, the last one being much stronger. He started to back away from the edge of the path but it was too late. The ground under his feet gave way and he found himself falling, falling toward the valley floor a long way below.

Two things impacted his mind. Out of the corner of his eye he saw an old blue backpack, badly torn, hanging off a small shrub. Secondly, the words Psalm 91, Psalm 91, flashed powerfully into his mind. In a split second he recalled the verse “They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Trevor cried out “Psalm 91, Psalm 91,” all the time thinking of that verse that offers protection against injury.

With a heavy jolt his descent came to an abrupt finish and he found himself landing on a rocky outcrop nearly halfway down the steep slope. He was severely winded and laid still for several minutes. He moved his arms and legs one by one. Nothing appeared to be broken. He moved his head from side to side. His head hurt but he had full movement. He breathed a sigh of thanks.

Trevor struggled to sit up and managed to do so, leaning back against the side of the cliff. As he rested his back against the cold earth, he saw a shape to his left, lying on the ledge several feet away. The day’s light was fading and it was getting harder to see by the minute.

It looks like a body, Trevor thought, a dead body and it’s not moving. He remembered his flashlight in his backpack. “Please, Lord, don’t let it be broken.” He leaned forward, removed his backpack and took the flashlight out of his pack. He turned it on and to his relief it flicked on, and illuminated the shape he could barely see.

“It’s a body, it’s a man,” Trevor exclaimed involuntary. “It’s covered in blood. Help me Jesus. Tell me what to do.”

Trevor inched his way over to the figure lying so still on the rocks. He noticed the right leg twisted awkwardly and he could see bone protruding through a tear in the man’s pants. All the clothing seemed to be covered in blood. Trevor struggled to recall his first aid training from many years ago.

“A pulse, I need to see if there’s a pulse,” he said as he put his fingers on the neck of the injured man and felt around. I think he’s dead. I can’t feel anything. No, wait. There is a faint pulse! Trevor’s thoughts raced.

Trevor put his hand on the man’s chest to detect any movement. It was so slight it was barely noticeable. His hand came away covered in blood. The whole area surrounding the body was blood stained. Trevor leaned back against the rock face to collect his thoughts.

“Father, this man desperately needs your help,” he said.

Turning to look at the man Trevor extended his hand toward him and prayed. “In the name of Jesus Christ I speak words of life over you from Psalm 118. I declare that you will not die but live and declare the works of the Lord. Father, I ask that you give me the wisdom to know what to do now. We need to be found urgently and this man needs medical attention.”

Suddenly he heard the man groan. “Mister, mister, can you hear me?” Trevor asked urgently.

Michael slowly opened his eyes and looked up at Trevor. “What happened?” he asked, his voice filled with pain.

“You’ve been in an accident. You fell down the mountain and you’re badly hurt,” Trevor replied.

“Please help me,” Michael said softly.

PLB, my PLB! The thought exploded in Trevor’s mind. He rushed over to his pack and pulled out the emergency beacon. He had a sobering thought, had it been damaged in the fall? “Please Lord, let it work.”

Trevor turned the beacon on and activated the distress signal. To his great relief it started transmitting the emergency signal.

Trevor returned to Michael. “I’ve activated my emergency beacon and help should be here soon. You’ve got to hang in there, okay?”

“Am I going to die?” Michael questioned the man looking after him.

“Not if I can help it.”

“She knew,” Michael said.

“What?”

“My mother, she knew something bad was going to happen to me. God told her in a dream,” Michael answered.

“What’s your name?” Trevor asked.

“Michael,” Michael said trying to remain conscious.

“Michael, come on, stay with me. Don’t go to sleep,” Trevor said firmly. “Focus on me. I’m Trevor. Come on, say my name.”

“Trevor,” Michael barely managed to say.

“That’s good. Listen to me Michael. I’ve been praying for you. It sounds like you have a praying mother too. So our prayers are going to get you through this. Do you hear me?”

Michael groaned and lost consciousness.

Trevor sat back and assessed the situation. There was no way Michael could be rescued in the dark. Rescue would have to wait until morning. “Lord, keep him alive till he can get medical help.”

Tom arrived home, greeted his wife and settled down to dinner in front of the TV. It wasn’t long before he had fallen asleep in his chair. His rest was rudely interrupted by the telephone. Tom looked at his watch. It was nearly 10:00 pm. “Who’s ringing at this hour” he muttered. “Yeah, what?” he said rudely into the phone.

“Tom, it’s Pete from Emergency Control. We’ve received an emergency signal from a PLB. The GPS location is your park up near the top of Trail 12. You missing anybody up there today?”

Tom swore. “There could be. A guy didn’t come back from a day trip today. I sent the boys up to look for him late this afternoon but they didn’t see anyone, let alone anyone in trouble. We assumed he went up further and stayed the night. Not unusual, you know.”

“Yeah, well he might have fallen over the cliff too,” Pete said. “That trail is pretty steep on the valley side. I’ve arranged the Search and Rescue helicopter to fly up and scan the area with their searchlight. I also have the Mountain Rescue team getting organized to get up there as well. You better get your men together and open up the Ranger station. We’ll use it as our headquarters.”

“Sure, sure. Thanks for the call.” Tom told his wife what was happening, phoned his men and headed back up to the Ranger station.

Trevor pulled a light jacket from his pack and draped it over Michael. Michael opened his eyes and heard Trevor praying over him.

“Are you an angel?” Michael asked.

Trevor chuckled. “No, Michael. I’m just a regular guy who happened to fall down the same mountain as you did.”

“You did? But you’re not hurt?” Michael asked.

“No. I was praying all the way down until I landed next to you. I believe God orchestrated the whole thing so you could be found.”

“I didn’t think he cared what happened to me,” Michael said as tears rolled down his face.

“You’re wrong, Michael. God loves you.”

Again Michael lost consciousness. “Michael? Michael? Lord, please get the rescue party here quickly,” Trevor prayed.

Tom and his men arrived at the ranger station and prepared for the Mountain Rescue team. They were in constant contact with Emergency Control who advised them that the S&R helicopter had taken off and was heading to the location of the signal.

The Mountain Rescue team arrived in their truck with all their equipment and crowded into the ranger office, helping themselves to coffee. They were waiting for the helicopter to sweep the area with its powerful searchlight. They would then proceed with the rescue once the person was located.

The radio pierced the noise of the many conversations. All fell silent.

“SR1 to Ranger Station. Come in,” a disembodied voice said.

“Ranger Station receiving. Go ahead,” Tom responded.

“We’re flying up the valley now and will be searching the side of Trail 12 starting from the top. The signal is very strong so there is definitely something going on there.”

“Roger. We’ll wait for your instructions.”

All was quiet in the ranger station as everyone realized that a rescue would probably be needed. The path up was very narrow, too narrow for a truck. On one side of the track were steeply wooded slopes and on the other an equally steep 200 foot drop to the river.

Moments later the radio broke the silence in the room.

“Ranger station, this is SR1.”

“Receiving SR1, go ahead,” Tom said.

“We have located the source of the distress beacon. There is a man stranded on a ledge around 70 or 80 feet down the mountain. He’s waving and standing up so he seems to be alright. There is another person lying on the ledge but not moving, appears to be seriously injured. It’ll be too dangerous to attempt a chopper rescue tonight but we can hover over the area and illuminate it for you. You may be able to send a paramedic down to tend to the injured person and then wait till morning.”

“Roger,” Tom said. “I’ll send two of my men up on trail bikes so you can direct them right above where we need to be. The rescue team will follow up on the ATVs with their gear. How long can you stay for?”

“Probably 45 minutes max, then we’ll have to go and refuel.”

“Okay. We’re on the move. Ray, Steve, get up there and wait directly above where we need to lower the paramedic. And be careful, we don’t want any more accidents.”

Tom turned to Dale, the captain of the rescue team. “There are two ATV’s in the shed. We’ll load them on the Forestry truck and take them up to the top of Trail 12. We can fit all your gear on the truck, quicker than going on the trail. We need to move quickly.”

Dale and his team unloaded the equipment they needed as Tom and another ranger got the truck out and loaded the ATVs onto it. Within ten minutes the men squeezed into the truck and they were on their way up the forestry road. Fifteen minutes later, after a body jarring ride, they were at the top of Trail 12. They could see the Rescue helicopter hovering down the valley, illuminating the night sky with its powerful searchlight. They quickly loaded the equipment onto the ATVs and the four rescue crew drove down to where Ray and Steve were waiting. Tom and the other ranger followed behind, their path illuminated by flashlights.

By the time Tom reached the cliff top where Ray and Steve waited, the rescue team had set up ropes and harnesses and they were nearly ready to lower the paramedic down.

The radio interrupted the preparations.”SR1 to Ranger.”

“Tom here, SR1.”

“How are you doing? We have no more that ten minutes of hover time before we have to leave.”

Tom looked at the paramedic who was in the harness with his backpack of medical supplies. The paramedic nodded. “I’m going over now. It won’t be a fast trip but I should make it before they have to leave.”

“Ranger to SR1. He’s going over now, hold as steady as you can.”

“Roger. Will do.”

The paramedic was lowered down the cliff face in what seemed like an agonizingly slow pace. He just managed to reach the ledge as the helicopter advised that it had to leave. Eerie blackness descended on the cliff face and the trail above, only pierced by the thin rays of light from the flashlights.

Once the paramedic reached the two men, Trevor helped with the paramedic’s backpack. “Hi, I’m Trevor.”

“Lance,” Lance said. “You okay?”

“I’m fine. But Michael over there is in a bad way. He’s lost a lot of blood. He has a broken leg and he’s in and out of consciousness.”

Lance thanked Trevor for the information and radioed to the rescue team at the top of the cliff. “Lance, here. I got down okay. One person is all right, the other’s not so good. I will stabilize him and give you a full report in a few minutes.”

Dale answered. “Roger, Lance.”

Lance crawled over to Michael. There wasn’t much room on the ledge with three of them there. He talked to Michael but he didn’t get a response. Lance examined Michael carefully for several minutes and then radioed the rescue crew with the result of his examination.

“There is no way we can hoist him up to the top of the cliff. We would lose him. The chopper will have to lift him out in the morning. I’ll stay with him down here and keep him stable. Get the chopper in at first light.”

Lance turned to Trevor. “There’s not enough room on this ledge for three of us now let alone in the morning when they winch him out. If you’re up to it I can ask the rescue team to get you out now from the cliff top. You can use the harness I used to come down here. They were getting some lights rigged up to shine down the slope. That should help you see where to put your feet. Don’t worry; they’ll haul you up safely. You up to it?”

“Won’t you need my help down here?” asked Trevor.

“No, there’s nothing much I can do except to monitor him. Ready to go?”

Trevor looked up into the blackness. “I guess.”

Lance helped Trevor into the harness and called on the radio. “I need you guys to bring Trevor up in the harness. There’s not enough room here for three of us. He’s all strapped in and ready to go. Take it slow and easy. Turn those lights on if you’re ready.” Suddenly a thought came to Lance and he turned to Trevor. “Wait a minute. Didn’t you fall down this cliff too?”

“Yes,” Trevor answered.

“Then how come you’re okay and he isn’t?”

Before Trevor could answer Dale radioed Lance. “The lights are up and we’re ready to pull him up.”

Trevor and Lance saw the lights come on up at the cliff top but the powerful beam barely reached where they were. Lance looked at Trevor. “Use your flashlight until you get more into the light.” He talked into the radio. “Okay guys, go.”

Trevor was pulled flat against the cliff face. Lance called out to him. “Use your feet, use your feet! Lean back!” Trevor quickly got his feet against the cliff face and leaned back in the harness and was slowly pulled up to the top.

Lance settled down with his patient waiting for the dawn to come. His radio crackled to life. It was Dale on the other end. “Hey, Lance. Trevor made it to the top okay. The chopper crew has advised they’ll be here as early as the light will permit. Are you doing all right? Not scared of ghosts or anything?”

“Very funny,” Lance chuckled.

“How’s the patient?”

“He’s holding on,” Lance replied. “I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

“We’ll keep in touch,” Dale said.

Click here to read 911, Part 2 of The Fall.

(© 2009 Byron Allenby – All rights reserved. Written material may not be duplicated without permission.)

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