Over the Falls (1064 hits)
Category: UberMadness!Rating: 0.28 on 41 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by UberMadness! (View user info) at 2006-11-21 11:40:45 EST
 |
This post is officially part of UberMadness!. Click here for more information on the rules and restrictions. |
Entry 1
We arrived today with all our equipment. I was in the first group to be lowered to the ground down the sheer cliff into the basin below. It was an exhilarating feeling once I was on my journey but I must admit to terrible sickness and nerves at the first sight over the edge.Immediately the men started to erect the tents, Richards was directing them as to where best to place each work station. The light here is not great due to the rock on all sides but we have our torches to compensate. I feel quite claustrophobic but I am assured that this will pass in time when I get use to it.
Sadly we lost a man when we were setting up. I believe his name was Martin, he was a geologist and a crate of materials came lose from it rope and crushed him. It was truly terrible when they brought his broken body into the medical tent.
We toasted him tonight at supper and wished his spirit on its journey. The mood was both sombre yet full of promise as we begin our endeavour. Richards told me that a bit of blood at the start of a new venture wasn't always a bad thing. He called it blooding; the laying down of a sacrifice.
It has started to rain and I must see that the opening of the tent is closed.
--
The start of work was delayed today. A man was found dead in his tent this morning; they called me at first light to check him. It would appear he had a heart attack, his face was locked in a grimace of pain with mouth fixed open and eyes wide staring. No matter how I tried I could neither close his eyes or his mouth. I have had to cover him in the medical tent as his gaze followed me wherever I went.
The men were reluctant to begin work but Richards forced them out of their tents. I don't think that it was only due to the death of a friend, I think the rain has dampened their spirits also. It continues to pour down from above.
Richards was subdued at supper tonight it would seem that they are not making good progress with the work. He said the rock was harder than expected but that he would overcome that problem when it stopped raining and he could use dynamite.
It is very warm here, even in the evenings. With the raining falling it forms a permanent mist that covers the floor about three feet deep.
I shall retire for the evening hopefully to sleep. With the rain last night and my own nervous fear of being enclosed I didn't sleep.
--
The rain continues to beat down upon us. Three days now it has poured from the heavens with no sign of abating. Any thought of shelter from the cliffs surrounding us is soon forgotten. You cannot go out from the tents without being soaked to the skin, no matter what you wear.
Another man died today. He fell whilst working and broke his neck on the stones below. It was remarked that he made no sound as he fell, not even crying out. I saw him when they brought him to the medical tent and his face was fixed in the same manner as the man yesterday.
Three men in as many days and people are talking of leaving, Richards called this nonsense.
He was quieter tonight than last. They are still making slow progress with the rock without the use of dynamite.
The air is thick here. You would think that the rain would make it less so but it is not to be; it also appears to be getting warmer.
Last night was another without sleep, I heard noises but it could well have been my tired mind playing tricks on me I have a headache that will not shift.
--
I start this entry with these words as they haunt me.
'Beware reader move on from this place for you stand on cursed land. Think of me as one who would save you and leave whilst you still can. If you continue with your endeavour you shall know my words are true.'
A worker named David brought a piece of paper with these words written on it to Richards who then fetched me. The words were written in Spanish and I am the only Spanish speaker here. The man, David, was clearly shaken as he claims the writing was his own yet he could not remember doing it.
I feel that we should leave, nothing can be so important to be in this place I feel uncomfortable here. My colleagues tell me I am young, naïve and being over dramatic. I pray that they are right
It seems harder to breathe here today. The rain still pours from the sky and Richards stormed around all day bellowing orders.
David left with another man. I can't help but wish I could go with them. I delay going to my bed tonight as there seems little point, it will just be another sleepless night. I will try a powder for my head and hope that it aids my rest.
--
The day has been the longest of my life. It began before the sun came up with the sound of running and shouting coming to my tent. Two more men have been found dead in their tents. The same look on their faces.
They both lie under canvas in the medical tent. I cannot bring myself to examine them closely I just want to leave here. It was agreed that we would send a team up the cliff to request advice from the company. Richards is loathed to leave without whatever it is he came for. The man is a buffoon. We should all leave together; by keeping men here I am obliged to stay as otherwise they have no medical support.
My head aches and I feel constantly light headed. The lack of sleep together with the number of deaths wears heavily on me.
If it would only stop raining it might help matters.
--
They are close. I don't know who of even what they are, but they are here, I can hear and feel them.
Richards thinks I am not feeling myself and that I should rest. Chance would be a fine thing.
Everyday more deaths.
David and the other man; we presumed they had gone up the ropes and away. It appears they may well have tried but they didn't make it. We found them. We found them with the bodies of the others.
The team that we sent up the cliff yesterday came back with David and his friend. All of them are dead.
All staring with pain on their faces.
All lying under canvas in my tent.
Richards has seen the sense now of my warning. He sees that we all must leave and he is getting the men to pack up the tents and equipment. We will leave today so I must prepare.
--
We are done for. There is no way out. The ropes have been severed and we are trapped in this pit of hell.
Richards stood with mouth open as the news was brought to him. Always a rational man he sent men to climb to try to take rope up with them. They too lie under canvas in my tent now.
The men complain of noises; and not just the noises in the night. They come during the day now. Men simply disappear only to turn up dead later in the day.
There are ten of them left together in the mess tent keeping an eye on each other. I just need to gather some items then I will join them.
Tonight it will end. It must it can't continue any more. I can't take it anymore I need it to be over.
Just a few items and I will return to them. I have noticed the rain doesn't bother me anymore, in fact I find it soothes me.
--
They are all dead.
It all happened so quickly.
Richards was the hardest, he fought quite hard but he couldn't beat me in the end. He was no match for that which is immortal.
It feels good to be in human form after so long. This vessel shall do nicely until I can find one more suitable. He still struggles within me, when I have the knowledge of his world from him I shall cast him free.
It is almost time for me to leave.
Soon I shall go up the cliff and over the falls. Freedom at last; after my centuries imprisoned here.
- VS -
Entry 2
"We've been expecting you." The old man motioned in the direction of the straight back chair facing a heavy wooden desk where he sat in the center of the otherwise empty room. "We just need to get some information for our records before we proceed." The scene wasn't what I was expecting. But I wasn't expecting anything that had happened today. It had been one hell of a trip."You've had one hell of a trip." The old man said, smiling at me, blatantly plagiarizing my thought. "Robert Overcracker is it? Perhaps it's best if you start from the beginning." He suggested, which, was exactly where I was thinking I should begin.
-------------
Let me start by saying that if not for my friend Franklin I wouldn't be here. When I first met him I was about ten, playing by the pond at the old gravel pit behind my house. "Don't play by the pond," my mom had warned but she was too preoccupied being a single mom to pay much attention to the comings and goings of her only son.
I had used an old nail to poke a hole in the edge of my Frisbee. I tied a string to it and was giving toads and various crawly things ferry boat rides on the chilly water. The Frisbee floated on the surface some distance away. Flattened on the blue plastic, the nervous toad passenger waited for a change of circumstance, when, out of nowhere, Franklin showed up.
"Whatcha doin?" He asked, chewing on a blade of grass, bare feet sticking out from denim overalls. He was taller than I but seemed about my age.
"Nothing." I said, hiding the string behind my back.
Franklin stepped around me and looked in the direction of the pond his eyes following the length of the string. "Looks like you got a toad out there praying for his life. What did he do?"
"Huh?" I considered the possible crimes of a toad.
"Well he must've done something if you got him out there, his whole life hanging by a string."
"He didn't do nothing," I started to pull on the string, the plastic disk teetered in the water and the toad stiffened.
"Oh, I see what you're doing. You're saving him! You're giving him this day to see things differently. Look at him! Scared as hell but he's out there! You're helping him be something! To go where few toads have gone before!" Franklin jabbed his fists in the air and hollered in praise of the amphibian on the Frisbee. By the time the toad made it to shore I was hollering too.
Franklin had a way of spinning and I had a way of spinning right along with him. We went to different schools but in the summer we would agree to skip classes on the same day and meet at the pit.
"We're not skipping class, we're taking our education into our own hands. We are the Shepherds not the sheep!" Franklin would declare with divine conviction. "The Lord helps those who help themselves my dear friend. It's up to us to choose our path. Detention be damned!" And with a unifying high five we dove into the face of the sparkling water right about the time World History was starting.
I never met Franklin's parents, nor did I hear anything about their reaction after he spent a night in jail when he was nineteen for failing to stop promptly when approached by a police vehicle with flashing lights. We had been cruising around passing time before a movie, when the red and blue lights filled the rear window. I sat up straight in my seat and wondered if I was wearing clean underwear.
"Pull over." I said to Franklin, who just kept on driving continuing his explanation about how people need to lose their fear and know when to step off the beaten path. A spot light lit up the interior of the car and the voice on the loud speaker instructed us to pull over immediately, Franklin just raised his voice and continued, "Like Moses my friend, sometimes you have to make your own path."
He finished his point and pulled over shortly after the second cop showed up. "Sorry officers, we were engrossed in conversation," I heard him saying as he was pulled from the vehicle.
It had been almost three years since I had seen my fearless friend Franklin. After graduation I had fallen into the lethargic pattern of daily living. Selling insurance paid my rent and basic cable and kept me moving down the beaten path. I was sorting through yesterdays mail when my office intercom squeaked to life. "Rob? There's a 'Franklin' up here to see you."
I could hear him talking as I approached, "It's a personal emergency," Franklin was saying to Stella the oversized secretary at the front desk, "it's essential that he leave with me now." He looked up and winked at me as I rounded the corner.
"Well, he needs to talk to Mr...." she didn't finish her sentence before Franklin grabbed me by my elbow and ushered me towards the door.
"This is it Rob. This is what we've been waiting for." He picked up where we left off as if no time had passed between us. "The Lord has spoken my friend. He has shown me the way." It was barely eleven in the morning and uncharacteristically warm for the beginning of October in Michigan. Outside there was a blue S-10 pickup still running, driver's side door open and a Jet Ski tied in the back. Franklin climbed in the open door and said "All aboard to see the Lord!" And I slid in beside him.
"Franklin, good to see ya buddy, but you're not thinking were going to go ride that thing are ya? I have an appointment at 4:00 and..."
"You're not going to make it. We're going to Niagara."
"Ah...Niagara? The waterfalls? That's about five hours away! We can't..."
"Oh yes, my friend. We can. I have a mission and I need you to do it."
"What's up with the Jet Ski? Tell me you're not..."
"Hear me out, Mr. Overcracker, hear me out."
Franklin took the next few hundred miles explaining with a prophet's conviction that the very gates of heaven would be opening today, October 1st, before dark at the top of Horseshoe Falls. And while, even now, it sounds rather far fetched to say, it made sense at the time.
"Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." Franklin preached as the miles passed beneath us. "Genesis 1:20 says 'Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life.' And in Ephesians 5:26, '...sanctify and cleanse with the washing of water.' I have found hundreds of these references Rob. They all point to the same thing.
We came from the water and in order to be united with our Lord we must return to the water. There is no other way. Wait for the sign and go without hesitation. And if we do, if we seize our chance we are rewarded by walking in the divine garden with our father." He folded his hands in deference to the wisdom presented. "Rob, a week ago I was given a sign. The Lord came to me, he spoke to me, in a dream and assured me I would know what to do and when to do it. And this is it, today, with you. It's all coming together. Before sun fall, it's going to happen and you, my friend, are going to be there."
"A dream? This is based on a dream? It was all sounding good up until that."
"Well, that's where the faith part comes in my friend. The rest of it is clearly documented. But everyone knows you have to take a leap of faith to be graced with the glory of God. Just ask Abraham. Do you have faith my friend? Someday you're going to ask yourself that question."
"Are you sure you're not reading this thing wrong Franklin? I mean it's not unreasonable to think that you might just die going over a large water fall on a Jet Ski."
"I'm not wrong. But have no fear my friend, I have a helmet and a rocket propelled parachute, if things don't go as planned."
"You have a what?"
"A helmet."
"The parachute you ass! Where did you get a rocket propelled parachute?"
"Pawn shop. You can get anything from a pawn shop." He patted a small red backpack that looked to be no more than a child's book bag with a silver thermos.
"And how will you know if things aren't going as planned?"
"Well, if I fail to ascend into heaven in a great glorious cloud of mist, then things aren't going as planned."
"Franklin, seriously, what if you're wrong? What if this doesn't work?"
"Bet ya $20 it will." He said smiling.
"Isn't gambling the tool of the devil?"
"The Lord works in mysterious ways."
The blue pick up raced down Highway 420 in the direction of Niagara Falls, its driver smiling and singing the praises of the Lord, and by the time we entered Canada, I was singing his praises too. Every now and then Franklin would slap the seat and say, "This is it Rob! This is it. What we've been waiting for! Praise the Lord!"
Green road signs counted down our progress. 'Niagara Falls - Exit Roberts Street'. "See that? It's a sign Robert. You're supposed to be here participating in this great event! The time has come!"
As the words left his mouth, a car appeared behind us and red and blue lights filled the small cab of the truck. A siren followed, Franklin checked his mirror and kept right on driving.
Shortly before Exit 132 a second police car showed up and Franklin slowed the truck to a stop. He turned and faced me; "Looks like there's a change in plans Rob." He stated matter-of-factly. "You're going to have to take the lead on this one buddy. It's time to choose your path, make your mark. It's your turn to take the ferry. Don't miss your turn." His door was opened and he was escorted abruptly from the vehicle.
Several minutes passed. The sun drooped in the sky, threatening to leave and take the golden opportunity with it. The officer returned without Franklin. "Your friend there is crazy, mister. I don't know if you know that." The cop passed me my license through the window. Were going take him in and you can pick him up here," he poked his finger at an address on a form," in the morning." He passed the paper through the window. "You're free to go."
Morning was too late. I slid over the blue vinyl upholstery to the driver's side and watched the police car pull away with Franklin in the back, cuffed hands raised with two thumbs up, the string unrolling between us.
....
I shifted in my chair. It was getting hot in the confined room. The old man didn't' seem to notice. The processing was taking longer than I had hoped. With a wag of his fingers, the old man motioned for me to continue, "Go on," he leaned in closer and bridged his hands in the shape of a steeple, "please continue, I'm hanging on your every word. I assure you."
"Well there I was on the side of the road and I asked myself the question. What would Franklin do? And I made the decision right then to risk it all and demonstrate my faith in the Lord almighty.
The circle on Franklin's map indicated a spot on the Niagara River about a mile up from the Horseshoe Falls. A gravel drive curved from the main road and led to a tree-lined slope to the river. I backed the truck to the waters edge, put on the helmet and adjusted the red straps of the backpack over my arms. I angled the bed of the truck into the flowing water, turned off the engine and climbed from the cab to the Jet Ski in back. The key was in place and the Jet Ski engine roared to life. The river thundered its encouragement as the cold water filled my shoes and I released the ropes. Taken into the flow, I squeezed the throttle and flew with the rushing water into whatever waited over the falls.
And now here I am, just like Franklin said, although he didn't mention this administrative part. What do you call this place anyway? I can't wait to get started. Will I be seeing the gardens?"
"Oh...well the gardens and such are more for the brochures," the old man leaned back in his chair. "Perhaps our marketing people exaggerate slightly. We often have to use creative imagery to encourage participants. It's not easy getting people to do the Devil's stunts you know."
"Yeah, I can imagine. Ah...when you say 'the Devil' you mean 'the Lord' right?"
"No. I mean the red guy, the anti-Christ, you know, the Dark Angel." The old man's face split into a pointy grin, "Don't you know whether you're dealing with the Lord or with the Devil Robert?"
"No, no...it was the Lord, it was God in heaven who called us here! Franklin said it was. It is written, in Genesis...or Equestrians or something like that." I tried to stand up but couldn't.
"Tell me now Robert, would your Lord have you do a pointless stunt like go over a hundred and seventy foot water fall on a Jet Ski? Would the Lord make a mockery of a precious life like that? How beautifully wasteful." I felt sick to my stomach.
"Don't look so surprised. You chose your faith. You made your own decisions. One hell of a decision, I'll give you that." The old man stood up and took his time lighting a cigar.
"They'll come for you shortly," he blew smoke in my direction and before leaving the room said, "You owe me $20."
Entry 1:
Axolotl
BLITZKREIG_BOB
Bubba2341
DrogoRoch
ghola
Jack_McCallum
JMG114
JoeyG
Magicaddict
orph
scourge
Spooner
stevie_says
13 eligible votes (13 total) *
Entry 2:
charminglybeef
coley
Confuzitron
Crystle
darko
Davros
EchoBoxing
FunnyAsCancer
GodChicken
helbling
Hirilnara
joedaddy
JonnyX
nrduncan
ParlorTrick
Pentameter
rad1101
redskieslookfake
Sacrilicious
sparkle_pink
SPECIALk
Stagger_Lee
thecaes
23 eligible votes (23 total) *
* Eligible votes are those made by users who had either (A) posted 3+ messages OR (B) written 100+ [lowered from 750+] reviews as of the beginning of the UberMadness! competition.
User Reviews
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2006-11-27 03:29:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Congrats Parlor Trick. A well deserved win. Good luck in the rest of the competition.
Submitted by ParlorTrick (user info) at 2006-11-24 12:55:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Great story DrogoRoch -- I hope you write a follow up and tell us more about your villain and what he intends to occupy next. I see a series here.
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-11-24 12:51:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Certain users are absent from this, including some assholes who always write poetry.
Others, including Vietnam vet assholes, can't be bothered to enter a review.
Why have a contest rated by fucking idiots?? Where's the advantage???????????????????
Submitted by DrogoRoch (user info) at 2006-11-24 11:49:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Jees I need a drink
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2006-11-24 11:03:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Spooner (user info) at 2006-11-24 10:34:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Voted for the shorter entry.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2006-11-24 08:49:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Read these earlier in the week and thought about them both.
I'm going with entry 2 because it kind of stuck with me more.
Submitted by Magicaddict (user info) at 2006-11-24 06:00:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Both of these were great.
#1 developed slightly quickly, and each entry could have had more to it, but I suppose that may fit in with the subject matter. #2 I picked before the end, but it didn't make it any less good.
Both adhered closely to the title, gave it relevance outside of a cursory nod, and left me wanting more. Pity either had to lose.
Submitted by coley (user info) at 2006-11-23 17:57:47 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-11-23 14:08:54 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Entry 2, because it amused me.
I liked Entry 1 too, but it could have used a little more to it.
-Dave
Submitted by Bubba2341 (user info) at 2006-11-23 12:04:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2006-11-22 21:26:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Heh heh, I liked the twist at the end of Entry 2. Very unrealistic in the sense that who listens to a suicidal religious fruitcake like that? Also the dialogue was a little too...easy.
Entry 1, interesting take, but the narrator seemed to speak in such a casual monotone that I found it hard to get involved in the story. He seemed more bored than scared.
Submitted by JMG114 (user info) at 2006-11-22 15:36:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I loved the raw energy of number two and probably would've voted for it if it wasn't framed in the little afterlife vignettes. I think it would have been far more powerful without them.
Entry one was well-written and suspenseful... although it seemed a little too stereotypically UberMadness-esque.
Either way, I enjoyed both entries.
Submitted by scourge (user info) at 2006-11-22 12:28:27 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Hirilnara (user info) at 2006-11-22 12:15:53 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by helbling (user info) at 2006-11-22 09:35:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
#2 edges out #1 one by just an edge - liked the twist.
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2006-11-22 06:09:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Both good
Submitted by SPECIALk (user info) at 2006-11-22 03:32:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
haha
Submitted by rad1101 (user info) at 2006-11-22 03:28:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
nice picture
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2006-11-22 03:06:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
you forgot to fill the frisbee with lighter fluid
KA WHOOMPH!
Viking Frog
Submitted by sparkle_pink (user info) at 2006-11-22 02:19:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by charminglybeef (user info) at 2006-11-21 22:03:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Heh.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-11-21 21:00:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by GodChicken (user info) at 2006-11-21 20:11:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Confuzitron (user info) at 2006-11-21 18:48:08 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
...
Submitted by redskieslookfake (user info) at 2006-11-21 18:24:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
weeeeeeeeeeeee
Submitted by stevie_says (user info) at 2006-11-21 17:12:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-11-21 16:43:04 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-11-21 15:54:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
y'know, #1 was written better, but it seemed so formulaic.
#2 was a mess, and it took me a while to figure out what the heck was going on - it could have been a LOT better, but it grabbed my attention enough...
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-11-21 15:49:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
(Meh)^2.
Submitted by EchoBoxing (user info) at 2006-11-21 15:15:27 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
i only saw the picture in entry 2. nice.
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-11-21 14:25:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Holy fuck was number 2 good.
Submitted by ParlorTrick (user info) at 2006-11-21 13:58:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-11-21 13:49:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
these were both good - Number 2 had a much more unusual premise.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-11-21 13:05:00 EST (#)
Ranking: -2
I hated entry 2.
Submitted by nrduncan (user info) at 2006-11-21 12:46:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
No Comment
Submitted by FunnyAsCancer (user info) at 2006-11-21 12:42:50 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Better concept.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2006-11-21 12:41:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Fuck, I thought Entry #2 was all fiction. Wrong. Good job, Author 2. I stand by my vote, however.
http://freaking.ridic-ulo.us/2006/08/09/robert-overcracker-the-importance-of-parachutes/
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2006-11-21 12:38:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
I shall not state the obvious.
Good going, man.
Submitted by Jack_McCallum (user info) at 2006-11-21 12:37:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
#2 was decent, but I REALLY liked the simplicity of #1. No overblown purple prose and cries of world domination, just a simple, mysterious tale. Well done, Author 1.
Submitted by JoeyG (user info) at 2006-11-21 11:47:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment