Leap of Faith
A bridge construct۔t of rope and parallel wood۔y planks span۔d a deep gulch within North
America continent’s Rock۔y
Mountains. The bridge wuz the only link between
the gulch’s commercial side (a shack adjacent to a park·landlot) and it’s natural
side (forest۔y with tall
pine trees). Far below, Snake river – dur
springtime a powerful torrent of melt۔d
snow, but by late summer year 2016 mere۔ly
a trickle of blue-gray water meander۔d
through a boulder-strew۔t
riverbed between steep green forests. That Sunday
mornin the park·landlot wuz full of cars.
Young mans and womans wear۔ing
colorful sport۔wear sit۔d on benches or stand۔d outside the white-paint۔y shack top۔t with a sign read۔ing, Skip's Bungee Jumps. Every summer dur the past seven years the enterprise
had attract۔d hundreds
of youngstors, all brave enough to dive off the high bridge, they’s ankles fasten۔d to a long elastic rubber bungee
cord whose strength and elasticity wuz careful۔ly
calibrate۔t to allow they
to fall almost – but not quite – to the rock۔y
bottom, before yank۔ing
they back up to the bridge. The opposite
leftside of the gulch wuz still complete۔ly
wild. Thick tangles of green bushes and plants
struggle۔d for existence
beneath a canopy of tall trees. Birds chirp۔d, and a breeze carry۔ing the scent of pine rustle۔d tree branches. On an almost level clearin a group of Christian
devote۔ors – 17 young mans
and womans wear۔ing gray
robes and rubber sandals – camp۔d
within sight of the rope bridge, dur they’s first day of a seven-days-long religious
retreat. They sit۔d in lotus position, foots tuck۔d beneath legcalfs, face۔ing Catholic priest Michael
Donovan, a short thin bald man with intense brown eyes, stand۔ing on the low end of the slope. In accordance with his custom before he start۔d instruction, the priest say۔d a silent prayer, ask۔ing God to help he transfer
spiritual wisdom. His topic that mornin wuz
faith. When he final۔ly speak۔d, it wuz in a loud clear
voice in England۔ese language,
which slight۔ly echo۔d. “Faith
reveal God in our souls. It promote spiritual vitality and righteous fruitful۔ness.
It iz by our faith in
God that we may enter the king۔dom of
heaven.” A young woman
with brown hairs cut۔d
short alike a boy’s, wear۔ing
no cosmetics, ask۔d, “What
iz the difference between faith and reason?” Answer۔d priest Donovan, “Reason iz
the method of science, logic the tool of philosophy, faith the way of religion. Faith iz not contrary to reason; it iz beyond
reason, a high۔er faculty than reason, the
supreme assertion of human thoughts. Reason
can question, and help stabilize faith, while faith can supplement both reason and
logic. Science rely on faith more than sciencors admit. Evolve۔t religion
rely entire۔ly on faith. Ask۔d
a young man with a shave۔d head,
“What about belief?” “Intellectual
acceptance of a teach۔in
as true iz mere belief, not faith. Neither
iz certainty nor conviction faith. Belief
attain the level of faith when it motivate life and shape behavior.” He
pause۔d. “Dur recent۔est half-millennium, reason have gain۔d in popularity at the expense of faith. And – admit۔ly – reason base۔d on logic and observation have produce۔d our wondrous technology—” A blood-curdle۔y scream shatter۔d the mornin’s tranquility, as all 17 devote۔ors swivel۔d they’s heads toward the
bridge, off which a young man wear۔ing a yellow short·trouser
had plunge۔d head-first toward the
rock۔y stream – to what would have been his certain death
do۔d not the finger۔thick black rubber cord attach۔d to his ankles
slow, then halt, then final۔ly – not far from the rock۔y bottom – reverse his down۔ward motion, and yank he back up to the safety of the bridge. “…technology such as bungee
cords,” the priest continue۔d (to snickers from his
listen۔ors) “and, impressive۔ly, send۔ing peoples to our
moon. Yet faith iz even more powerful. All things iz possible for they who have faith,
accord۔in to the Bible. In record۔t history nobody profess۔d more faith, and nobody perform۔d more miracles, than Jesus, who tell۔d we:
Faith can move mountains.” Say۔d Andrew, the only membor of the group with a substantial amount
of flesh on his bones, "Mountains iz form۔d
dur thousands of years by gradual collisions of continental plates far beneath planet
Earth’s surface. How could faith move a mountain?" The question
linger۔d alike the mornin mist trap۔t in the gulch. Final۔ly
the priest say۔d, “How
could a mere carpentor become the
guide۔ing light for billions
of peoples around the planet dur thousands of years? Jesus face۔d
enormous obstacles, yet succeed۔d
because his faith wuz absolute.” Then with
his rightside hand he gesture۔d
on his chest the four ends of the crucifix, the signal for devote۔ors to shut they’s eyes in silent
prayer. * Weekends wuz
especial۔by busy for Skip
Robinson's bungee tradeco, which had become popular with teenagors
and young adults from as far away as Colorado province’s capital·city Denver. Most wuz university students, or recent
graduate۔ors, from middle
or up۔er socialclass familys; they wear۔d style۔y
clothes, own۔d or had access
to cars, they’s residences contain۔d
electronic·process۔ors
and video·audio entertainment systems. Few
think۔d much about religion,
which they and most of they’s peers consider۔d
non۔relevant to the modern
world; if press۔d, they
would say they wuz agnostic. What those present that Sunday mornin share۔d wuz adventurous dare۔ing (possess۔ing
enough courage to jump off a bridge the height of an eight-floor·level۔y build۔in and free-fall head-first
toward a rock۔y riverbed),
and faith in technology (possess۔ing
enough confidence to believe that before they’s head hit۔d the rock۔y
riverbed the elastic cord tie۔d
to they’s ankles would halt they’s fall and pull they back up). What render۔d the siteplace particular۔ly entice۔y wuz the bridge itself: old-fashion۔y, construct۔t of ropes, it’s floor line۔d with parallel planks, with
two rope handrails on each side. It constant۔ly sway۔d,
both from foot·steps and from the breeze that blow۔d down·hill through the widen۔ing gulch. That sun۔y mornin at exact۔by nine oclock entreprenor Skip
– at 36 years old, still with a V-shape torso, muscular arms and legs display۔d beyond his short-sleeve۔y “Dare to Bungee!” inscribe۔t red teeshirt and dark۔by blue short·trousers, and
with blond hairs shave۔d
to disguise his bald۔ness
– step۔d out of his shack, the signal that his instructions to first-time۔ors would begin. As he stride۔d
toward the gather۔d
youngstors, he survey۔d
the womans, one of who he would
target to sleep with that night. When all 21 jump۔ors had assemble۔d on a patch of lawn, Skip say۔d, “Before we begin jump۔ing, a brief introduction, begin۔ing with a bit of bungee history. Dur decade 1950s a ship’s crew from England bring۔d back a video feature۔ing socald land dive۔ors from one of the Vanuatu islands in the Pacific Ocean east۔ward of Australia, show۔ing young mans jump۔ing from a tall wood۔y platform with vines tie۔d to they’s ankles, as tests of they’s courage. The motion·photos inspire۔d Chris Bake۔or of Bristol, England, to utilize an elastic rope to imitate they’s
feats. The first modern bungee jump occur۔d dur year 1979 from the 245-foot high Clifton
Suspension bridge in Bristol city, England, by four membors of Dangerous Sports Club. The jump۔ors wuz afterward arrest۔t, but continue۔d bungee jump۔in, include۔ing here in North America from San
Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, thus spread۔ing
the concept world-around. By year 1982
they wuz leap۔ing
from mobile cranes and hot air balloons.
The first commercial bungee jump۔in operate۔or wuz an Aotearoan, mistor A. J. Hackett, who had jump۔d from Eiffel Tower in Paris. Dur
the decades since then, the phenomenon have spread۔d around the planet.” He add۔d, “The word bungee iz Aotearoa۔y England۔ese, slang for `elastic strap’.” “How safe iz it?” a petite redhead with
a boy۔ish shape
ask۔d. “Good question,” reply۔d Skip, to giggles. “Despite the inherent danger of jump۔ing from a high height, several millions successful
jumps have occur۔d since 1980. That
iz attribute۔able to
bungee operate۔ors’ rigorous۔ly conform۔ing to standards and guidelines, such as double-check۔ing calculations and fitins for every jump. Here we utilize only factory-produce۔t braid۔t shock cord, which iz comprise۔d of many latex strands enclose۔d in a tough outer cover – apply۔d when the latex iz pre-stress۔d, so that the cord's resistance to extension
iz already significant at the cord's natural length. It allow a hard۔er, sharp۔er bounce, and iz safe۔er and more durable than cheap۔er non۔braid۔t cords.
We offer both ankle attachments (which allow a great۔er sense of free-fall۔ing) and harnesses (in which some jump۔ors feel more secure). I personal۔ly check each jump۔or – twice.” An athletic-appear۔ing black۔by skin۔y man ask۔d, “Once you show we how to do it, cant we
purchase our own bungee cords and jump by ourselfs?” Skip shake۔d his head side-to-side, no. “Too
dangerous. A relative۔by common mistake – one you will never have to worry about here – iz utilize۔ing too long a cord. The cord must be substantial۔ly short۔er than the height of the jump۔in platform to allow it room to stretch. How much short۔er depend on the cord’s factory specifications,
and on the jump۔or’s body
massweight. Even such considerations as wind
speed, if significant, must be factor۔t in. Amateurs
tend to overestimate the permit۔able length
of the cord – a mistake that if act۔d upon would be fatal. Therefore it iz wise۔er to pay for professional bungee expertise
such as yous get here.” Pause. “By the way, if somethin do go wrong and you crash
head-first into a boulder, we offer a full refund.” Laughs and giggles, mix۔d with a few frowns. “What if we
decide not to jump?” ask۔d
a brunette, her boobs and buttocks bulge۔ing
out of her black bikini. “Your decision,
ofcourse,” assure۔d Skip
with a friend۔y smile. “But if you change your mind, our policy iz not
to refund your money.” He look۔d around the crowd. “One other thing: the bridge bounce and sway, especial۔ly with many peoples on it. Therefore, under all circumstances, always hold
tight۔ly to the rope handrail with atleast one hand. We dont want anybody jump۔ing without a bungee!” He wait۔d
while several in the group giggle۔d.
“We have never had an injury here, and I intend to keep it that way.
If no other questions, lets begin.” With a shout
everybody head۔d toward
the bridge, some trot۔ing.
First in the queue wuz a
tall muscular man wear۔ing
a blue-and-white stripe۔y
short·trouser. All watch۔d while Skip fasten۔d one end of a black elastic
bungee cord around his ankles, and double-check۔d
to be certain the other end wuz secure۔ly
fasten۔d to both of the
bridge’s floor ropes. The young man step۔d over the rope handrail, plant۔d both bare foot on the edge
of the wood۔y plank bridge,
and tiltlean۔d forward
as if soon to dive into deep water. As he
dive۔d off, he utter۔d a terrify۔y shout. Down۔ward,
down۔ward he fall۔d, head-first, hands spread۔d out۔ward from his sides alike wings. When he had reach۔d almost to the bottom, his body slow۔d, then momentary۔ly stop۔d, then – as he emit۔d
a shout of joy -- rise۔d
back up۔ward with apparent۔by equal speed, until he reach۔d almost to the bridge, whenupon
he grab۔d hold of a hang۔in rope ladder, and from there
scramble۔d up۔ward. "I·iz
a new man!" he exclaim۔d with delight as he step۔d over the rope handrail. "The jump change۔d my life!" For the remain۔or of the mornin the young peoples
stay۔d on the bridge watch۔ing and wait۔ing they’s opportunity, or,
as some say۔d, "Gather۔ing courage.” In they’s colorful nylon skin-tight clothe۔in they stand۔d and sit۔d, flaunt۔ing they’s bodys, lean and strong,
glisten۔ing with physical
and sexual energy. * On the wild
side of the gulch, priest Donovan wuz regret۔ing,
with increase۔y irritation,
his choice of the retreat spot. Thick with
pine trees, ap half-day’s hike on that side of the river from the near۔est road, the location had been,
nine summers early۔er when
he had lead۔d a similar
retreat, idyllic۔by suit۔able. He had not know۔d
about the construction of the bridge, and, on the far cliff, the shack and park·landlot. Every few minutes blood-curdle۔y
screams emit۔d from bungee jump۔ors on they’s way down۔ward, follow۔t by shouts of joy as they head۔d back up۔ward to safety, clear۔ly distract۔ing the devote۔ors from they’s meditation and
they’s reflections on the whisper-alike
subtletys of religion. It prove۔d impossible for everybody but
hisself to refrain from glance۔ing
at a man or woman free-fall۔ing
from the dizzy۔y height
head-first toward the boulders. On neither
side of the steep gulch wuz a place from which the spectacle could not be see۔t and earhear۔t. The devote۔ors,
the 51-year-old priest suspect۔d,
secret۔ly enjoy۔d the distraction. Final۔ly, ap mid۔day, priest Donovan, succumb۔ing to the collective will of
the devote۔ors, lead۔d
an expedition of eight toward the bungee shack for sodas and snacks. They hike۔d across steep terrain, grab۔ing onto vines and bushes for
support, final۔ly, one
by one, step۔d onto the
flimsy bridge. As they
approach۔d mid-bridge,
the differences between the two groups seem۔d
accentuate۔t. The bungee jump۔ors,
wear۔d skimp۔y fashion۔y clothe۔in, showcase۔ing the mans’ muscles and the
womans’ curves, skin glisten۔ing
tan from sunrays; they’s chatter wuz loud and bold. The devote۔ors,
pale and thin, clothe۔d neck to ankles in form۔less gray robes, silent۔ly exchange۔d glances or soft۔ly murmur۔d to one another. Reach۔ing the bridge’s center, where
nine jump۔ors watch۔d Skip strap a muscular young
woman into a leather harness, the devote۔ors
slow۔d. Because on the bounce۔ing, sway۔ing
bridge, it wuz imperative to tight۔ly
grasp the rope handrail at all times, pass۔ing
the jump۔ors would require
they’s cooperation and, from everybody, caution and patience. Skip, after
double-check۔ing all three
buckles of the harness, look۔d
up at the gray-robe۔clad
newcomors. He stand۔d and say۔d in his hearty sales۔man’s voice, “You iz welcome
to cross my bridge. You will find food and drinks in the store.” He point۔d
leftside۔ward toward
the white shack. “And if any if you want
to jump—“ “Your bridge?” question۔d the priest, a wisp of a man
compare۔d to the tall muscular
bungee enterprise own۔ort. “Design۔t and pay۔t for by none other than myself, with the county’s permission ofcourse.” Priest
Donovan glance۔d at the
woman in the harness, whose young brow wuz wrinkle۔y with fear, then glance۔d down۔ward at the sliver of ankle۔deep water which snake۔d it’s way around giant boulders
appear۔ing no big۔er than grapes. Above the thick green forest on the wild rightside
of the river glide۔d a
black crow. Comment۔d the priest, “Dangerous.” “Our sport? It iz, if not professional۔ly supervise۔t,” agree۔d Skip. "Careful,"
Donovan advise۔d. "Wind gusts sometime whip through here. Once we experience۔d a gust that blow۔d over all our tents. Strong enough, I suspect, to shake this bridge
up·side·down." "Yes,
I know. The winds can indeed be vicious,
but only dur storm۔y weather." "Probable۔ly true." "And today
iz not even cloud۔y." Both mans look۔d
up at the slice of pure۔by
blue sky between the ridges. A breeze, barely
notice۔able, cool۔d the air. “So what·iz
the point?” ask۔d priest
Donovan, try۔ing to conceal
any negativity from his tone. “Why bungee
jump?” Skip snort۔d in
disgust, survey۔ing the
newcomors. They all appear۔d meek, timid, weak. He could not imagine share۔ing sex with any of the
womans, who had apparent۔ly
render۔d theyselfs as un۔attractive as possible. "For the thrill, ofcourse!" Thrill-seek۔ors wuz ap as far away from
God-seek۔ors as the priest
could imagine. "Have you analyze۔d this thrill?” Skip’s business
wuz sell۔ing thrills, and
he dint appreciate being challenge۔t
in front of his customors. "I·iz not
in the habit of analyze۔ing
thrills." “The thrill
of survive۔ing, after risk۔ing death?” "The risk
iz miniscule. Statistic۔ly, bungee jump۔in
iz safe۔er than mountain
climb۔in, car speedrace۔in, hangglide۔in, probable۔ly ski۔ing and many other sports. I have supervise۔d a hundred or more jumps per weekend every summer
for seven years, without one injury.” "Beside
the thrill of plummet۔ing
to within a few foots of the riverbed and being jerk۔t back up again to the bridge, iz there not an
add۔d thrill of wonder۔ing whether or not the bungee will break?” Skip – react۔ing to another challenge to
the heart of his business – reach۔d
down and pick۔d up the
black cord. "These rubber chords iz
precision manufacture۔t,
guarantee۔t to stretch
to the specify۔t length
and no far۔er. See, it iz stamp۔t on the rubber in white letters: 75 foot.
Eight foots short of the near۔est
rock. Under no circumstance will it stretch even one
foot long۔er.” "Accord۔in to the factory." "Accord۔in to factory machines," Skip correct۔d he. "Every speck of the entire 75 foots length
have been check۔t for flaws
by electronic۔ly control۔t lasers.” "Machines
manufacture۔t and control۔t by peoples," the priest
remind۔d he. “Sure.” “Thus your faith
in machines and peoples must be pretty strong.” Skip think۔d for a moment and reply۔d, "Admit۔ly, jump۔ing off the bridge with
nothin but a rubber cord between you and certain death iz a leap of faith." "But faith
in peoples iz risk۔y. Faith in God iz safe۔er." "I wuz
expect۔ing you to start
with that God stuff,” retort۔d
Skip anger۔ly. “I·will put my faith in what I can see, earhear,
smell, touch, and taste, above some non۔visible
thing nobody can describe or have prove۔d
to exist." "Then for
you, the high۔est goal
iz material pleasure?" "You only
live once, therefore enjoy yourself as much as you can – that iz my philosophy. And" -- he turn۔d
brief۔ly toward the other
jump۔ors, all who wuz listen۔ing the conversation – “most of they would agree. Ofcourse that include not do۔ing anythin that would harm others." "Whereas
my aspiration iz to ascend to the next spiritual level.” "Mine iz
to purchase a mansion, marry a beautyful woman, drive a Rolls Royce car, enjoy
long vacations on my yacht, and consume
plenty of good food and drink –
share۔d, ofcourse, with
friends," Skip elaborate۔d,
glance۔ing at his choice
for the night, a shape۔ly
young lady wear۔ing a red bikini, who, brown eyes sparkle۔ing, smile۔d back. Affirm۔d the priest, "Mine iz
to see past the clutter of peoples to the world of God." "Mere۔ly an excuse, a mind trick,
because you lack what it iz require۔d
to succeed. Instead of admit۔ing
your failure, you pretend you dont want the good things in life." "Contrary۔ly, the material world iz only
a test۔in ground for the real world of spiritual development,”
contradict۔d the priest,
speak۔ing as much to
his adversary as to the devote۔ors
and bungee jump۔ors nearby.
“What matters at the end of your life iz not how much pleasure you have experience۔d or how many things you own, but how close you have
become to God, and consequent۔ly
how you love۔d, what you
give۔d, whether, in sumtotal,
you hinder۔d or help۔d." “We·have all earhear۔d the adage:
religion iz the opiate of peoples,”
say۔d Skip. “Religion iz alike a drug, a way to escape real
life." Donovan draw۔d in his breath noise۔ly. "Excessive materialism iz the opiate of peoples." Skip, a former
middle·school and university wrestle۔or
and award-win۔in house-appliance
sales۔man who had never know۔d
fear, and who despise۔d
fear in others, feel۔d increase۔ing anger. He hold۔d
forth the bungee cord. “Want to try?” The priest laugh۔d. "No thanks. Thrills iz only temporary, while bliss iz everlast۔y." Skip snort۔d, barely refrain۔ing from utter۔ing the word `coward’, which
could have insult۔d
his customors. Instead he ask۔d,
"Which would you rather have
protect۔ing you when you
jump off a bridge: a bungee cord, or God?" The question
hang۔d in the air, as
a gust of wind as though on cue rock۔d
the bridge, which then sway۔d. "Bungee,
correct?" prod۔d Skip,
grin۔ing with self۔satisfaction. "God,"
priest Donovan answer۔d. "Then lets
both jump off the bridge side by side, I with no God but with faith in my bungee
cord, you with no bungee cord with your faith in God." Silence. Then laughter erupt۔d from
some of the jump۔ors,
they’s faces express۔ing
admiration for the arguement Skip had utilize۔d
to outwit the priest. The Christian devote۔ors wuz all frown۔ing, eye۔ing they’s mentor with concern۔y expressions. Prod۔d Skip, “Do we have a deal?” He slip۔d
on an angle collar, and to it snap۔d
on the free end of the bungee cord, then turn۔d
back to the priest. “What do you say?" He scan۔d
his youthful customors, some still
smile۔ing wide۔ly, then turn۔d back to the priest. "What iz the matter? Speech۔less? Ha, ha,
ha!" Donovan answer۔d, "Alright. We will jump together, you safeguard۔t by your bungee cord, I
safeguard۔t by God." “Good,” Skip
reply۔d, his adrenaline surge۔ing. The two
mans shake۔d they’s rightside hands to seal the
agreement. Devote۔or Andrew cry۔d
out, “Dont! No one could survive such a fall!" Priest
Donovan turn۔d to he. "My faith iz strong. As sure as I iz stand۔ing on this bridge, God will protect me from harm." "But..." Devote۔or
Andrew point۔d to another
of the bungee cords on the plank floor.
"Justincase?" The other seven
devote۔ors nod۔d vigorous۔ly
in agreement. "Ha, ha, ha!” laugh۔d Skip. "Sure, go ahead,
monk, or priest or whatever you iz. Fasten
on a bungee cord justincase. Ha, ha!” Priest
Donovan turn۔d to he. "If I agree to tie on a bungee cord justincase,
will you agree to say a prayer justincase?" "No." Skip stubborn۔ly
fold۔d his muscular forearms. He turn۔d
to Randy, a squat black-hairs۔y
man, one of the regular jump۔ors
who often assist۔d at the
store. "Harness he to a bungee,"
Skip direct۔d. “No fee require۔t. If the fool jump to his death off my bridge, it
will hurt my tradeco.” "I decline your offer." Priest Donovan bow۔d formal۔ly. "It wuz not for a bungee cord for myself,
that I propose۔d amend۔ing our deal, but to coax you
to pray. I have no need for a bungee. God, not any man, iz responsible for my life." Skip turn۔d to the listen۔ors. “You earhear۔d
he. He refuse۔d a free bungee. If he jump anyway, not my fault.” The mood of
colorful۔ly dress۔d bungee jump۔ors had pass۔d from amuse۔d laughter to brow-wrinkle۔ing concern. “Dont test
God,” caution۔d the priest. “I·iz afraid
of nobody and nothin,” shout۔d
Skip, “certain۔ly not some
imaginary God!” As if to prove his point,
he thrust۔d his fist toward
the sky, where many Christians believe۔d
God to reside, and from his fist extend۔d
the finger adjacent to his index finger – the ultimate obscene gesture. A chorus of
astonish۔y gasps emit۔d from devote۔ors and jump۔ors. The faces of the jump۔ors, who perhaps do۔d not believe in a high۔er power but wuz respectful of those who do۔d, express۔d
clear۔by un۔comfort. The priest’s
pale face become۔d pink,
but he say۔d nothin. Skip look۔d over at he. "Ready?
We both jump, me with my bungee cord,
you with your God." Priest
Donovan nod۔d up and down,
agree۔ing. He look۔d
over at his devote۔ors,
ignore۔ing they’s silent
plead۔in to change his
mind. "Goodbye,"
Andrew utter۔d, as
though about to weep. Skip stoop۔d down to re۔check that his ankle collar
wuz secure۔ly buckle۔d. Priest Donovan, stand۔ing on the rightside of Skip, his hands
grip۔ing the rope handrail,
gaze۔d not down۔ward but up۔ward, into cloud-less blue sky. He feel۔d
in communion with God, who he know۔d
would save he. How, wuz God's problem, and not his on which to speculate. But he worry۔d
– especial۔ly after the blasphemous gesture – about the safety of his adversary, whose life depend۔d on
only a mass۔manufacture۔t rubber cord. "Ready?" Skip ask۔d
Donovan, grin۔ing self-confident۔ly. "Ready,"
confirm۔d Donovan. "We jump
at the same time, agree۔d?"
Skip affirm۔d. "Same time. Agree۔d." Skip turn۔d back. "Then Randy, count three, and then shout: jump." "Ready:
climb outside the rope handrail,” Randy call۔d out. Both Skip and
Donovan climb۔d over the
ropes, the priest rightside۔ward
of the tradeco own۔or,
they’s bare foot perch۔d on the edge of the wood-plank bridge
floor, hands behind they grip۔ing
the rope handrail. "One,"
Randy call۔d out. Devote۔or Andrew cry۔d
out, "No, dont!" Priest Donovan
turn۔d anger۔ly at Andrew, whose forehead wuz wrinkle۔d with worry. "Compare۔d
to move۔ing mountains,
what iz stop۔ing a fall? Have you no faith?" "Two..."
Randy continue۔d. "What iz
the matter?" sneer۔d
Skip. "Your look۔d worry۔d. Afraid?” "Yes,"
admit۔d Christian priest
Donovan. "You iz jump۔ing with only your bungee cord. Would
it hurt you to say a little prayer ask۔ing
God to forgive your mockery?" Skip answer۔d, "I·iz not superstitious. Pray to what?" He turn۔d
un۔patient۔ly to his assist۔or, who nevertheless remain۔d silent. "Three...,"
Skip hisself continue۔d
the count. To the priest he say۔d, "If you have the courage,
now iz the time!" Priest
Donovan nod۔d his consent. "Jump!" Both mans stoop۔d, knees bend۔d, hands reach۔d back, hold۔ing the rope. Then both mans leap۔d clear of the bridge. Both hold۔d out they’s arms, Skip being trail۔t by the bungee cord,
Donovan free fall۔ing. Down۔ward they plummet۔d, as a fierce gust of wind
whip۔d through the gulch,
violent۔ly rock۔ing the rope bridge. A colorful۔ly garb۔d young
woman shriek۔d with fright, and would have been blow۔d off if not for quick-think۔in Randy who grab۔d her arm. Others -- devote۔ors
and bungee jump۔ors both
-- cling۔d desperate۔ly
to the rope handrails. As they re۔gain۔d
they’s balance, all look۔d
down۔ward. Below, both
mans wuz still fall۔ing,
but had been whip۔t out۔ward, down·river and rightside۔ward (away from the water, toward
the wild side of the gulch) by the sudden gust. Skip, heavy۔er, wuz being blow۔t diagonal۔ly toward the boulder-strew۔d river shore. His quick mind, supplement۔t by experience, calculate۔d that the force of the sudden
gust would probable۔ly
stretch the bungee cord beyond the manufacture۔or’s
state۔t length limit, but
because he wuz being blow۔t
diagonal۔ly and down·river
the increase۔d distance
would not result in his hit۔ing
the rock۔y river
shore. Priest Donovan,
light۔er, his gray robe
flap۔ing noise۔ly behind he, wuz being blow۔t even far۔er rightside۔ward away from the river, toward
thick۔by forest۔y pine trees. Not aware of the gust, his mind focus۔d on the sensation of free-fall۔ing. He feel۔d
wonderful, free as a bird. Skip meanwhile,
approach۔ing the boulder-strew۔d shore down·river from the
bridge, know۔d that his
bungee cord would soon reach it’s maximum length. Calm۔ly
he anticipate۔d the familiar
moment of ecstasy, when near-death would
be avoid۔t, gravity defy۔t, his direction reverse۔t. A moment later
his bungee cord reach۔d
it’s maximum 75-foot length, at a speed and with a force – because of the powerful
gust – great۔er than if
he had drop۔d straight
down۔ward, great۔er than the limit test۔d at the factory. Snap! Skip's bungee
cord snap۔d into two almost
equal sections, send۔ing
the big man head-first into a boulder the size of a car. Thump! The sound of flesh and bones smash۔ing against rock. Donovan, with light۔er body massweight, and have۔ing start۔d far۔er rightside۔ward, wuz blow۔d away from the riverbed to
above the forest. As he approach۔d the tree-tops, he instinct۔ly roll۔d into a summersault position,
head tuck۔d down, arms
fold۔d across knees. Swish! He fall۔d onto a tall pine tree. The tree sway۔d, and bounce۔d
he onto the up۔er branches
of an adjacent pine tree, whose branches bend۔d
with his massweight – as he continue۔d
to fall, layer after layer, with diminish۔ing
speed, until final۔ly he
wuz able to grab hold of a branch to halt his down۔ward movement.
Daze۔y, he gradual۔ly climb۔d down to the forest floor. * Above, on the
bridge, still rock۔ing
from the sudden gust, bungee jump۔ors
and devote۔ors tiltlean۔d over the edge and gasp۔d in horror at Skip's crumple۔y body on the boulder, the gray
rock drip۔ing with red
blood. The priest, have۔ing disappear۔d into the trees, wuz nowhere
in sight. The bungee jump۔ors quick۔ly but careful۔ly scramble۔d off the bridge toward the
bungee shack, some of the womans
wail۔ing hysteric۔ly. The devote۔ors all hurry۔d to the wild end of the bridge. Five of the males climb۔d down the steep hill, bare foots stumble۔ing on rock۔y soil, until they reach۔d bottom, some call۔ing, as though point۔lessly, for they’s beloved teach۔or. Then from the
forest appear۔d they’s
priest, limpwalk۔ing toward
they, his face and arms and legs cover۔d
with red scratches, gray robe tear۔d
in several places. "Priest Donovan! Priest
Donovan!" The devote۔ors run۔d toward he, they’s robes flow۔ing, alike lost sheeps whose shepherd had re۔appear۔d. Devote۔or Andrew fall۔d down at the man’s foot. "We have witness۔d a miracle!" "Not a
miracle," the teach۔or correct۔d his student. "A demonstration of faith." Andrew nod۔d. “The timely gust. A non۔visible
force dispatch۔t by a
non۔visible force.” Rather than
tarry, the priest limpwalk۔d
past they to the river's edge, to where on a high boulder lay۔d the dead body of Skip Robinson. Soon bungee
jump۔ors and devote۔ors gather۔d around, many of the womans
weep۔ing. Priest
Donovan gesture۔d with
the sign of the crucifix. "Lets now
all pray for his soul." * *
* |
To write a comment about the story or the
language, click here. This story is from a collection of Christian short stories, Christianity, by Flora Morales. Click link for details. You have read the story in species language Peoplese, Alike English version. Did you notice how the spelling of the root word never changes? How the past tense is always formed by adding hyphnette "d"? For a quick overview, read Peoplese home page. So are you ready for pure Peoplese? The Sound Spell Same (SSS) version completely eliminates the need to memorize spelling words -- because if you hear a word, you know exactly how to spell it, if you read a word you know exactly how to pronounce it. A 7-year-old boy, after five 15-minute learning sessions, henceforth could spell any of thousands of words in SSS Peoplese. Spend 20 minutes reading the Peoplese SSS page, and you are ready to go. To read the above story in Peoplese SSS, click here. green-giraffe.org home page. |