Out of the Hole

Peck. Peck. Peck.  Our new vulture friend dutifully pecked away at our rock prison with its razor, sharp beak. I can't imagine it was the most pleasant experience for the bird, but nevertheless it chipped away at the rock. Perhaps it was doing penance. I don't know. I wasn't gonna question too much. When the vulture finally chipped away at the last bit of rock it looked up into the sky then flew off. Olivia and I climbed out of the hole. I stared at the sky, watching the bird become smaller and smaller until it  vanished.  "I don't think he's coming back." Olivia says. "No, I suppose not. Guess we're on our own again."

Toying with Us

Admitedly, I know virtually nothing about vultures. I don't know their temperament. I don't know if it is a good idea to stay perfectly still while it is sizing you up, but that's what I did. Maybe I thought it would be like in Jurassic Park when Grant and Lex tried to remain perfectly still to avoid being eating by a T  - Rex. After all aren't birds and dinosaurs practically the same thing? It studied for me for a long time. It felt as if it was looking deeply into my soul, pulling up cold feelings of despair and hopelessness. Somehow Olivia slept through the whole ordeal. I wanted to wake her, but I knew the moment I did, that's when he would strike. So, I'd wait it out. Let him toy with me. Let him think he won. Eventually he got to me. I snapped , shouting out "Make your move." The vulture squawked loudly. This was it. He was going rip out my liver and peck out my eyes. It opened its mouth wide and spread its wings. There was only one option left. I shook Olivia awake. Thankfully, I didn't have to explain the situation. I don't think she even fully opened her eyes. She simply extended her arm and shot a pink heart at the vulture. The vulture then lowered it's wings and closed its beak. It appeared stunned but unharmed. "That was very bad what you were about to do." Olivia says. "But we'll forgive you as long as you can get us out of here."

Lone Vulture

"What are you staring at?" A faraway voice asks as I look down at my stuck feet. "I said what are you staring at?" It asks again. I know it is more that likely just in my mind, but I answer it anyways. "I'm looking down." I say. "You should try looking up." "I don't want to." "But you should try it." I play along and glance up at the sky. There is a lone vulture circling above. I look down again. "Why'd you look down?" It asks. "There's nothing in the sky." I say. "I take particular offense to that. I'm in the sky after all." I crane my neck up, and I squint my eyes. "Are you the vulture?" "Indeed I am." "Aren't there usually more of you?" "More of me?" "I mean vultures. Aren't there usually more at once?" "I suppose." It responds. "Well, where are the others then?" "I haven't the foggiest." "Will they be here?" I ask. "Perhaps." "Do tell me if they stop by." The vulture circles faster. "Is my company not good enough for you?" "It's not that. It's just that I'd like to get this over with." "Get what over with?" It asks, confused. "Aren't you gonna eat us?" "Perhaps, but you'd have to wake up first." Not even taking a second to think about this, I jolt myself awake. The vulture is now at ground level and inching ever closer to me and Olivia.

Knee Deep

The dirt was as hard as rocks, but we were able to make a hole that was knee deep. At that point our muscles were beyond sore. We decided that was a good point to stop. We stood in the hole, fooling ourselves that it was that much warmer in there. Perhaps it actually was, I may never truly know. Real or imagined, we didn't get to enjoy the newfound warmth for very long. The next thing we knew there was a monstrous downpour. The little hole that we were standing in filled with rain water faster then we knew what hit us. And then, it went away as quickly as it came. I looked down. Cold mud wrapped itself around our legs. I tried to lift my leg out of the hole, but I found myself paralyzed. I looked down again. The mud turned to cement. We were stuck, knee deep in a hole, and it seemed there was no getting out.

Nightfall

The desert at night is not like desert during the day. It grows much colder. At first it felt nice. Refreshing even. It didn't take long, however, for us to change our minds. "We need to find shelter." Olivia says through chattering teeth. "Where?" I ask. "I don't know, but we'll freeze to death if we stay out here." "What do animals do?" Olivia shrugs. "Some burrow." "Good idea." I drop to the ground and I  start to scoop the hard earth with my bare hands. "What are you doing?" She asks. "I'm making shelter." "That'll take forever." She, somewhat helpfully points out. I look at her out of the corner of my eye. "Then we best start." Olivia sighs and joins me in digging.

Not Showing

The agents weren't without nicer qualities. They did give us both a minuscule amount of water. However, as the hours passed their patience grew shorter and shorter. They slowly, but surely realized that agent Duncan would not show up like we said he would. Naturally I expected them to once again threaten us with violence. Instead, they both turned on their heals. They both got into their black helicopters and ascended far into the sky. Neither one of them utter a single word to us as they left. I assume they were leaving us for dead to be picked apart by the vultures. But the thing is, as much as that did suck to be abandoned in the middle of no where, we were no worse of then we were before.

The Spot

It turns out the coordinate landed us between two three feet tall cacti. It was quite obvious that we had no idea where agent Duncan was at this point. But we could not admit defeat. We could not eat crow. Not now. Not yet. We said agent Duncan would be here alive and well. So we waited for an undetermined amount of time for a man who surely would not show.