Will of Man - Part Five (2 page)

I went to the other side of the plane where the wing was ripped off. I noticed exposed piping that was bent and pulled in every direction. I figured I could drain some fuel from some of the pipes into my empty thermos.

Getting to the mangled wing was a bit tricky. I had to slide down to it. There was only about a foot of remaining wing to catch my foothold. I used my rope and looped it around one of the plane’s antennas. Then I used the rope to lower myself carefully down to the exposed pipes.

The pipes were of all sizes and diameters. I was able to grab one that was about a half inch in diameter and crimped on its end. If any fuel was inside, it wouldn't have evaporated due to the crimp. I straightened the pipe, stuck my thermos under it, and then tilted the pipe downward.

With great excitement a gush of fuel poured into the thermos. There was plenty to fill the thermos and more if I needed. After giving a cheesy fist pump, I climbed my way back up to the top of the plane.

I went back to the cockpit, and peered inside. Grabbing my fashioned spear, I poked around the inside of the cockpit listening for any rattling. The nice thing about rattlesnakes is that they let you know they are there by rattling.

No sound of rattling ensured me it was alright to enter. I still lowered myself down carefully looking for any creepy crawlers. The other dead pilot creped me out, so I shoved his dead carcass out the window and down near his partner.

I cut cloth from the pilot chairs and wrapped them tightly around the end of my pine branches. Then I dipped the ends in the thermos of fuel and made my torches. Now if I needed them, I could light them quickly with my lighter.

The cockpit is about seven feet by ten feet. There are two pilot chairs and a navigator's station with one chair for the navigator. In the far corner, opposite the navigator's station is a pull down chair.

The area was cramped, but is better than being outside when the rain comes.

Now that I had two of my basic needs (air and shelter), I needed to focus on the other two (food and water). I noticed a half empty water bottle lying under one of the pilot chairs. I opened the bottle and sniffed the water inside. It smelled good enough and the color was normal, so I drank it. The water felt good running down my throat. I hadn't realized how thirsty I was.

Using my thermal blanket (which looks like a huge piece of tinfoil), I made a rain- catch outside the windshield leading into the cockpit and into the bottle.

Since I figured I had the third basic need covered, I decided to work on the fourth (food). I was hoping there was an MRE inside the cockpit since this was a military plane. But there was not. However, I could almost guarantee there was one inside the cabin of the plane amongst all those dead soldiers.

Grabbing my spear, I crawled out onto the wing of the plane. It was time for the wolves to taste a little of their own medicine. The wolves noticed me and ran up to the plane below me. I picked one of the wolves and threw my spear at it. The spear had my rope duct taped to the end, so I was able to retrieve it.

With my first try, I stuck one in the shoulder! It yelped and ran away. I yelled a few words at them (words my parents probably wouldn't like to hear me say) while pulling my spear up. The tip of the spear was frosted with wolf blood.

Running down the length of the wing, I spotted my next target. I let my spear fly and hit another one. Two for two! My third and fourth try weren't so lucky, but it made the wolves run into the woods and out of sight.

I went back into the cockpit feeling triumphant. Knowing the wolves were away in the woods and temporarily scared of me, I unlocked the cockpit door and peered into the cabin. It was dimly lit by the crack in the side of the cabin. I could see the skeletal remains of the soldiers and four large pieces of cargo wrapped individually in plastic wrap. The pieces of cargo were tied down with cargo netting.

Listening for any wolves, I carefully crept my way around the cabin. At the feet of the dead soldiers, I noticed camelbacks. Camelbacks are are small backpacks that have a bladder inside to hold liquid. Sprouting from the camelbacks is a long tube with a bite nozzle on the end. Camelbacks could mean water. I grabbed one and found what I was looking for, an MRE and plenty of water.

Not knowing if the wolves would return, I grabbed the camelback and two others, and quickly took them back to the cockpit. I knew I had limited time before the wolves returned, so I hurried to grab the other camelbacks and put them in the cockpit.

I could hear rustling outside the cabin, so I aborted exploring the rest of the cabin. My curiosity was killing me of what was in the cargo nets, but I was happy with my find and anxious to eat some MRE's and drink some water.

As I ran back to the cockpit with my loot, I noticed a knife strapped to one of the soldiers, so I snatched it up as I passed.

Not long after I returned to the cockpit and locked myself in, it started to rain hard. Lighting lit the inside of the cockpit and thunder shook the plane. I kept a watchful eye for any returning snakes as I ripped open one of the MRE's. I didn't bother looking at the expiration date, since I would have eaten it even it was from the civil war.

The MRE was chicken-ala-king, which was actually pretty good. There was a flameless ration heater included, but that requires water, and I didn't want to waste any water. So I ate it cold. Inside the MRE package was a desert, crackers, spreadable cheese, fruit flavored powder to add to my water (yummy!), cocoa (yummy!), a spork, chewing gum, matches, a napkin (yea! toilet paper), a moist towelette, seasoning, and a tiny bottle of Tabasco sauce. I couldn't believe so much could be packed in an MRE. So cool, and so welcome.

I feasted on the chicken-ala-king, made a fruity drink with the drink mix, and ended it with a desert (which was some hard candy). The cocoa I would save for later and heat up over a fire I will make on the tale of the plane.

The meal doesn't sound like much, but before my time in prison, I was eating grubs, worms, and fish that taste like pond water. I felt like I had sat down for a Thanksgiving feast. Ok, maybe not that good.

My rain catch was working so good, that it filled my water bottle within seconds. The camelbacks had bladders with water inside, but the water was nasty and needed to be purified. So I drained most of them and refilled them with fresh rain water.

For the first time in a long time, I had a full belly. The gum that came in the MRE was spearmint flavor and I enjoyed the freshness of its taste.

MRE's are full of carbs and I felt the energy returning to my body. Even my thinking was clearer. I kicked back in one of the pilot chairs and wrote in my journal till I was ready to sleep. And oh by the way, no snakes!

Tyler's Journal Entry: 435

Date: September 24

Day: Tuesday

Weather: Cool and cloudy

Miles to go: 625

The wolves are dedicated and won't leave me alone. For the past three days, I spent my time tormenting the wolves with my spear, writing journal entries, and exploring the plane.

The MRE's have reenergized me and I am motivated to continue on with my journey. It will be full-on winter in a couple months, or less. I need to get moving or set up winter camp here and wait till spring.

The cargo in the back was like finding a mountain of gold. They are stacked with MRE's, jugs of water, blankets, medical supplies, containers of kerosene, etc. My guess is this plane was delivering emergency supplies to the area when it crashed here. The plane was far enough away from the airport, and hidden well enough from any travelers, that no one ever found it - lucky me.

I could stay here all winter in comfort with everything I need. But that would mean another six months away from my family. I wonder if they've given up on me. My heart tells me they never will.

I've been going over my map and have found my location. The airbase was hard to find, but here it is, and my estimation of “miles to go” has been wrong. I'm 625 miles away (I thought 580), 45 more than I thought. That's another week of travel!

I am close to Balow and I’s meeting spot (maybe a day or two away). I think about him often and wonder how his PULL went. I’m sure he did fine. He seems more capable than most. I would not want to go up against him. I wonder who would win between him and my dad. I am glad they are on the same side.

I fashioned a mini woodstove (made of spare junk from the cabin) near the opening of the window. It's large enough to heat the inside of the cockpit at night.

I've used up most of my cocoa mix I found in the MRE's. When I drink the cocoa, I close my eyes and pretend I'm back home, in my living room, and sitting with my family. I picture Dad and Tanner playing with the IPad, Mom cooking in the kitchen, and Molly our dog lying on the end of the couch. I can hear the TV and smell Mom's cooking.

Like this plane, our house creeks on windy days and the windows shutter slightly. I miss my home so bad. I am so lonely. I’m beginning to talk to myself and it worries me.

I found a book one of the pilots must have been reading. It helps pass the time and takes me to a different place. Ironically the book is about the end of the world and how the main character survives. There's a little too much violence for my taste and I find some of the scenarios silly. Maybe someday someone will use my journal to write a book. Ha.

Tyler's Journal Entry: 447

Date: September 30

Weather: Cool and cloudy

Miles to go: 625

I’ve been on this plane for way too long. The endless supply of food is nice, but I need to move on. I will go insane if I have to be here all winter by myself.

I’ve hit each wolf numerous times with my spear, but no visible kills yet. However, it’s been two days since I’ve seen them. I’m wondering if they’ve moved on.

I’ve packed my backpack with a few MRE’s and plan to make a run for it. My plan is to run hard to the fence surrounding the airport perimeter. Once I climb over it, I will make my way to the airport and camp there for the night. If still no signs of wolves or any other predators, I will continue on with my journey back home.

It’s getting more cold out and I’ve decided to wear my thermal wetsuit throughout the day under my clothes. Tomorrow, when the sun comes up, I’m making a run for it.

Tyler's Journal Entry: 449

Date: October 1

Weather: Cool and cloudy

Miles to go: 625

Morning came and I scanned the area for any unwelcomed guests. There was no signs of the wolves, so with all my gear on, I slowly crept out the crack of the cabin and onto the grass outside.

I hadn’t touched real ground for a long time and it seemed strange to me. As I left the plane, I felt more and more insecure. That plane was my oasis and now I’m leaving it. I wondered if I was making a huge mistake.

But the decision was made and I knew I could not stay there over winter. Realistically it’s the best choice to stay (because of the food and shelter), but having no one to talk to will drive me insane. I need to push on.

So I started out in a slow walk towards the tall fence. With each step I looked around for any movement. The further I was away from the plane, the more vulnerable I felt to attack.

I wondered if the wolves were smarter than I thought, and were waiting for me to get far enough away from the plane, so they could surround me, and get me.

I held my spear upward and ready to throw if needed. I wanted to remind the wolves what getting hit by the spear felt like.

As I got closer to the fence, I heard a snap of a twig. I stopped and stood still, slowly looking around. When I turned to my left, I saw the first wolf. Then another approached slowly from the right, then another two from behind. And then the biggest one slowly crept at me from the front.

My heart stopped and I froze with fear. Triathlons can’t prepare me for this. If I get in trouble during a race, I can stop and ask for help. There was no race volunteer, or life guard around to help. I was on my own, so I did the only thing I know how to do, I RAN!

I ran straight for the biggest wolf in front of me with my teeth glaring and spear leading the way. The wolf leaped forward and ran toward me. I had about fifty yards to go to the fence. The big wolf and I met head on. I thrust my spear at him and jabbed it in the wolfe’s face.

My spear head scraped across the left eye of the wolf and cut him deeply. The wolf yelped and fell onto its side. The other wolves closed in and one leaped at me through the air on my right side. I grasped my spear with both hands and swung it like a baseball bat, striking the wolf in midair.

The wolf was heavy, and I wasn’t able to keep it away from me, but the spear strike was enough to keep it from biting into me, and I was able to dodge that particular wolf.

I ran hard and between trees. The wolves closed in and it was just a matter of steps before they had me. I saw a tree branch hanging, and I leapt for it. With one hand, I was able to snag it. Then with the other hand I quickly pulled myself up. I had to drop my spear, but I had the rope end of it tied around my wrist to retrieve it.

One of the wolves caught me by the shoe and began pulling me down. Then another grabbed my other foot and together they pulled me to the ground.

I fell with a hard thump. I quickly grabbed the knife I took off the dead soldier and thrust it up and into the belly of one of the wolves. Blood shot everywhere.

The other wolf bit down hard on my shoulder.

Luckily my shoulder strap of my backpack took most the damage. I pulled the knife from the one wolf and jabbed it into the neck of the other. They pulled away and ran into the woods.

I glanced at the fence, and without hesitation, I ran to it. With a knife clasped in one hand and my spear dragging behind me, I ran as hard as I could across the wooded terrain.

I was ten yards from the fence and making ground when my dragging spear caught on a stump and yanked me back and onto my side. In my peripheral vision I could see the remaining wolves coming. I picked myself up, grabbed my spear, lifted it up and let it fly. I stuck the closest wolf dead center in the chest. It fell to the ground and rolled a few feet.