Chapter Ten
Long Road Home
Part One
One would assume that it being Montana, a state that borders Canada, the weather would be comfortable, possibly cool. And it did get cool. In fact, the nights would seem freezing to a man caught outdoors with a broken leg. However, the days got hot: the humidity tipping closer to 100% by the hour. And this man with the broken leg grunted, sweat dripping into his eyes as he stumbled across the rocky terrain.
Alan Grant's throat burned and tasted like sandpaper. He was dirty, the sand sticking to his perspiration as he dragged himself along, his broken leg screaming in protest. He wished he had salvaged something from his truck to tie his leg to, but what was done was done and there was no turning back the hands of time. If that were the case, he never would have driven around the curb in the first place.
Hours trickled by and the mid-afternoon sun forced Grant to take frequent breaks in his mind numbing routine of step, slide, step, slide…He checked his watch and realized that his accident had only been thirty-six hours ago. That left him with at least two, more like three, days left to travel unless…unless someone miraculously found him. Yeah right, he thought. Save the jokes for when you really need cheering up.
He lay on his back on the ground, propping his injured leg up on a rock and wincing as he did so. He figured the lower end of his femur was cracked due to the fact that just below the area his leg was awkwardly twisted. The swelling was magnifying, but he didn't know what else he could do to ease it. He knew the best way was to immobilize, elevate, and ice it. Yet, his predicament required him to move and he had no ice. His greatest concern was the broken bone would worsen and he would have a permanent limp.
Part Two
The sun had dipped beyond the horizon an hour ago, but Grant kept trudging on through the dark: the moon his only light. He had rested earlier for four hours and those were four hours wasted according to his survival desire. He didn't want to be stuck out here much longer because he feared he would soon become part of the scenery; just a pile of bones waiting to be discovered.
His luck turned as the skies opened up, rain cascading in sheets. He laughed hysterically, gaping his mouth wide and gulping down as much water as he could manage. Tearing off his shirt, he made a sloppy version of a water sack and grinned at his accomplishment. This was God giving him a chance and he wasn't about to pass it up. Grant didn't have anything solid to live for, but he sure the hell wanted to live.
Part Three
He had been staggering along for the four longest days of his life. He was weak, dizzy, and in desperate need of nourishment. His leg was an ugly shade of black and blue, swelled three times its usual size. His skin was itchy from the dirt and burnt from the raging sun. His eyes half open, he attempted a ghost of smile when he saw the tops of trailers. He had made it. Exhausted, he stumbled a few more feet, then, collapsed into oblivion.
End Chapter Ten
Sorry it took a while. I couldn't seem to access Fanfiction.net for a few days. Reviews are SOOO welcome!!!