LOST

Saturday, May 31, 6:30 A.M.


Even a brief look at the US Geological Survey map of Roan Mountain explains the lay of the land. The long, sinuous spine of the mountain extends east to west for over five miles. On the southern side, parallel ridges reach down like thick fingers from the summit into the sparsely populated valley below. Between each ridge a creek flows southward. The waters from all of these creeks, after falling three thousand feet in the course of only two miles, level off as tranquil brooks that flow smoothly into Little Rock Creek.

Little Rock Creek flows west for seven miles to join Big Rock Creek, which borders the mountains western slopes below towering Roan High Bluff. The locals have a name for each ridge and each creek.

North Carolina Route 261 winds down the south side of the mountain from Carvers Gap between Chimney End Ridge and Calfpen Ridge. Then the road parallels Little Rock Creek for several miles before turning south to Bakersville.

Saturday 31 May, at five thousand feet elevation, high on the side of one of these ridges, Haw Orchard Ridge, less than a mile west of Carvers Gap, just as the morning sun began to direct its oblique rays onto a level shelf of open ground, Sarah Pool awoke from a deep sleep to find herself covered with fragrant cut-branches of spruce and fir.

She focused on the web of tiny green needles shading her eyes from the blue sky above. Droplets of dew glistened in the sunlight. They seemed multifaceted, refracting the incident rays into tiny palettes of amber, red, green, and pale violet. She could see Isabel moving about. It must have been Colonel Dalrymples harsh voice that roused her. She heard him say, Well, wake her up so we can get started.

Isabel contested him. She had a rough day. She needs her rest.

Well this outfit has to get moving. Its imperative!

Unfortunately, we dont happen to be members of your outfit, sonny!

Sarah smiled to herself. Isabel was on her high horse this morning.

Sarah sensed dull, sustained pain over most of her body; not just her knee, but also both legs, her spine, neck, and especially her head. Tentatively, she lifted a few evergreen branches from her face with the back of her hand. She considered trying to sit up.

Ahoy! Like Phoenix, she rises renewed from her ashes, Isabel announced.

Better step it up, Colonel Dalrymple said. Were going to push on directly while the weathers still on our side.

Push on where? Isabel asked.

The Colonel looked dazed for a moment, as though he had forgotten his previous order. Then he said, We were lucky that last night was mild. It could be a different story tonight. He seemed to study Ting, then Isabel. Sarahs the only one of us properly dressed for this sortie. If temperatures go lower tonight, the rest of us could be in trouble. I mean real trouble!

And just how do you define the situation were in! Isabel exclaimed. Were thoroughly lost. Its cold. We missed our bus. Were sitting on top of a very unpleasant mountain.

The Colonel said nothing. He moved on ahead, possibly intending to give the women some measure of privacy.

Gradually, Sarah worked herself onto her feet so that she could study the landscape to the south. Then she turned and looked north towards the mountain. Surprised, she asked, When did he start this business of heading west?

How would I know? Isabel said. Which way is west? When you passed out, he was still heading downhill if thats any help.

Sarah reached down and picked up her crutch. Unfortunately, it was hickory, heavier than she might have wished, but it had just the right angle of fork for her shoulder. Things yesterday had been too confused to allow her time to find a lighter one. Downhill yesterday would have been mostly south or southwest, she said. That much I remember. But hes gotten us over half a mile to the west. We need to tell him to head downhill.

Oh, sure, Isabel said. Ting, run up ahead there and instruct the Colonel that he should head downhill.

Excuse me? Ting asked.

Ting, dont! Sarah said. Isabel is just making a joke.

Ting grinned.

And I didnt actually pass out, Sarah said. I could hear most of what you three were saying even while I was flat on my face. She felt of her arms. But, after I got back up, I must have been dazed or confused or something. I remember mostly just tagging along behind you three like an injured poodle. I wasnt cognizant of our direction. I guess I assumed the Colonel was leading us back to the bus. I dont even remember when we stopped here for the night.

Next, she looked around at the ground. I dont see any sign of a trail. Has he been following a trail?

No, just endeavoring to lead us into every rock, tree, and impenetrable thicket of thorns he can manage to find. Frankly, hes a pain in the butt.

For how long did he keep us walking after I fell?

Quite a long time. Till dark, anyway.

Was it cold last night?

Yes! Around sixty, maybe. Ting and I piled the branches on you. Actually, you looked comfortable and warm down in there. I nearly froze in this getup. Shoot! Nowhere did they stress needing warm clothes for this trip.

Somehow, I dont think Global intended for us to sleep out under the stars.

I think Ting sat up all night. She looked a hundred and one this morning.

How about the Colonel?

He camped a hundred feet from us. Im afraid my demeanor doesnt appeal to him.

The Colonel burst from a thicket to their south. He surprised Sarah, appearing so unexpectedly when she had assumed him to be up ahead. Whats the holdup? he asked. We need to get moving. Its important that we dont stay too long in one place. Our best strategy is to remain on the move at all times.

We were just asking one another why your mother assigned you Elizabeth for a middle name, Isabel said. Did she wish for a girl and unfortunately manage to produce you instead? What an unlucky break!

Drop it, the Colonel said.

I once had a boyfriend named Kay. His mother wanted a girl. He overcompensated. In the marines, he learned to run a bulldozer and when

I said drop it, the Colonel ordered.

Do you mind if I call you Lizzy? Isabel asked. I think it fits you, somehow.

The Colonel glared at her. He turned and charged ahead again, leaving them to gather up their few belongings and follow. Then, from the trees a hundred feet to the west he shouted, Move em out!

Isabel and Sarah exchanged glances. They both looked at Ting. Are you going to be okay? Sarah asked.

Ting nodded.

Assuming the stance of a sergeant majorhands on hipsIsabel roared, Fall in!