Pete Law: 15 Jan 2003

15 Jan 2003

Paul,

The sun rose on a very tired trio this morning here in Afghanistan. Lady was lathery with sweat and his paws were raw and bleeding. Pedro appeared racked with pain as he dropped my heavy rucksack from his back, though he smiled as I roughed his hair a bit and gave him a wink. As a reward, I prepared a field tonic for both and they sleep soundly as I write.

I, myself, had made the painful decision to travel light. As the leader of the group, I have to make such painful decisions for the better good of all. I felt that I needed to be light on my feet in the event that we ran into trouble. I am the only member of this group that has knowledge of the dark arts of physical combat. I alone can save us from the death that rides on such swift wings here. It is an awesome responsibility and my two friends shoulder the extra weight with no complaint. There is knowledge between us. I am of the warrior class.

I am not without my own pains from the all night movement. My eyes burn and my ears are strained from being so attentive. I also have an ugly red mark on my left foot where a wrinkle in my sock rubbed angrily all night.

We had set out at about 8 PM local time, heading East on the main road out of Baruul. Once out of town, we got onto a muddy little trail that ran parallel to the road and began walking in earnest. The Sherpamute lowered his head and pulled hard. Pedro struggled early under bags much larger than him, but soon found something deep inside him and he performed in a most exemplorary manner.

The night was without event until about 3am when I began smelling the smoky smell of smoke. My instincts kicked in and we stopped for a few minutes so that I could test the air; let my senses talk to me. Yes, somewhere in the night someone was smoking or perhaps cooking or maybe even burning paper. I reluctantly put a muzzle on the already panting Lady. There could be no noise now. I made Pedro remove his sandals so as to lessen the noise of rubber on rock. I felt terrible as I watched Pedro's feet negotiate the sharp stones under the heavy loads of canned meat and water bottles, but it had to be done. Sometimes being a leader is such a terrible curse.

By 4 AM the smoke smell was gone. I had led us away from the danger. We had cheated the maker of the smoke, whoever that evil one had been and I felt strong and proud. I took the muzzle from Lady and gave her some kippered beef from my knapsack. I also allowed Pedro a moment to bandage his feet and take water. I picked a few stones out of my rubber boot soles that had been giving me a rather unpleasant, "Uneven" feeling as I walked and drank a few mouthfuls of dark red wine from the bota bag.

By 6 AM the sun was beginning to break behind the mountains in the distance. I thought of my father in Liberia when I was a youth. I thought of the early 80s and what he had told me about mountains and sunrises and how to pick a dog from a litter of pups that looked oh, so similar. I couldn't help but smile at the coincidences of this life.

We made it through the first night. My guide was true. My pack animal everything I had hoped for. They both had seen my strengths last night. My intuition. My calm. I had side slipped whoever it was that had wished us harm in the dark, and though bruised and battered, both man and beast were alive under a new sun.

My letter to you complete, I now will brew some strong coffee on my Bunsen burner. Then I will sleep.

P. Law

Last modified about over 7 years ago.

You May Also Like...

• Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey
  Jack Handey is a comedic genius. Check out some of his Deep Thoughts.
• How to Win An Argument
  A comical, semi-true list of tips allowing you to win any argument. Almost.
• How to Hang Toilet Paper
  The jury has deliberated and returned with its verdict. There is one true way to hang toilet paper and you may be surprised at this.
• My Hero: A Fish Story By Jack Handey
  I read this story many years ago in an Outdoor Life magazine. It was so funny I had to record it here.
• Yatta!
  The Japanese Fig Leaf dance video that is sweeping the nations.