The Story in the Forest Continues...

Geo stood on top the granite rock and looked down into the valley, the sun’s first rays now glistening on the river.  A breeze began to stir in the trees. The air was warm, and it began to gust down the valley toward the sea.  Strange, he thought, it is not the time of day for wind like this. 

The wind blew stronger.  Geo jumped down onto the leeward side of the huge granite rock.  The wind was like a dry, warm hurricane.  As the wind continued to gain force, forest debris filled the air.  Geo peeked out above the rock, and was pelted with pine needles and a sailing pinecone.  “Ouch!” he cried, and ducked back into his safe little nook.  “Good thing I am right in this spot!” he said to himself. 

He had a view down the valley and across the river from where he was crouched.  He could see part of the Osprey Lodge, but not all of it.  Dark clouds were now beginning to roll swiftly across the sky.  Now fresh pine needles and twigs were sailing by.  He heard crashings in the forest that he knew were shallow-rooted redwoods falling to the ground. 

The dry wind generated electricity in the air.   A giant bolt of lightning struck the valley at its northern end.  “Holy shit!” said Geo, as he sprawled on the ground to get as low as he could.  He was now wishing he was not so high up on the hill.  This is the second Act of God we have had in two weeks, he thought… something big must be up…

The air itself turned dark, and ripped by at a seemingly impossible speed.  There was a shriek as something large flew by.  “That was an animal!  Aaaaahhh!”  Geo hugged a deep-rooted oak close by him… and waited.

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3:53:11 PM