Revenge
Derek Muk
Rick Bannon kept staring at the white sheet of paper in front
of him. He was mixed up about something. Rick was a sophomore
student at UC Berkeley. The week of difficult finals was finally
over. But that wasn't what he was thinking about. He was still
wondering if he should go along with his friends on a camping
trip.
"Hey Rick" David Fretch said as he entered Rick's dorm.
"What's up Dave?" Rick replied.
David was Rick's roommate. Rick knew David would have a million
things to say about his new car.
"I've been thinking -"
"You have David? It's not common in people like you."
"No, I'm serious. Listen. I think that we should start packing,
and leave for Death Valley right away."
Rick stared at David in bewilderment. He was beginning to hate
this red-headed fool and his notions. But he wanted to ask questions
first. Rick sighed and parted back his blonde hair.
"What in the world are you talking about? I thought we were going
to Yosemite" Rick said.
"Yeah, well, we changed our minds -"
"Yeah, of what minds we do have left!" Rick exclaimed.
"I know you think it's stupid, but let's give it a try. Anyway,
my parents went down there before, and they said it was great.
The days are hot, but the nights are really cool."
"Yeah, but the heat! You know I can't stand heat. You know I hate
places like L.A. and Palm Springs" Rick said.
"There you go again. are you going to abandon us again? Huh? After
all those months of planning, you have to bum out again, don't
you? You're a real loser, you know that?"
David was tempting Rick into an argument, in which Rick didn't
want to get involved. Beads of sweat ran down Rick's forehead
as he thought about the idea. David finally won him over.
"Okay, I guess it would be an interesting experience. Just one
thing though, please don't ever call me a loser agin."
"Hey Rick, you don't have to look so serious when you talk to
me. I understand. No sweat. Okay?"
"Yeah, I guess we're still friends" Rick concluded.
That same night, Rick, David, and a few other students packed
up. Rick, though, was still a little skeptical about Death Valley.
The sun ran onto the surface of the van's windshield. And inside,
without any air conditioning, were five teenagers boiling up.
"You would have to be totally insane to do this" Rick said. He
continued wiping the perspiration off his neck and forehead with
a damp handkerchief.
"Yeah, well, just think of all the people who suffered even greater
feats" David said, driving.
"Must be nearly 110 degrees out there" said Wendy Chan, a freshman.
"You know, I'm beginning to have second thoughts about this trip"
Tony Ranger said.
"Don't worry, we'll be just fine" David replied.
"Let's see" Tony said. Tony ripped off a sheet of Bounty towel
and used it to soak the sweat off his black face.
The interstate freeway seemed eternal with the sun drooping over
them. But Kathryn Griffin pointed to a sign outside.
"Hey look, there's a gas station at the next exit. Maybe we could
stop for some cool water" Kathy said.
"Good idea" Rick replied.
The van pulled into a vacant gas pump at BILL'S Automotive. The
gas was cheap, but the atmosphere didn't look too friendly.
David got out to refuel the old, rusty van. Tony, Wendy and Kathryn
went for some water. Rick, seeing his friends go off for some
cool refreshments, followed them curiously.
The gas station was built on a plain dirt road without any sign
of plantation. But to the left, were some thin telephone poles
with loose cables.
Rick continued to the front entrance, where he confonted an old
man.
"Hi mister. You're the only gas station that we've seen since
we came down" Rick said smiling.
The old man approached David and looked at the price on the gas
meter.
"That'll be $10.65" the man said.
David handed him eleven bucks. The man then handed him some change
without looking at it. He then walked away with the money in his
overall pocket.
"Strange bird" Rick said and sat back in the van.
That evening, the group gathered around a camp fire, regretting
the trip down.
"Glad that's over. How many days are we staying here anyway?"
Rick asked.
"Two nights, including tonight" Dave said softly.
"Why so long?" Tony inquired.
"I want to show you guys around. there are a lot of sights around
here, that you wouln't see in Yosemite."
Rick didn't seem to mind anymore. The heat had already receded,
and the cool night air approached.
It was around ten o' clock that David said: I'm turning in early.
I think you guys should do the same. Get some rest for tomorrow."
David slid into his sleeping bag and stared at the stars above
him.
Tony got into his blue tent, and the two girls got into a double
sized sleeping bag.
Rick said goodnight and walked over to his red sleeping bag by
a small river. He got in slowly. But soon after that, he dozed
into a haven of darkness.
It was around dawn that Rick heard noises. He quickly got up and
looked around. Everything seemed normal, but the noise continued.
Rick walked over to Dave's sleeping bag. He was not there. Tony
stepped out of his tent.
"What's wrong?" Tony said, half asleep.
"I don't know. I thought I heard something funny."
Rick looked over to the girls' sleeping bag. It was empty.
"Where is everybody?" Tony said with a frightened tone.
"You got me there Tony. Something's weird about all this."
Rick rushed off to the green van. He froze in horror.
Inside the van, he could see David's face, blue and red.
He felt for his pulse, but found nothing.
David's forearm had been punctured several times by some needle.
And down by his chest, were two fresh bullet wounds.
Rick turned his head to find Tony being strangled by a farmer.
Rick began to rush off, but a split second later, came a huge
rustler. The rustler gave Rick a left hook to his chest, sending
him backward.
Just then, Rick heard Tony's last gasp. But before Rick could
retaliate, the rustler came swinging forward.
Rick dived right before the left hook came down. He then ran behind
the van, only to be shocked again.
Kathryn and Wendy, both brutally stabbed, lay near the rear wheel
of the van. But before he could scream in horror, the rustler
came about him again like a rodeo bull.
Rick quickly grabbed a pocket knife from his jean pocket and flipped
it out. The rustler quickly came forward with another punch, but
missed.
Rick then gave a full strike with the knife into the rustler's
abdomen. The rustler fell back struggling. Rick then continued
to kick him in the head until he drooled blooed from his mouth.
Rick sighed looking at what he had done, and backed off slowly.
But even then, Rick knew it wasn't over. He heard the crackle
of someone's knuckles behind him. He closed his eyes, trying to
tell himself it wasn't real.
He turned around slowly to face a small rodent-like man. He look
out a hatchet from his overall pocket and laughed devilishly.
Rick backed off, and ran off towards the river.
And not far behind him, was the small man, waving a sharp hatchet
in the air.
Rick quickly raced back to the camp site. He found a sharp butter
knife among the many kitchen utensils that David had brought.
He then sighed again, and hid behind Tony's tent.
The rodent continued his inhumane hunt for Rick. That evil laughter
increased among the oncoming heat.
But just as soon as the rodent stepped across the invisible death
line, Rick swung the knife across the rodent's neck. The rodent
dropped the silver hatchet, and went down to his knees.
Rick then picked up the rodent's hatchet and brought it down on
the rodent's head. And with that, the rodent fell face down on
the dirt.
Rick threw away the hatchet, and looked at the mess around him.
The trip south seemed like a nightmare, but to him, it was REVENGE!
Copyright 1987 by Derek Muk. Unauthorized duplication,
posting, or publication is strictly prohibited.
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