Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Escape (01/02/06)
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TITLE: The Blizzard | Previous Challenge Entry
By John Griggs
01/09/06 -
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He felt a jolt through the car and then another. The tarmac was giving way to dirt track and he knew he must turn back. Then the steering wheel snapped violently to the right, wrenching his arms, and the car dipped sharply down. Rock and earth grinding the underside of the bodywork, the car slipped over the precipice and fell nose first down the steep embankment. Rapidly falling, glass shattering and metal tearing in deafening quakes.
He awoke shivering. Snow almost covered the crazed windscreen. He touched his head. A trickle of blood. Nothing serious. Grabbing his coat, he looked for the rug but remembered he had not put it back in the car after the family picnic last year. Could survival really hinge on such a small decision? Stepping from the car he pulled his coat tightly around him. Visibility was barely a few steps. He turned and the icy wind blown snow stabbed like needles in his face. Turning his back to the wind he began walking.
Steadily, step by step he trudged on, heaving his legs from the deep snow, using the wind to give him momentum. His thin business suit trousers frozen to his legs, he pulled his coat over his head to try to ease the pain in his ears then quickly plunged his hands back into his pockets. His pace was faltering, the cold draining the energy from his body. His feet lacking all feeling he stumbled. Unable to pull his hands from the pockets he fell face down in the soft snow and closed his eyes.
‘Got to keep going. Mustn’t give up,’ he thought and forced himself to his knees. ‘God, I need you like I’ve never needed you before,’ he said, and felt a stab of guilt. He only prayed in times of crisis. ‘Sorry,’ he muttered aloud, assuming God would know what he was apologising for. ‘If I’m not going to get through this please give me the faith to trust in your salvation. And please bring comfort to my family.’
Summoning every last ounce of energy and resolve he managed to get unsteadily to his feet. With painful effort he pushed himself forward, one careful step at a time, knowing he would not be able to raise himself if he fell again. Suddenly a strong gust caught him from behind, almost lifting him from his feet. With arms spiralling he fought to maintain his balance. The gust almost seemed to have a tinge of warmth and cut a swathe through the falling snow just to his left. Through the canyon of snow-clear air he briefly glimpsed a figure at the top of a slight incline waving to him.
With renewed hope and energy he ran, slipped, crawled and scurried up the slope. At the ridge he looked down on a small hollow. In the middle of the hollow, sheltered from the worst of the weather, was a house. The warm glow of an open fire flickered in a window. The door opened and against the firelight he saw a figure walking into the house carrying a bundle. He called out to the figure. The burly figure turned and beckoned him urgently to come in.
Later, the warm clothes, blankets and hot tea and warm fire had started to ease the shivering. He could feel the blood pumping warmth slowly through his body. ‘How did you know to look for me tonight?’ he asked. The farmer stopped feeding the young lamb he had brought in from the pen at the rear of the house. He looked quizzically at the man. ‘Wasn’t me. I didn’t come looking for you. Nor anyone else. There’s no-one within ten miles of here,’ he said and went back to tending his lamb.
(Luke 15:3-7)
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