Chapter 10: The Abyss

Old forests of redwood and pine rule the darker regions of the county, and the temperature inside these forests can go to 40 below the average you get in the open land. I felt it on my body as Audrey took me inside these forests, accompanied by the scape of wind, birds and the creek that was vigorously hurtling through rocks and stompy tree-trunks. Only occasionally did a ray of sun manage to penetrate the thickness of it and hit Audrey's naked shoulders as she sauntered in front of me, along the shores.

'Oh. Shit!' she said and stopped in her tracks. 'When did this happen?'

A yellow sign planted at the crossroad of two trails read: 'Please follow the secondary trail to Guerneville. We advise you against using the main trail. The bridge is not safe to use. Apologies.'

'Don't worry, we won't use the bridge', Audrey cried and laughed to herself, as she started climbing the mountain, on the main trail. And now, for some reason it was getting worrisome. After all her stories - where was she taking me now? Who was this girl? I didn't really know her and, apparently, no one else did either. Even her adoptive parents had a reputation for being reclusive and cantankerous.

'You ok?' she checked with me while gasping for air and looking down.

'Yeah', I mumbled half-heartedly. 'Maybe we should stick to that safe trail they mentioned. Who knows what fuck-up they did up there?'

'Don't worry so much. We'll only have a quick peek!' she went, undeterred from her climbing.

'At what?' I asked. And received no answer.

Gasping, hurting and with millions of thoughts speeding like a Midnight Express in my brain, was how I climbed, in silence, the darker side of the mountain, stretching to our left. The discomfort I was experiencing was building up and so was the sound of a nearby waterfall, which grew stronger and more menacing. And when we finally arrived there I could see what the fuss was about.

The steepest and rockier side of the mountains (which I never knew was there) was opening in front of us with major alarm bells that said 'watch out! I could see no sign of the fuck up I had speculated over but the rope crossing which they called 'bridge' was right there and appeared to be swinging sideways with each fresh mountain breeze or flutter of a bird wing. 'Well, it looks pretty ok. I don't know what they think's wrong with it', Audrey quipped. 'Well, what do you think?' and she turned and smiled with her whole face. 'I don't think I'm in Sonoma County anymore', came my reply, and I stared ahead, trying not to look down. 'And that's not all. I will take you to a place I like.' - and she started proceeding with controlled enthusiasm past the rocky side of the mountain.

'Are you sure about it? The bridge doesn't look too safe.'

'We will not use the bridge' and she chuckled to herself. 'You need a hand?' she said a few moments later, turning and stretching her hand to me. I looked down at where she was standing and it didn't look safe at all. 'Just follow this trail I'm taking. I promise it's not very far. You'll see. It'll be worth it.'

A few searching steps, groping for a flatter piece of land while holding tight to tree trunks, were followed by a quick succession of short leaps, down the narrow trail, which made it impossible not to look down at the chasm opening under our feet. I followed Audrey's lead and stopped my descent by thudding my body against a sharp cliff emerging from the mountain.

'Are you ok? You look flat-out scared', and she laughed again. I didn't know what the hell was so funny.

I leaned heavily onto the left side, where the mountain was, holding onto isolated branches and rocks, checking with each step whether the trail was safe. And all this endeavor would have taken less time if I hadn't paid close attention to where SHE was stepping, thinking she's not careful at all and that her walk was somewhat clumsy and disjointed.

'This is it. Mind your step' - and, as I crouched under a tiny shrub, I could see her standing there, on the rim of the cliff. 'Do you like it?' and shortly after she closed her eyes and took a deep breath of air. All around, apart from the lean cut of the mountain behind our backs, were the lower reaches of Northern California. Some parts were still covered by the canopy of clouds below our feet. The chasm? About a 30 foot-fall to the nearest patch of land. In other parts, it could've been 80. All the way to the valley - maybe 200 feet. The silence was striking. At Audrey's encouragement, I took one step closer to the edge and my heart literally sank into my body. Audrey sat down, arms stretched out wide: 'It's beautiful, isn't it?'

It was beautiful. It was also incredibly dangerous.

'I discovered this place after Tom died. He loved the wild and I think he would have wanted to have his ashes scattered over this valley', she said, again with self-imposed detachment. 'Anyway, it's beautiful as it is. You seem to be a good man, Richard. Yeap. I trust you. Yes? Can I trust you?' -she went, nodding her head again.

'Yes, you can trust me'.

'Good.'