Woods Trek

[WxMurray 0]

Schawnsee followed Murray up the steep hill looking at all the vegetation along the path. In her head she named off each to herself. “This is a nice place, Murray. Do you use this program often?"

 

Murray stopped to take a sip of his water. "Not as often as I would like. I was hoping to actually hike the real thing when I was home, but I never got around to it. Hence hiking it now."

 

Schawnsee stopped and looked around. "I can see why you would want to. The sights are wonderful. In the programming do you have animal life also? Or is it just all vegetation and the sights?”

 

Murray reholstered his water and continued to climb the rocky slope. "Complete replica. It is not unheard of to see a rattlesnake up at the top, even."

 

Schawnsee continued to follow him, keeping in stride even on the steep hill. "A rattle snake? This far up? That reminds me of a story that was told to me long ago. Matter of fact, it would play right along with this hike."

 

Murray grabbed onto trees and rocks to get up the steep slope. "Yeah?" he grunted. He lost his footing, slid a few feet backwards, then leaned forward to catch his balance. "Do tell," he said after coming to a stop. Like nothing had happened, he continued up the steep slope. He could see ahead in the near distance that they were almost at his favorite part.

 

Schawnsee held her hands above her as if to try to help Murray from falling if the need arose. "Take it easy, sir. No need in ending up in medical." She continued to climb right up after him. "I’ll tell you when we get to a stopping or resting point sir."

 

"Up at the top, then. And don't worry about me. I've been doing this for years and have yet to fall. Just a word of advice, though. I don't recommend going back down this way. Especially if it’s raining." He stood as he approached a wall of rock with foot and handholds naturally carved into the rocks. "This is the fun part, going almost vertical. Go slowly. I don't want you to end up in medical."

 

"Or me for that matter," he added as an afterthought.

 

Schawnsee giggled a bit. Little did he know she had done a lot of rock climbing when she was a youngster. "I’ll be alright, sir. I agree this is the fun part. I love rock face climbing. It gives one a sense of adventure as well as helping with ones upper body strength."

 

Murray smiled as he started the brief-but-steep ascent. "And it's just plain fun."

 

Schawnsee stood at the bottom and allowed Murray to reach the top before ascending herself. She didn’t want to start climbing and find herself coming up to quickly on Murray and not have a place to go. It’s not good to waste one’s strength just holding in one spot. "OK, sir, I’ll wait for you to reach the top, then I will climb up and join you."

 

"Splendid idea,” He said. He continued on up like it was as level as the deck plating on a starship; he quickly made it to the top. Turning around he saw the view that he loved so much. Gesturing toward it, he called down to Schawnsee. "You have got to see this view. Spectacular."

 

Schawnsee smiled and began her asent to the top, placing hand over hand and placing her feet in just the right spots. Since she was off duty she had her moccasins on, which allowed her to grip the rock not only with her fingers but her toes as well.

 

She continued to climb until she reached Murray and stood beside him. "You’re right, sir, this is spetactular." She then spotted an eagle flying against the furthest peaks. "And that makes it even more so,” she said pointing to the eagle.

 

Murray raised an eyebrow at the eagle. Hmm, he thought, I've got to fix something in the program. Nice touch, though. He walked on over to the outcropping at the top of the cliff and looked over the western view. "Beautiful."

 

"Very beautiful indeed. Sir, if you would like to sit and rest a moment I will tell you the story that has been passed down to me about a Navaho boy and a snake."

 

"Sure." He sat down on a rock and made himself comfortable (or as comfortable as one can get on a sloped rock).

 

“As a young boy, often times, Indians are sent away in search of a vision. This was the case of this one particular young Indian boy. He started to go up to the top of the mountain in search of his vision. As he climbed up the mountain, the air got cooler and cooler. He came upon a snake lying in the path. The snake was shivering and said to the young Indian boy, ‘Please help me ... I can't move. I am so cold that I can no longer make it any further down the mountain.’

 

“The young Indian boy said to the snake, ‘No way! You're a snake, and if I pick you up, you'll bite me!’

 

“The snake replied, ‘No, no I won't. I promise I won't bite you if you'll only pick me up and help get me down the mountain.’

 

“So the young Indian boy picked up the snake, put him in his shirt, and continued climbing to the top of the mountain in search of his vision. When he got back down to the bottom of the mountain, he reached in his pocket, took out the snake, and the snake bit the young Indian boy.

 

“The boy replied to the snake, ‘Hey! You bit me; you said that if I'd help you out, that you wouldn't bite me!’

 

“The snake replied to the young Indian boy, ‘But you knew what I was when you picked me up!’

 

“Moral of the story: If it’s a snake it will always be a snake. Never trust it. It will bite you sooner or later.

 

"And there you have it. Never trust the snake no matter how much he says he will not bite you. It was a story that was handed down to me from a dear friend. I hope you enjoyed it, sir."

 

Murray stood and stretched. He rubbed his back where the rock had protruded into him. "I did. Very interesting." He looked across the landscape again and vowed to hike the real thing the next chance he got. "If you're done with the view we can head on out.”

 

"Aye, sir, Ready when you are." Schawnsee stood and did a few stretches to get ready for the remainder of the hike.

 

Murray nodded and headed for the next trail. As he approached the starting point he turned to get one last look at the view. As hard as it was for him to tear himself away he did. As he started down the path a tear came to his eye.

 

Schawnsee stood back watching the lieutenant. As he turned she saw the sun glisten on his cheek. She wondered what the trouble was. "Sir? Do you have something wrong with your eye? It appears to be tearing a bit. Maybe a speck of dust carried on the winds?"

 

Murray rubbed his eye and wiped the tear from his cheek. "Yeah," he lied. "Or a bug or something."

 

Schawnsee watched him wipe the tear away. She didn't know him well enough to know if he was telling her the truth or not, so she took him at his word. "If that’s the case sir be careful rubbing or wiping it. It could cause a nasty scratch and an infection. You do not want that to happen; it can be very painful."

 

He smiled and continued down the trail. "I'll be fine." He certainly hoped it was true. The last thing he wanted was to break down crying right there in the holodeck, especially if he didn't know the reason behind it.

 

The trail came to an intersection. Instinctively, Murray stopped for a water break. He looked up at the hot summer sun. "Must be pushing 35°, heat index near 40."

 

"I guess I should have brought water also, then. Sir, how long is this trail? I haven’t been hiking in some time and do not want to over do it."

 

Murray handed over his water bottle. "Don't sweat it." He snickered at his pun and continued. "It's about another three-ish miles downhill. Pretty easy stuff."

 

Schawnsee accepted the water bottle and took a drink. Not too fast, but slow and steady. "Thank you sir. I think I can handle three more miles. At least if it is at a leisurely walk and not a brisk run." She handed the water bottle back and wiped her mouth on her shoulder sleeve. "Ready when you are, sir."

 

Murray took his water bottle and holstered it. Making a right turn he started down the intersecting trail. "Heh. I may be crazy, but I'm not insane. Just, uh, don't trail behind." He snickered again at his pun.

 

She laughed out loud hearing his intended pun. "Don’t have to worry about that sir. I might be a woman, but I am in fine shape and shall have no trouble in keeping up." She filed right in behind him as he began walking down the path.

 

They continued down the trail in silence. After a mile and a half they made another stop, this time at a marker in the trail. Murray took another sip of his water and offered it to Schawnsee. "Have you ever gone canoeing?"

 

She once again took the water bottle. She answered him before taking a drink. "Aye, sir, although it has been a few years. But it’s like riding a bicycle, once you learn how to maneuver you do not forget." She then took a swig of his water and handed it back to him, and wiped her brow with the sleeve of her shirt. It was getting pretty warm, even for her.

 

Murray took his bottle and took another sip, finishing off the water. "Hmm...I was going to go canoeing afterwards, but," he paused, looking up at the sun, "it seems to be a little hot today, and we’re out of water. Another time perhaps. What do you say we call it a day?"

 

Schawnsee also looked up. She was getting a bit tired but wasn’t willing to admit it. “’Whatever you say, sir. We can continue this another time." The holodeck sun was acting as the real thing. It was almost draining her of her energy.

 

Murray nodded. "Another time. Especially now that I've got someone onboard who will go out on the water with me. I can row a boat, canoe?"

Another pun, another snicker. He called for the exit, and as they left the holodeck he decided he was glad he had run into her. It's always good to learn about one's subordinates. And besides, it was fun. He was happy to share his favorite experiences.

 

"I have been both canoeing and whitewater rafting. I enjoy both." She smiled, having enjoyed spending the day with her boss. Some bosses are all business, Murray was different. He didn’t speak down to her as if she had no brains. And the hike and rock climbing had been very enjoyable. She was glad he had asked her to join him.

 

"Good. Now let's get out of here before I pun-ctuate the conversation again."

 

"Thank you, sir, for allowing me to join you. I was wondering what I was going to do while on shoreleave. This was most enjoyable."

 

"Any time."

 

She giggled at him once more, and she gave him a salute and headed off back towards her quarters to freshen up after the nice workout.