After Falling
It began with a deafening bang, which was followed by a fall; a fast, regular descending, deeper, or higher, because not only I, but also the area around me was turning around, so I soon did not know which way was up and which was down. I found myself in some sort of endless tunnel. A vivid mixture of colors, shapes and indefinable sounds were surrounding me. Due to my speed I could only hear fragments of the noise; high, shrill, deep, loud, scary sounds, each for only a fraction of a second, which were well on their way driving me mad. I tried to put my hands to my ears in order to protect myself against the noise, but the pressure was so huge that with all my strength I could not accomplish to lift my arms. Therefore I had to give up and wait until my seemingly endless descend would come to an end.
I do not know how long I had been falling, but eventually I felt myself decelerating, and with a gentle thud it was over. The shapes and colors were still twisting before my eyes, for so intense they had been, and even rubbing my eyes would not let them disappear. I groped around me to learn something about the area in which I had landed, in spite of my lack of vision. I found myself sitting on a soft surface, and my sense of touch told me that I was in a meadow. Only, the grass I sensed was softer than any grass that I had ever felt. I felt an extraordinary pleasure to slide the individual blades through my fingers. Slowly my sight returned, and immediately I was struck by surprise. I recognized nothing of what I saw around me! The area was completely unknown to me. I sat on a small hill by the most luxuriant grass one can imagine. Further, I could not see a single house, only woods and more hills were to see as far as I could look. I suspected that maybe I was in Ireland, at one of those beautiful days that the weather was marvelous there. Apparently I had caught just the right day for a trip to the emerald island. It was very strange, though, that the weather had changed so much within such a short time. Less remarkable, perhaps, was that I did not see any of the others - no one who was sitting with me on the aircraft, and also from the machine itself I could find no trace. The wind must have sent us out in different directions, all of us had landed somewhere else ... perhaps even in various countries, since I myself was in Ireland! I hoped for my fellow passengers that they would find themselves in such a good state as me, since I lacked nothing, except for a slight ringing in the ears.
I stood up and decided to walk down the hill and look for someone. I needed information about where I was (because I only suspected that it was Ireland, and even if that were true, it might have been anywhere in Ireland) and how I could get home again. My joints were a little stiff from the drop, but soon this feeling faded, and I walked as if nothing had happened. Down the hill flowers of various kinds were blossoming, all in the richest shades; it was really beautiful. There was a dirt road between the foot of the hill and a forest, and so I followed the path to the east, for there I had seen something which could be a valley, and hoped that I would meet people over there. Birds and butterflies flew past me. A large, red-black butterfly sat on the edge of the road on the grass, and when I bent over it, it did not fly way, but let itself admire. I think I could have picked it up, which I refrained from, because I knew about the fragility of butterfly wings. The peacefulness of the area was quite unreal: the place was nothing like the city I came from, where stress dominated everything and landscaped trees along the streets were all that was 'natural'. It pleased me to see that the earth still kept places that were not yet disfigured by man. I hoped that the plane crashed somewhere entirely else, and had not destroyed a part of this beautiful little place.
I say little place, but in reality, even if I climbed up a hill again, I still did not detect a town anywhere, nor did I encounter another human being. I imagined myself alone in the world, an impression which I initially enjoyed (because where could one still find a place where one is alone today?), but after a few hours my joy changed into a most oppressive feeling. I noticed that my shadow was gradually becoming longer, the sun was setting slowly but surely, and soon this area would be shrouded in darkness. Where could I go? Should I lie down on the grass and sleep until morning came? I probably had no choice. Luckily, I soon reached a narrow creek, in which the clearest water was flowing, so that I did not need to worry about drinking water. Under an enormous oak tree, I searched for a comfortable position in which I could spend the night. Then, as I lay down, I was suddenly overwhelmed by weariness and at the same time by fear. If I really found myself on a pristine spot on earth, how long would it take me before I would find my way back to civilization? The parallel with a castaway was obvious: I was like Robinson on an uninhabited island after my companions had suffered an accident; and also I needed to find a way to help myself. That could take forever! Probably no one would suspect that I was still alive, and only around the wreck they would be looking for my body, and if they found nothing, they would assume that it was burned or so. I shuddered at that thought. I felt I had to rest now and continue my search for civilization the next day. If I would continuously follow this road in the same direction, I eventually must come across a village; for this road was indeed created, and why would man create a path that leads nowhere. Calmed down by these thought I finally fell asleep. Whether it was hunger, the burning sun, or the suspicion of a man in my presence that woke me up, I do not know. However, all three items were present. The hunger was very uncomfortable; from the sung I could easily flee, but the man! Seeing him was something very favorable. He stood at the creek with his back turned to me. I felt a little awkward, for the presence of another while sleeping always makes me nervous. He must have noticed me moving, because as soon as I arose, he turned to me. He was a middle-aged, kind looking man with a long beard and jet-black hair, a touch of gray was visible only at the temples. Without saying anything, he came to me and handed me something to eat. I thanked him stammering and ate in silence. While I was eating, he perceived me. When I was satisfied, I asked him what I had already been on the tip of my tongue all the time, but during the meal I had not dared to ask: where I was.
He smiled.
"I know you do not know where you are," he said. Answering my puzzled look he said, "Otherwise, you would not have lay down to sleep where you did it. Before I tell you where we are, I will show you more. You did not leave the path, I suppose?"
"No, I hoped that the road would lead me to the village," I said.
"I thought so. Follow me. "
He went before me and entered the forest. The smell coming towards me was indescribable. It smelled of freedom, that I could not imagine why I had ever longed for finding a settlement. This forest covered everything a man needed! Wildlife shuffled around, with the same lack of interest in me as the butterfly on the previous day. These animals were not afraid of people, which must mean that they had not often encountered them! They did not know that they had to consider man as an enemy! We headed to an open space. A small waterfall was rushing down into an emerald green lake. Countless water birds were crawling around and swam in the lake, a rainbow reflected in the water. Words were lacking me. It appeared to me that an elf or a unicorn could come around the corner any moment; that unusual was the fabulous sight.
My guide noticed my astonishment and smiled.
"You have never seen such beauty before, am I right?"
"I ... No ... I did not know there still were such pure places on earth! How fortunate that I came down right here ...! You know, I was a passenger in a small private plane that started in Bradford. We wanted to fly to the Welsh coast, but while we were in the air, we were surprised by a storm. The plane was no longer controllable; I do not know how long we have been flying through the air without direction. The pilot had probably already lost his consciousness. Eventually the plane was struck by lightning, and we had to jump out if we wanted to have a chance of survival, since if we would have stayed on the plane, we would have been burnt alive. When the others did jump, I do not know – apart from me and the pilot there were seven people - but after I jumped, I got into a falling that seemed infinitely to me. I must have been half-conscious only, because the things I remember are vague and incoherent. It was yesterday that I found myself on a hill in this beautiful area. It all feels so unreal, even more now I am telling you about it... And I realize once more how lucky I am that I am unharmed ...! By a hair I had died and I had gone to God's heavenly kingdom ... "
The man looked at me, smiling meaningfully, and suddenly I understood.
I do not know how long I had been falling, but eventually I felt myself decelerating, and with a gentle thud it was over. The shapes and colors were still twisting before my eyes, for so intense they had been, and even rubbing my eyes would not let them disappear. I groped around me to learn something about the area in which I had landed, in spite of my lack of vision. I found myself sitting on a soft surface, and my sense of touch told me that I was in a meadow. Only, the grass I sensed was softer than any grass that I had ever felt. I felt an extraordinary pleasure to slide the individual blades through my fingers. Slowly my sight returned, and immediately I was struck by surprise. I recognized nothing of what I saw around me! The area was completely unknown to me. I sat on a small hill by the most luxuriant grass one can imagine. Further, I could not see a single house, only woods and more hills were to see as far as I could look. I suspected that maybe I was in Ireland, at one of those beautiful days that the weather was marvelous there. Apparently I had caught just the right day for a trip to the emerald island. It was very strange, though, that the weather had changed so much within such a short time. Less remarkable, perhaps, was that I did not see any of the others - no one who was sitting with me on the aircraft, and also from the machine itself I could find no trace. The wind must have sent us out in different directions, all of us had landed somewhere else ... perhaps even in various countries, since I myself was in Ireland! I hoped for my fellow passengers that they would find themselves in such a good state as me, since I lacked nothing, except for a slight ringing in the ears.
I stood up and decided to walk down the hill and look for someone. I needed information about where I was (because I only suspected that it was Ireland, and even if that were true, it might have been anywhere in Ireland) and how I could get home again. My joints were a little stiff from the drop, but soon this feeling faded, and I walked as if nothing had happened. Down the hill flowers of various kinds were blossoming, all in the richest shades; it was really beautiful. There was a dirt road between the foot of the hill and a forest, and so I followed the path to the east, for there I had seen something which could be a valley, and hoped that I would meet people over there. Birds and butterflies flew past me. A large, red-black butterfly sat on the edge of the road on the grass, and when I bent over it, it did not fly way, but let itself admire. I think I could have picked it up, which I refrained from, because I knew about the fragility of butterfly wings. The peacefulness of the area was quite unreal: the place was nothing like the city I came from, where stress dominated everything and landscaped trees along the streets were all that was 'natural'. It pleased me to see that the earth still kept places that were not yet disfigured by man. I hoped that the plane crashed somewhere entirely else, and had not destroyed a part of this beautiful little place.
I say little place, but in reality, even if I climbed up a hill again, I still did not detect a town anywhere, nor did I encounter another human being. I imagined myself alone in the world, an impression which I initially enjoyed (because where could one still find a place where one is alone today?), but after a few hours my joy changed into a most oppressive feeling. I noticed that my shadow was gradually becoming longer, the sun was setting slowly but surely, and soon this area would be shrouded in darkness. Where could I go? Should I lie down on the grass and sleep until morning came? I probably had no choice. Luckily, I soon reached a narrow creek, in which the clearest water was flowing, so that I did not need to worry about drinking water. Under an enormous oak tree, I searched for a comfortable position in which I could spend the night. Then, as I lay down, I was suddenly overwhelmed by weariness and at the same time by fear. If I really found myself on a pristine spot on earth, how long would it take me before I would find my way back to civilization? The parallel with a castaway was obvious: I was like Robinson on an uninhabited island after my companions had suffered an accident; and also I needed to find a way to help myself. That could take forever! Probably no one would suspect that I was still alive, and only around the wreck they would be looking for my body, and if they found nothing, they would assume that it was burned or so. I shuddered at that thought. I felt I had to rest now and continue my search for civilization the next day. If I would continuously follow this road in the same direction, I eventually must come across a village; for this road was indeed created, and why would man create a path that leads nowhere. Calmed down by these thought I finally fell asleep. Whether it was hunger, the burning sun, or the suspicion of a man in my presence that woke me up, I do not know. However, all three items were present. The hunger was very uncomfortable; from the sung I could easily flee, but the man! Seeing him was something very favorable. He stood at the creek with his back turned to me. I felt a little awkward, for the presence of another while sleeping always makes me nervous. He must have noticed me moving, because as soon as I arose, he turned to me. He was a middle-aged, kind looking man with a long beard and jet-black hair, a touch of gray was visible only at the temples. Without saying anything, he came to me and handed me something to eat. I thanked him stammering and ate in silence. While I was eating, he perceived me. When I was satisfied, I asked him what I had already been on the tip of my tongue all the time, but during the meal I had not dared to ask: where I was.
He smiled.
"I know you do not know where you are," he said. Answering my puzzled look he said, "Otherwise, you would not have lay down to sleep where you did it. Before I tell you where we are, I will show you more. You did not leave the path, I suppose?"
"No, I hoped that the road would lead me to the village," I said.
"I thought so. Follow me. "
He went before me and entered the forest. The smell coming towards me was indescribable. It smelled of freedom, that I could not imagine why I had ever longed for finding a settlement. This forest covered everything a man needed! Wildlife shuffled around, with the same lack of interest in me as the butterfly on the previous day. These animals were not afraid of people, which must mean that they had not often encountered them! They did not know that they had to consider man as an enemy! We headed to an open space. A small waterfall was rushing down into an emerald green lake. Countless water birds were crawling around and swam in the lake, a rainbow reflected in the water. Words were lacking me. It appeared to me that an elf or a unicorn could come around the corner any moment; that unusual was the fabulous sight.
My guide noticed my astonishment and smiled.
"You have never seen such beauty before, am I right?"
"I ... No ... I did not know there still were such pure places on earth! How fortunate that I came down right here ...! You know, I was a passenger in a small private plane that started in Bradford. We wanted to fly to the Welsh coast, but while we were in the air, we were surprised by a storm. The plane was no longer controllable; I do not know how long we have been flying through the air without direction. The pilot had probably already lost his consciousness. Eventually the plane was struck by lightning, and we had to jump out if we wanted to have a chance of survival, since if we would have stayed on the plane, we would have been burnt alive. When the others did jump, I do not know – apart from me and the pilot there were seven people - but after I jumped, I got into a falling that seemed infinitely to me. I must have been half-conscious only, because the things I remember are vague and incoherent. It was yesterday that I found myself on a hill in this beautiful area. It all feels so unreal, even more now I am telling you about it... And I realize once more how lucky I am that I am unharmed ...! By a hair I had died and I had gone to God's heavenly kingdom ... "
The man looked at me, smiling meaningfully, and suddenly I understood.
