Gold Rush

Word count: 2,059

Gold Rush

Looking out the window of the small helicopter, watching the blue-green ocean below with a childish grin on his face, Brad turns to his best friend Stan and says, "This is awesome! How much longer till we get to the island?"

With a chuckle, Stan replies, "Are you so stoked that the ocean is boring you already?"

"No. I never want this trip to end. What do you think Gramps?" Brad looks over at the older gentleman sitting beside him and waits for his answer.

Taking a minute to pause Gramps, says, "It is not the duration of the trip which is important. The experience is greater in learning lessons in life we are here to learn. Although Gramps may be a fun name for you to call me, my name is Nada."

"I did not mean to offend you, Nada. You have a cool name."

"No offense taken."

"I am glad everyone is getting acquainted with each other. My name is Chad Bronte and I will be your host for The Golden Eagle. You will be given a map and the first clue. This is quite simple using the map to navigate your way on the island, using the first clue to proceed to the next clue until you reach the end. Of course we will have some surprises for you along the way. I hope you all know how to make a fire, you will be among your own devices. Once you check in on the IPad at the next check point, you will activate your automatic supply drop off with food and the necessary supplies to live. Does anyone have any questions?"

Waving his hand wildly in the air, Brad blurts, "Are we really going to be on TV?"

"Yes, you all will be followed by cameras set up in strategic areas and there will be one we call the blimp which will be filming from the air. You are Brad, is that correct?"

"Yes sir. Thank you for picking us."

"You're welcome. We are getting close to the island. Please get your parachutes under your seat and attach them to yourselves."

This is the first time a look of terror is in Brad's face, "I wwas nottt aware of the pparachute."

"It was explained in the paper work package which each of you received. It even suggested you take a few parachuting classes to prepare for your jump."

Nada turns toward Brad and claps him on the back, saying, "I turned hundred years old yesterday and I am not afraid to jump. A strong lad as yourself should have no problems, you must be at least seven feet tall. We will all do this together, you will be fine."

"One hundred years old. Nada, I would have thought you were at least sixty." Brad takes a deep breath and says, "Ok, together like the three musketeers."

All three contestants strapped the parachute on themselves. Not long after this Chad announced, "The time has come for the drop. When the door opens, you can all jump together or separately."

The third contestant, Stan who has been pretty quiet so far, says, "We will all go together. Grab a hand boys and get ready."

The door opened and a rush or wind could be heard and the wind is felt through each of the contestant's hair. A rush of adrenaline comes over them and they leap as one out of the helicopter to the perfect blue-green water below with a blob of land floating in the perfect liquid.

The trio is free falling and Nada yells, "Get ready to pull your chute. The string is to the right of you! Pull, now!"

All three pull their string with a rush of acceleration floating through the breeze, the thrill of excitement flows through their veins. The beautiful colours of red, blue, and green are moving towards the three men, someone on the ground has released helium balloons in the same colours of their parachutes. Brad has his child-like grin on his face when a red balloon passes him and lands in a tree. The other two land on the grass not too far from Brad.

"Hey, help me I am stuck." As he says this a strange noise can be heard, he looks to his right to see a brown monkey swinging from branch to branch towards him. A look of fear is in his face, looking over to find his friends, he yells, "Hurry, before the monkey gets me!"

This behaviour just encouraged the monkey in his curiosity of the new visitors. He grabs the branch Brad is attached to and jumps up and down, saying, "Oooooh-ooooh-oooooooh-eeeeee-eeeeeee." He walks up to the parachute touching the tangled strings then starts to pull at them. Unexpectedly, Brad falls to the ground like a sack of potatoes and looks up at the monkey to see him waving at him, then takes off into the forest of trees leaving a stunned Brad amazed at the experience.

His two friends finally get to him and he says, "Did you guys see that?"

"See what?"

Nada says, "Are you sure, you did not head your head?"

"No, nothing like that at all. There was a monkey and he saved me."

The supply pack floated down to the ground to the three contestants. Stan noticed it first, "Guys, look a gift has been dropped down from heaven." With a giggle he walks over to the box with a note written in gold spray paint 'Open Me!' Ripping open the supply pack with the excitement of a child on Christmas morning with Styrofoam peanuts everywhere the gifts were finally found within. "Look guys, our map and first clue. I will read it to you. Follow the path of gold. Vere off this course will lead you to the valley of death. A surprise will be waiting at the end of your journey. One of you may be eliminated at this point."

Brad replies, "Elimination! We are the three musketeers and will stand together till the end. Let's go!"

Nada takes stock of where they are, on a sandy beach with a path of gold-like path leading into the forest of trees. Looking at both boys he says, "First before we leave, we will be wandering around in no man's land and this will be different than living your city life. I have lived through many wars in my country of Vietnam. We must stay together, if we separate it may be difficult moving for you boys with less experience in the bush and living off the land. First, do you know how to tell which way is north, south, or west by looking at the sun?"

Both boys replied in unison, "No!"

"I thought so. You are lucky I am here with you. Let's go!"

The group wriggled out of their parachutes and left them in a pile on the beach and began walking on the gold path. Walking into the forest is like entering another world with animal sounds can heard in all directions. The trees have healthy green foliage growing on them and the trunks are huge, even bigger than the seven foot giant who is part of this trio. A colourful bird flew through the trees and perched himself on a branch so the contestants could see him. With a spikey hair-do, coal black eyes, aqua-blue feathers, a red breast and a spot of purple on his back. Admiring this creature in awe Brad says, "Beautiful. Never seen a bird like it before."

As the bird flies away Nada says, "That is a rare bird in the prophecy of the Mayans. 'If you have the good luck of catching a glimpse of one. Good works will follow for the ones who behold the beauty of the Quetzal bird.'

After some time has passed hiking on the path Stan asks, "How much more farther is this clearing?"

Brad replies, "Not sure Stan, hope it is soon though. This hike is pretty boring."

A blur of brown flew through the trees and shook a tree full of coconuts which fell on the boys' heads. Looking up to see who created the mischief Brad exclaims, "The monkey! Hey, buddy! How are you?"

The monkey looked back and replied, "Ohhhh-ohhhhh-eeeeeee-eeeeeeee!"

"Too bad that is all he knows what to say. We would be the best of buds."

The monkey swings down toward the boys and snatches the map from Nada's hands. With a, "Ohhhhh-ohhhhh-eeeeeee-eeeeeee!" The monkey takes off the path into the forest with their compass.

Brad starts to chase the monkey waving his arms a yelling, "Hey, dude! Come back with our map. We do not know this jungle like you do. If you come back with the map we will let ya come with us on our treasure hunt for gold."

Nothing appealed to the monkey at all except running away with his new found treasure, a treasure map. Nada chases Brad saying, "Let him go Brad. We will never catch up to him. This is his home territory and we just visitors here. We need to go back to Stan and follow the gold path."

"Wait, I think I hear something. Listen."

Both men stop and listen carefully, Nada can hear the distinct voice chanting over again and again, "I call the Gods of the ocean to me. I call the Gods of fire to me."

Brad steps through some greenery to an unusual sight. There is a man with scruffy hair and beard, running around naked with a pointed stick at least eight feet tall dancing around a Christmas tree. He is wearing a wooden cross on a string around his neck and holding it up once in a while towards the sun as if he is protecting himself against something. Walking toward this interesting character Brad asks, "Hey, how's it going?"

"They found me! No go away! I cannot go back now, my bitch of a wife has never allowed me to have such freedom. This place is a dream come true."

"Mister we mean you no harm. I just want to talk with you."

"Talk. I have heard that one before. That is the secret word for straight jacket." The mystery man walks to a hut nearby, returns with a boomerang in the left hand and a snowball in the right. "I mean it buddy, you leave now and no one will get hurt."

Brad holds his hands up a gesture of defeat, "Sorry mister. I did not mean no harm. We will leave you in peace."

Both men walk back the way they came, when they reached the spot Stan was left on the path he was not anywhere to be seen.

"Now this is what we do not want. Stan has wondered off somewhere."

Sneaking up behind Nada, Stan says, "Boo!" He breaks into a gut of laughter.

"Very funny Stan. I thought maybe the natives got ya while we were gone."

"Nope I walked ahead and the clearing is actually not far from here. Let's go!"

The three men continue on the path to the clearing Stan scouted earlier. They go over to the IPad to check in their progress. Within minutes they can see something floating towards them. As it gets closer, it looks more like a man parachuting down. The man lands and takes off his sunglasses to reveal himself to the group.

"Brad Pitt!" Brad walks over to the actor with his hand stretch out and says, "It is an honour to meet you sir."

Brad Pitt shakes his hand and replies, "Thank you! Men do you have the map?"

Nada replies, "No, a monkey came along and snatched it out of my hand."

"One of the rules is to always have the map in hand at all times. If the map is lost or stolen the game is over. Sorry guys your journey ends here. A word of advice, always read the rules very carefully when signing a contract. A helicopter will be sent within twenty-four hours to pick you up in this location. I hope you have enjoyed your stay on Treasure Island." Brad Pitt waves as he walks away from the men and walks into forest leaving them to their own devices.

"Damn it Stan! We were so close."