Life is a Drama
an excerpt

UPDATE: LIFE IS A DRAMA.
CHAPTER THREE: WERTEWHUKAWE.
The students have walked a forty minute bush walk to see something of interest.
'The bridge of Nowhere' is a concrete road bridge spanning the Maungaparua Stream in Whanganui National Park, North island, New Zealand. It has no roads leading to it, but is accessible by boat or kayak, followed by a forty minute walk along the maintained bush trail.

It was built across the deep Maungaparua Gorge to provide access to an area where the government was opening up land in 1917 for pioneering farmers, mainly soldiers who had returned home from World War 1. The intention was to build roads to it later, but the area proved to be so remote and unsuitable for farming that the venture failed and the farms reverted to native bush.

The group having viewed the bridge, returned back to the road where they had parked their vehicle, to find it had gone. Someone had taken it, they were left alone in the middle of nowhere.
After arguing with each other, the keys to the van still in Ranui's pocket so he didn't leave them behind, and the cell phone not offering any reception, it was suggested someone will be bound to come along the road.
"Um not really, this is not a public road, it is a fire break," explained Ranui, "I used it as a shortcut."

Thurs 15th.
They awoke with a start, to their unaccustomed suroundings, to find five armed men standing before them.
"What the fu...." Ranui sat up taking in the appearance of these men in camouflage combat clothing, wearing black balaclavas and camouflage kerchiefs covering their nose and mouth. All he could see of their faces were five pair of hostile brown eyes, looking at him with interest ,with their rifles cocked into firing position.
"Just shut the f*ck up, and get up!" one of them demanded.
Rebecca, rousing herself in a sitting position was about to open her mouth, when Jeff put his hand over it. This was not a time to be facetious.
The group shakily stood up, stiff from lying on the ground all night, still drowsy from a fitful sleep, getting used to sleeping in a style of sardines packed tightly in a tin, to keep warm in their makeshift shelter.
Hemi took two steps toward the men, and they turned their rifles toward him.
"Bloody hell, am I dreaming?" asked Brian of nobody in particular, "this sort of thing doesn't happen in New Zealand!" he exclaimed in confusion.
"What are you guys doing here?" the one facing Hemi wanted to know.
"Someone pinched our van!" Rebecca, now that Jeff's hand was away from her mouth, could have her input.
"There's no road around here," the same guy questioned her statement.
"We were on the fire break," informed Ranui, we came down here to follow the river to Puniwhakau. Who are you anyway?" he asked angrily.
"We are 'The Freedom Fighters!' they said in unison, "now get going!"

SENTENCE FOR THE DAY:
Brian had sports shoes on, more practical than the girls sandals, his shoes had become wet and squeaky, "geez I'd hate to smell my feet, right now,' he grimaced, to himself.

SENTENCES FOR TODAY:
"Well it looks like we're on the right track, pardon the cliche," grinned Brian.
Actually," Samantha told him in her typical pedantic manner, "It's to the left.'

CHAPTER FOUR: THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERE TO THE BRIDGE TO SOMEWHERE. Excerpt.

Trish had recently been in a coma for two days, and was told she couldn't return home by air, for a while yet, just in case she was affected by air pressure on the plane, which could cause clotting.
When she told Gail she couldn't fly, Gail insisted she could, and to take a couple of pills she offered, then she would have no problems.
Trish, unsure thought they must have been pills to thin the blood or something to prevent clots, so she took them.
'Trish was feeling very light headed at this stage. It wasn't a bad feeling, in fact she hadn't felt as relaxed as this for some time, it was like being a bit tipsy.
Her worries and concerns of late seemed to have drifted away.
They climbed aboard the Friendship aircraft, used for smaller destinations or connection flights, and settled into their seats.
"We haven't even bought a nighty or toothbrush," she giggled, and then couldn't stop. "Gail what were those pills you gave me?" she asked, grinning.
"Them, oh just a couple of party pills to help you relax,' Gail smiled back.