We had never been formally introduced, so I don’t know its exact species or name. All I know is that it was one hell of a fearless beast, living on the edge, literally and figuratively. It built its home on the edge of the Grand Canyon above a terrifying fathomless abyss. One wrong step and you fall hundreds, perhaps even thousands of meters. Nobody will ever recover your body for a proper burial, not even the Hualapai Indians. At least, this is what the beast told me, and I have no reason to doubt its words.
The fearless beast of The Grand Canyon
‘That’s what I am, a desperate dare devil in search of mortal danger,’ it told me with genuine modesty. ‘There are only two options for me: live on the edge, or die. Man, I need this rush. Without it I don’t feel alive.’
Needless to say, I was deeply impressed. Such courage in a tiny, little creature! Not that I’m easily frightened myself, quite the contrary, but I would never dare build my home on the precipice of a canyon, with nothing beneath but thin air and dangerous predators.
Terrifying, fathomless abyss of Grand Canyon
‘Do you fear anything?’ I asked without trying to hide my admiration. ‘Anything in the world?’
The beast thought for a while.
‘I am afraid of nothing,’ it said. ‘But I’ve heard that Death is afraid of me.’
I was flabbergasted. I had to take as many photos of this fearless beast as I could: the world must know its hero!
‘I am afraid of nothing. But I’ve heard that Death is afraid of me.’
At that very moment I heard a nasty screech, my guess is a female voice, but whom this unknown female was addressing was a total mystery to me.
‘You little prick,’ someone cried. ‘Where are the eggs? Where is the freaking milk? I specifically reminded you to buy it! Have you even driven to the store today, you stupid filthy … … …?’
‘Where are the eggs? Where is the freaking milk?’
Due to the public nature of this blog I cannot reproduce the exact language used, but believe me, it was offensive and extraordinarily gross. I had never heard human or animal swearing that rude.
‘F… me!’ peeped the fearless desperado, and jumped into the fathomless abyss. It happened so fast, I didn’t have a chance to ask why the beast did it.
Today, after many years of reflection, I’m almost sure the daredevil decided to challenge Death. Why? To prove that Death was indeed afraid of it. Not that I completely understand the logic of the deed, but it was a simple wild animal after all.
Not even by the Hualapai Indians…
One thing I know for sure: the fearless beast of The Grand Canyon has not been found by anyone. Not even by the Indians.
