Old John and the Forest Fire (Part 7)

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
(Psalm 121:1)

Part 7 of 8

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Old John was using his powerful binoculars to scan the forest to the south.  He was methodically checking from the east to the west, and from the base of Baldcrest out to the leading edge of the northward-marching fire line.  Suddenly, he stopped.  He thought he had seen something flashing.  He moved his binoculars slowly back to the left a little bit at a time, and – –  there it was again!  The sun seemed to be glittering off of something shiny on the next ridge down south of him – just slightly to the east of due south.  It came and went, like something was moving, something shiny.  Could some people be over there?

He grabbed up his signal mirror and used it to reflect some sunlight in the direction where he was seeing these sort of random flashes.  If somebody was down there, they were not in a good place, and they would really need some help getting away from that fire, and soon.  If he could get their attention, he could tell them how to come up to him where they would be safe.  Old John knew that no matter what the fire might destroy, anyone with him would be safe for sure.  No fire could reach above the timberline where he was.

The reflection that he saw became steadier.  If that was someone down there, it was very possible that what he was seeing was a reflection from some binoculars as they looked up toward him and the fire lookout tower.  He decided to try using his signal mirror to send a simple message.  He hoped that they would recognize his flashes as  a message in Morse Code and understand what he was saying.  They needed his help more than they might realize.

 -.-. --- -- . | - --- | -- . | .- -. -.. |

 -.-- --- ..- | .-- .. .-.. .-.. | -... . |

 ... .- ..-. .

"C O M E | TO | ME | AND | YOU | WILL | BE | SAFE"

Old John waited, and tried again – and again.  Was someone down there in need of help?  Would they understand his message?  Would they respond to him?!

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After quite some time, Old John was about to stop trying when he suddenly saw a series of flashes coming back to him.  His heart just about jumped out of his chest.  Someone was definitely answering back.  In Morse Code, they reached out to him:

.... . .-.. .--. | .-- . | -.. --- | -. --- - |

 -.- -. --- .-- | - .... . | .-- .- -.--

"HELP | WE | DO | NOT | KNOW | THE | WAY"

[To be continued - jad]