In The Heat Of The Day

The sun beamed down as Robert drove his wagon through the valley.  The heat was hotter than he had ever experienced.  Each day, his water was drying, and the valleys never seemed to end.  After the war, times were tough, but the heat was never-ending.  As Robert investigated the valley, it seemed like a pool of water, and blinking only confirmed his first sighting.  The tired horse still trudged along as Robert only hit him harder.  His face red from the sun was now red in anger as he needed that water.  Each step was shallow as the heat also had the poor horse trotting along to the middle of the desert.  The sweat had been dripping for days, and the horse refused to move faster.  Robert just wanted to pan for his gold, but he had to go through this desert. The many miles seemed to be avoiding all the snakes and scorpions, but Robert was going to make it.  It was only a few miles away, as the only thing he needed was to get to water. As he inched forward to the bushes, the water disappeared.  He stopped the wagon only for a break, and there was gold in California.  Tears ran down his face as he needed to find a small body of water.  He stopped the wagon and stood there as he wanted to breathe even in this intense heat.  The cactus was all around with no water sources.

After reopening his eyes from passing out, his horse was still there with the wagon, and there was no civilization in sight.  The heat was relentless as he lay on the ground. This was a long, arduous journey, and his parents had warned him of the challenges before he set out for California.  The land before was scorching, but it had some water until he arrived in this desolate place.  This was a desert filled with dangers, but there must be water somewhere.  Still, the journey must continue, and it was to get the water out of his barrel that was running low.  Robert went back to his wagon and drove on into the untapped wilderness. The place seemed to find a camp in the shade of the rocks.  As night fell, it would be a relief to get past all the water mirages.  To be promised by his eyes, only to be disappointed by the reality of a desert.  The wagon sat underneath the large rocks of old.  It was a desperate spot, but he was determined to make it to California for his fortune, too.

The next morning, the heat rose before the sun with a never-ending sweat. Robert just lay in his wagon, not wanting to go any further.  The journey started out well, but then came the unimaginable heat, marking the next phase.  The long days never seemed to leave this forsaken place. The water was always a mirage.  The landscape all looked the same, and avoiding the mountains was another disaster.  The only peace is when the night cools, but never long enough to keep from the long time in the wilderness.   It seemed to get up before trying to get through the lost places without dying alone out here.  Robert could only breathe but awoke to enter another long day in the desert, hoping to see California soon enough to be in the lush green of trees.  Only to find just a pool of water to give some relief during travel.  The town was ahead at least, according to the map, with a much-needed supply boost.

The heat would not permit as Robert pushed on in the desert, trying to finally find a water supply.  The area to the right looked like a large lake with even some greenery, and this time, it had to be water. The horse just went at his slow pace, but as Robert neared the land, it was just sand that looked like water. Robert could only cry as he really wanted to see something real. However, it was still another mirage in this never-ending desert.  Only this time, he pulled the reins to move on to the next place despite the heat.  It had to end sometime, and finally, it made it to the gold land of California.  As the afternoon wore on, it was clear to rest and give a little water to the horse and himself while trying to resupply eventually.   The heat never ended, and the fatigue was coming for a nap, but this time they were going to follow the compass west to better lands and never enter this one again. Only dreams ran through his head as he pushed through the sand and cactus.  It was still a way off, but that had to be real.  There were larger trees and even maybe a lake.  That had to be California, and the destination for his gold panning.   Whipping the horse did not help, but even if it was a mirage, it would be a welcome place for rest after such a long journey.