SHORT CUT (buffalo)
My good friend, Darlene and I were in unfamiliar territory when we went off the beaten path to try for a short cut home after visiting another friend out of town. Not far along we were hit by a downpour. Visibility went to zero and I hit the brakes. When the downpour eased we crept along, apparently at the edge of a magnificent thunderstorm. The horizon was hectic and brilliant with lightning.
Darlene was chatting about the elk up in the mountains of British Columbia, mentioning how happy she was to be back in the province of Alberta. She had been teaching up in a northern area where it was not uncommon to have people in vehicles careen into an animal on the road with some horrendous results.
Because of the storm we had little moonlight, the rain continued and visibility was poor, when we came upon the entrance to Elk Island National Park Darlene pulled out the road map. The road we were supposed to be on seemed to run right through the park.
We knew nothing about the park, including the fact they had a large amount of bison and this was mating season! Thinking we would just be traveling through another national park we continued.
A bit down the road I thought I saw a huge grizzly bear standing up.
"No," Darlene said "I think it was a buffalo."
My mind raced with a list of fearful scenarios and I wondered if there was a possibility of there being any more animals. I slowed to about 45 miles per hour.
As we came into a slight curve, two huge figures came at us out of the dismal night. One was in the ditch on the right but traveling toward us and the other was directly in our lane also moving toward us. Only their eyes shining in the headlights clued us in on time. I pulled to the left, relieved there was no impact!
We crossed a cattle gate and the tension eased as we chatted about this likely being the end of the park. This was short lived as immediately we crossed another cattle gate.
Then the strangest, most bizarre thing came into sight. We questioned one another as to what on earth we were seeing. Darlene thought there was a crowd of people up ahead and I at first thought I was seeing a huge hoard of fireflies on the road. Whatever it was we would soon know and be in its midst for it was apparent this cloud or crowd was moving at a fast pace, straight at us!
I think we both realized at the same moment we were looking at eyes, an extremely large number of eyes, but whose? Momentarily I guessed I was seeing the largest pack of wolves or fox ever. The road was covered. The ditch was full. There were eyes everywhere and it was eerie and mysterious. Both of us were speechless, puzzled, and tense!
"What is that? What on earth is happening?" asked Darlene, an edge to her voice! I had not been worrying. I should have been.
Then they were on us and we were gripped in the strong arms of panic! It was a herd of bison. Man they are big when you are seated in a small car! They were moving erratically, bison of all sizes. I felt vulnerable, unprotected as if I was in an open sardine can.
They moved into the ditches and across the road, sometimes at a gallop. A few headed straight at our headlights, then veered off to the side at the last moment. We had a one or two-minute break and we were surrounded again by a larger group of bison. These animals were more agitated,
The shaggy, huge creatures were like billiard balls on a table all traveling toward us at once. We were the target.
Terrified, I caught sight of one immense animal on our left. He had decided to charge us. I floored the gas pedal, yelling at Darlene to hold on. I could see he was a meter (yard) from us and as I lost him in my vision I scrunched up waiting for the impact, knowing we didn't have a hope eluding him, knowing he would not only hit our left rear bumper, but would likely destroy the car. I was terror stricken, waiting for the impact.
Nothing happened. Had we been hit and killed? I asked Darlene if she thought the animal was going to hit and she said, "yes, I saw him charging and he was almost on top of us." How could it be, there was no impact yet no space left for him to turn?
I believe God had his hand in our lives that night. I think his angels held that huge creature gently in place for seconds while I accelerated out of range. Whatever happened we were grateful and gave God full credit!
Throughout the remainder of the trip we took turns thanking God for bringing us safely through a hair-raising journey and unforgettable adventure.
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