Susan was young, early twenties, fit and healthy, quite pretty, an experienced hiker and lost. She could not believe it had happened to her. She always went with a group, usually two or three others, occasionally with a boyfriend, but never alone. Now all of a sudden she was alone; and lost. It had happened so simply. Her shoe had come untied and she'd stopped to retie the lace. Hurrying after the others she must have taken a wrong turn, because the trail she was on suddenly petered out, and when she turned to backtrack she couldn't see the trail she thought she'd been following.
She stood, taking stock of her surroundings as she considered what to do. She could stay here until she was finally missed and someone came searching, but that might take hours. She'd come up the hill from that direction so if she just went back down she should pick up the trail again and would be able to follow it back to the park picnic grounds.
Susan headed back down the hill, keeping her eyes open for a sign of the trail, but had to concede defeat when she came across a gulley with a stream running through it. She hadn't crossed that on the way up and she now had to admit she was well off track. Time for plan B she decided. She'd stay right where she was and call out every so often to see if anyone would hear her.
After a couple of hours waiting and calling, Susan was starting to feel distinctly worried, afraid that she might be stuck out there all night, and it was with a great sense of relief when she heard a quiet voice say "What seems to be the problem, miss?"
Turning around she could see a park ranger approaching. A large man but he had a quiet voice and a friendly smile. She half wished that he'd take off his hat and sunglasses so she could get a better look at him.
"Am I glad to see you," Susan said. "I'm lost. I've been calling out for hours now."
"You do seem to have managed to get yourself a bit off the beaten track here," said the ranger with a smile, "but no problems now. I can guide you back to the main trail or escort you all the way to the Ranger Station if you like."
"Thank you," said Susan. "I think I'd prefer to be escorted to the station, as I'm just a little worried about getting lost again. My name's Susan, by the way."
"OK, Susan, I'm Tom," replied the ranger. "We'll be on our way in a few minutes, but there is the subject of the penalty clause that I now apply to hikers who get lost. I look on it as a way of encouraging them not to get lost again."
"Oh," said Susan. "I hadn't heard of that rule before. Has it just come in?"
"It's more of a personal rule than a general one," said Tom. "Now if you'll just drop your shorts, turn around and bend over, we can get started."
"What?" said Susan, disbelief plain in her voice.
Tom sighed. "I said if you'll just drop your shorts, turn around and bend over, we can get started."
"What are you talking about?" shouted Susan.
"There's no need to shout," reprimanded Tom. "I'm right here and I have good hearing. You got lost and to teach you a lesson I'm going to screw you. Now will you get with the action?"
"You're mad. I'm not going to agree to have sex with you just because I got lost and you found me. I'll report you if you try."
"No wonder you got lost. You're just plain dumb," said Tom. "I'm not asking. I'm telling. If you don't do it voluntarily, I'll just take your clothes off myself and have my fun. And afterwards you'll still be up here, lost and alone."
Susan was pale now, and frightened. Tom suddenly seemed twice as big as he had earlier, and that smile was no longer a friendly smile. She looked around, trying to determine if she should try to run.
"I wouldn't try and run if I were you," said Tom. "I'd catch you before you got very far and you don't know where you're running to. With your luck you'd probably run smack into a bear. We do have them up here you know. If you're worried about dropping your shorts in front of me, then don't. Just turn around and bend over. I can remove the shorts at my leisure."
