"Hey, up here."

Camping in the mountains, relaxing next to a bolder, warmed by a crackling fire, heard a whisper, “Hey, up here.”

Squinting into the darkness, seeing nothing, each shrugged. Perhaps the wind in the trees or voices from a nearby campsite. Our conversations continued.

Again louder, “I’m up here.”

Investigating, looked up and there, perched on the boulder, sat a person.

“I’m stuck. Acrophobia. I can’t get down.”

Offered options, but no way would he retrace his steps into nightfall.

With an aged clothesline, lowered him, until the rope snapped, he dropped. The ‘anchor’ awkwardly flipped backwards, fortunately, regaining my equilibrium.