Three months after the explosion at the factory, and my first run in with Stampy, I had all but forgotten about him. In all honestly I was too busy with getting things back to normal at the plant to think about my experience. Yet during my drive to work I couldn�t seem to get that day�s events off my mind.
The moment I first spotted him, checked him out, and even the little bath he gave me were all now so vivid in my mind. It was an odd and overwhelming flashback. One that almost convinced me to turn the car around and call in sick. But I had too many things to take care of at work to let that bother me.
As I drove the familiar road to the factory it started to snow. At first only light flurries were visible, but the higher I got up the mountain road the heavier the snowfall became. Before long, several inches of slippery substance had coated the road.
Despite the adverse weather conditions I still pressed on to the factory. Even on a bad day like this someone had to show up to tend to the building. Since the explosion the fire department recommended that the boilers be checked once a day. Odds are I was probably going to be the only one to make it in, so it was up to me to get it done.
In retrospect my compulsive commitment to the plant did not serve me well that day. You see while I was driving around a sharp bend a deer jumped in front of my car. In an attempt to dodge it, I lost control.
The whole world seemed to be spinning around uncontrollably and somewhere along the line I left the road. Suddenly my car was careening down the side of the mountain, smashing into tree branches and rocks along the way. However before I could react to what was going on my Lexus had reached the bottom.
Disoriented, I climbed out of the smashed car and into an open field. As far as the eye could see was snow, nothing but damn snow. Apparently I had ended up on the far side of the mountain�s base, nowhere near civilization. Just a wide-open field and snow, a lot of snow.
Looking back into the inside of my now ruined Lexus, I searched for the coat I grabbed on my way out the door. Once found, I put it on immediately. The temperature outside was only supposed to hit 40� and it was already bitterly cold.
After several failed attempts to restart the car, I searched for anything that may help on long walk back to the main road. Unfortunately all I found was some bottled water and gloves.
It was time to go. Pulling a hood over my shivering head and buttoning up, I started walking. I wasn�t sure which direction I was going, just that it was away from the mountain.
As I trekked my way through the white plateau, the storm that had started an hour earlier was getting much worst. Soon the wind started to howl and it was becoming harder to see. The cold winter air blasted through my poorly lined jacket like laser beams.
However despite the deteriorating weather conditions something drove me on. I knew that if I gave up the storm would be the death of me. There was also a strange feeling deep down inside that helped keep me going. Somehow I knew that everything would be alright if I just went on.
Hours passed as I pushed through the snow. It was coming down hard and there was now several inches accumulated on the ground. The frigid air was beginning to get to me and frostbite was setting in. The feeling in my fingers and toes was diminishing.
I was so cold� So very, very cold�
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
I don�t remember collapsing or passing out. But when I woke up my body was warm.
Something warm and soft engulfed me from the neck down. I could still feel the howling wind battering my hooded head. But the rest of my body was nice and toasty.
Although my left arm was trapped under whatever was covering my body, my right arm was free. I used it to wipe the snow from my face so I could force my eyes open.
That�s when I found out why I was still alive. The bizarre object was hard on the top and soft on the bottom. It was large yet didn�t seem to be applying excessive pressure to my body.
As my sight began to return the color red engulfed my vision. The colors white and black also became obvious, but mostly red. Then my eyes finally focused on what was right in front of me. It was Stampy!
He was lying right in front of me and sound asleep. The gigantic object that was on top of me was one of his fore paws. Its nature warmth thawed out my frozen body and protected it from the violent storm.
After I collapsed Stampy must have found me. Then for whatever reason he decided to keep me warm and safe. However, despite this kind act, I still had to find the main road. It was the only way the local authorities would find me. So I decided to try to wake him up.
�Stampy� Stampy wake up!� I yelled at the top of my weakened voice but it barely came out as a whisper.
However much to my surprise he heard me. At first I saw his head move, then he yawned and shook the snow off of his horns. A moment later he was looking down at me with that innocent smile of his.
�Listen Stampy, let me go so I can find the road.� I told him, although I didn�t even know if he understood.
Perhaps he didn�t because he just continued to look at me. No attempt was made on his part to lift the huge paw. Lucky he also wasn�t trying to crush me with it either. He just let it lay gently on my body.
�Damn it Stampy, don�t you understand. I�ve got to find the road. Come on lift your paw up so I can go find the main road.�
The big red dragon still didn�t move the paw. But this time he started to shake his head back and forth. It was like he was shaking his head �NO.� Then again maybe he just got snow in his ear or something.
Once he was done shaking his head, Stampy yawned and went back to sleep. It was obvious I wasn�t going anywhere for the time being.
�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
Sometime while I was lying there fatigue overtook me. I don�t know how long I was out but when I woke up the storm had passed. The sun was shining and the wind dyed down. Stampy was awake and smiling down at me mischievously. At first I didn�t understand what was so funny, then I saw the lights.
�Mr. Lexington, are you alright?� Chief Thomas asked.
�Yes I�m fine chief. Just waiting for Stampy to let me go.�
�Stampy lift you paw up.� The Chief said in a stern voice.
Stampy obediently moved his paw off of me. Much to my surprise, my cloths were almost completely dry. I must have been under there for quite some time.
�Thanks Chief, he wouldn�t lift it up for me earlier. I was worried I�d never find the road.�
The Chief let out one of his famous belly laughs, �Mr. Lexington, you�re on the road.�
That�s when I got up and looked around. He was right; traffic was backed up for miles. The snow covered all road markings and curbs, but it was obvious this was the highway.
�If it wasn�t for Stampy someone probably would have run you over. That is of course if you didn�t freeze to death first.� The Chief explained.
I turned around to face the dragon, �Thanks Stampy. It looks like you saved my life, again.�
At first he just smiled back at me. However when he started to move his head again, I knew what was coming.
�Stampy no! Don�t you dare��
But the mischievous dragon wouldn�t listen to me and a moment later I was covered in dragon drool. The crowd let out a combined laugh as he licked me again. A moment later EMS workers ran over and covered me with dry towels.
Once we walked clear of Stampy he stood up on all four paws. He let out a yawn and walked off the road. The playful dragon made his way towards the setting sun. Off to block some other major highway I suppose.
Little did I know as I watched Stampy trot off into the sunset that our paths were destined to cross again. But that�s another story for another time.