After being nearly busted on a local B last year due to "heightened security measures," I wondered if it would help BASE board readers to have a terrorist warning alert level fixed somewhere near the top of the board. It seems to me that the higher level of alert the US is on, the better chance that some of us will be affected. Since most of us are jumping objects that require trespassing, I think it would help...anyone else?
Turn Left . . .
Perched atop the downtown under construction high-rise he gazed into the dark, down into the big gulp, and thought once again, what a lousy place cities are for parachute jumps. There's a lot of crap down there that can hurt you.
The oddly shaped corner on this building presented a launch problem that only a small platform would cure. He later said, I spent a half hour moving a big wooden box, a bag of cement, and some planks and probably made more noise than I should have.
Climbing up on the box and finding what felt like a good position he took a few breaths. The buzz of BASE jumping begins long before one actually jumps and he stood there a bit enjoying the moment. I looked down again, he said, and re-ran the plan. Let’s see, it’s open, turn left, go straight, turn right, turn left, turn left, turn left, land, and run for the car.
He pushed off and the platform behind him collapsed in a roar of sound that only faded as the rush of windows across the narrow street began to blur. He chanced a look down at the rising cityscape speeding upwards, squelched the urge to scream yahoo, took another breath, and threw the pilot chute. He opened straight and the wind felt cool on his over-heated body. The flight path put him down ten feet from the car and he’s pulling the still inflated canopy out of the air when he hears the first yells and see them coming.
There’s eight or more, he says, and they are between me and the exit of the almost empty parking lot, and I’m not sure but I think one of them just shot at me. He jumped into the car, started the motor, and floored it in trying to go around them and get into the street. He managed it by going over the curb and then the rear window shattered and he hears the high pitched plinking of bullets ripping into the car. I freaked, he said, and ducked but kept on driving. All I wanted is to get away from those crazy bastards . . .
I’m thinking, what the hell, security guards gone berserk, had they finally had it with BASE jumpers, what the hell was going on! He arrived home before first light and hid the car in the garage. I counted eighteen bullet holes in the car, he said, and I had no idea what to do next and then the phone rang.
This is the United States Secret Service, we know who you are and we have your address. We want to have a talk with you.
Sure, okay, but what’s it all about?
We can’t find your house, can you give us directions?
So I did, and they knocked on my door, I opened it, they came in and tackled me to the floor, cuffed me, picked me up and carried me outside and put me in the back of a van. Nobody would say anything to me. The next few hours are surreal as I find this is President Bush’s security detail and unknown to me the President was sleeping in a room directly across from the building I just jumped.
It’s a sport. I’m telling them.
You jump off buildings in the middle of the night with a parachute and it’s a sport?
Yes, I repeated, and the more I tried to explain it to them the more absurd it started to sound, even to me.
And you didn’t know anything about the President being there.
No, I don’t read the papers much.
It’s then a guy he hadn’t see yet comes into the room and says, okay, what we have here is what we call the King’s X. We are going to forget what you did and you are going to forget whatever happened after that, is that clear?
What about my car?
Taken care of, there’s another car in your garage right now, all the paperwork is on the seat, and it’s better than the one you had. This Agent here will take you home.
As I walked out the door, he said, I hear one Agent say to another, that's great, now we have to worry about terrorist BASE jumpers!
Nick D.
BASE 194
Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!
A good point which we should all heed. There's more impact in urban base than your ass on the street.
Finish it soon Nickolarse.
Signed copy please,
Skin.
Wow,is this movie material or what?!! I was riveted. Nick D. as Triple D. (DDD)
:7 :7 :7
Damn,
Now that is a movie clip waiting to happen.............
Slick, Out.........................:D
damn that would sell.....awsome job
oh yeah what kind of car and he should push for a trunk load of free gear too
Great stuff Nick! When's part II hitting the stands? F~ck Tom Clancy!
}( Pyro }(
PS. I know it's off the theme a little bit, but could you possibly include Bluntman and Chronic in the next one?
The sweetest part about Nick's kewl story? It's based on a real one!! :o
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