The Orienteering Race

Imogen and Dax are partners for the school's orienteering race through the forest reserve. Each team gets a map and a list of five checkpoints to find. Teachers wait at each checkpoint, ready to stamp the card and offer quick words of encouragement. Whoever finishes fastest, with every checkpoint marked, wins the trophy.

Imogen dan Dax berpasangan dalam lomba orienteering sekolah di kawasan hutan lindung. Setiap tim mendapat sebuah peta dan daftar lima pos yang harus ditemukan. Para guru menunggu di setiap pos, siap mencap kartu dan memberikan kata-kata semangat singkat. Siapa pun yang selesai paling cepat, dengan semua pos tercap, memenangkan piala.

At the third checkpoint, they follow a trail marker that turns out to be wrong. Another team probably kicked it sideways by accident. Imogen and Dax walk nearly a mile before Dax notices the trees don't match the map at all.

Di pos ketiga, mereka mengikuti penanda jalur yang ternyata salah. Mungkin tim lain tidak sengaja menendangnya hingga miring. Imogen dan Dax berjalan hampir satu mil sebelum Dax menyadari bahwa pohon-pohonnya sama sekali tidak cocok dengan peta.

"We should turn back," Dax says, checking his watch nervously. Imogen agrees, though she hates losing the time. They retrace their steps carefully, watching for the real trail marker they missed.

"Kita harus berbalik," kata Dax sambil mengecek jam tangannya dengan cemas. Imogen setuju, walaupun ia benci kehilangan waktu. Mereka menelusuri kembali langkah mereka dengan hati-hati, mencari penanda jalur yang sebenarnya yang terlewat.

When they find it, it's half-hidden under a fallen branch, exactly where the map says it should be. If they hurry now, they might still catch up to the other teams. Imogen breaks into a jog, and Dax follows right behind her.

Ketika menemukannya, penanda itu setengah tersembunyi di bawah dahan yang tumbang, persis di tempat yang ditunjukkan peta. Kalau mereka bergegas sekarang, mereka mungkin masih bisa menyusul tim-tim lain. Imogen mulai berlari kecil, dan Dax mengikuti tepat di belakangnya.

They reach the fourth checkpoint just as another team leaves it. The two teams exchange a quick, friendly wave before splitting off in different directions. The fifth checkpoint sits at the top of a short, steep hill. Imogen's legs burn, but she keeps climbing, since stopping now would waste everything they've done.

Mereka tiba di pos keempat tepat ketika tim lain meninggalkannya. Kedua tim saling melambai singkat dan ramah sebelum berpisah ke arah yang berbeda. Pos kelima terletak di puncak bukit kecil yang curam. Kaki Imogen terasa terbakar, tetapi ia terus mendaki, sebab berhenti sekarang akan menyia-nyiakan semua yang telah mereka lakukan.

At the finish line, they aren't first, but they aren't last either. Their teacher checks their checkpoint card and nods with approval. "Getting lost and finding your way back counts for something too," she says. Dax grins and admits he has never been so relieved to see a parking lot.

Di garis akhir, mereka bukan yang pertama, tetapi juga bukan yang terakhir. Guru mereka memeriksa kartu pos mereka dan mengangguk setuju. "Tersesat lalu menemukan jalan kembali juga ada nilainya," katanya. Dax nyengir dan mengaku belum pernah selega itu melihat tempat parkir.