Hedge of Thorns: Crate The stars were fading when Bobby’s mules, tethered out behind the garden, chose to bray. “Shut up, stupid animals,” I said as I added fuel to the fire. Upstairs, Bobby stamped into his boots and clomped toward the ladder. He descended, stalking out the front door, and allowing that to slam
Hedge of Thorns: Shifts Every coon in the county wandered past my blind complaining about its overnight furry family reunion. I surrender and get up. My striking camp noises wake Bobby, and he’s still the same grouch. I set off first, and don’t learn his decision until I hear his harmonica behind me. There’ll be
Hedge of Thorns: Harmonica By mid-afternoon, I’ve reached the meadow where I’d found the mule. Sitting on a sun-warmed rock, I eat half of my remaining biscuits and treat myself to a long drink. Before the fire, this two-track was a somewhat direct route toward my property. Even though I’d come to it by a
Hedge of Thorns: Bartering I skirt potholes as I lead the mule past a store front. We’re half way to the first intersection, when a beer-bellied man jogs out of a convenience store, and blocks my way. “What you doing with that mule?” “Bringing her back from a meadow on the other side of the
Hedge of Thorns: Charcoal Wind snapping the canvas against the poles wakes me. There’s a crick in my neck, and I taste charcoal. Charcoal. I laugh until I ache so much I can’t sit up. The inner walls of the blind, and the tents at home, are blank, and I’m camped in an endless supply
Hedge of Thorns: Wanderings The bear shambles out of the water and along the far bank as I haul my find into the shadows. There, a few moments of sawing remove branches too small to bother with. Next, I score through outer and inner bark, peeling both away from the heartwood. The medicinal strips of
Hedge of Thorns: Setting Out It’s time to lash the blind to my pack. When I’m certain it’s secure, I crouch, and shrug the pack straps over my shoulders. Stepping out the door, I survey the scorched ridge. Smoke drifts upward, but I can’t pick out open flame. My leather shirt is still draped over
Hedge of Thorns: Breakfast “God, I really don’t want to meet a bear or cougar with burns.” Other than filling my canteens, there isn’t much more preparation to make. I climb down the ladder, and take the oil lamp into my room, where the bucket waits. Soaking a wadded rag, I remove as much blood
Hedge of Thorns: Objectives My most urgent task, find white willows that someone else isn’t already harvesting for bark. Hiking due east, a likely location could be along Iron Creek. Likely, and dangerous. Bobby had been heading that way to hunt, when he never returned. The residents of Glenoma and Randle believe the area harbors
Hedge of Thorns: Expedition Prep He takes over that task, as I get out my knife to smooth the edges of my joinery. With the pieces slotted together, I assemble the drill for the next finicky step. “Here goes…” I hold my breath and crank the handle around, boring a hole through the assembly. I