,,*apt} ,,tw5ty-"o
     ,a ,,n>r{ ,,escape
     ,,jan4 #aidj

,he s5t f abv1 he took me1 he drew me | ( _m wat}s4 ,he deliv}$ me f my /r;g 5emy1 & f !m : hat$ me3 = !y 7 too /r;g = me4
--,psalm #ah3af-ag

  ,rudi /opp$ & look$ ab hm4 ,a h1vy sn{ 0 2g9n+ 6fall1 &! morn+ seem$ especi,y gray4 ,! cold (! previ|s ni<t _h =c$ hm & ,9grid 6seek ! %elt} (a b>n4 ,n{ !y 7 h1d+ back 6! =e/4 ,rudi gl.ed d{n at ,9grid1 :o 0 %iv}+ alm uncontrollably4 ,%d he risk /opp+ 6build a fire8 ,or %d he wait until !y r1*$ a saf} place8 ,z he /ood "! ?9k+1 he li/5$ 6! trees cr1k & groan "u ! wei<t (! ice t _h =m$ on _! limbs4 ,x 0 def9itely cold4 ,he /opp$4
  ,x 0 di6icult gett+ a fire />t$ "u s* 3di;ns1 b ov} ! pa/ weeks ,rudi _h 2come a ma/} at build+ fires4 ,2f l;g he manag$ 6cr1te a t9y flame : he f$ & nurtur$ until ! small cle>+ 0 ablaze ) li<t & w>m?4
  ,he sat ,9grid on 8 lap & drew hmf z close 6! fire z he d>$4 ,9grid soon /opp$ h} %iv}+ & grew dr{sy4 ,re/+ h} h1d ag/ 8 %|ld}1 %e fell asleep4
  ,we %d get mov+ ag1 ,rudi r1son$ 6hmf4 ,b ,9grid's 3t5t;t &! w>m t+l+ s5s,n 9 8 h&s & feet 4c|rag$ hm f obey+ 8 r1son1 & he yield$ 6his desire 6/ay 0! fire4
  ,)9 ! h|r1 h{"e1 he regrett$ 8 deci.n1 = 9 ! 4t.e he he>d dogs b>k+4 ,?|< ! s.d 0 / v fa9t1 x 0 cle> 5 6r|se 8 fe>s & =ce hm 96imm ac;n4
  8,-e on1 ,9grid10 he sd1 /&+ h} on h} feet4 8,help me get "s sn{ on ? fire40 ,%e 0 / 9 a sleepy /upor1 b %e obey$ z be/ %e cd4 ,8 m9d rac$ z he ?rew l1ves & bran*es ab ! cle>+ !y _h made4 ,y m/ cov} yr tracks c>e;lly1 he ?"|4 ,y've alr made "o mistake2 y c't af=d ano!r4 ,i "k ,i c |twit ! soldi}s4 ,b ! dogs--h{ c ,i fool ! dogs8
  8,t's 5|<10 he sd1 turn+ 6,9grid4 ,he !n knelt d{n s t he cd look directly at h}4 8,y've got 6li/5 c>e;lly10 he told h}4 8,we may 2 9 a ll tr|#1 b if y d exactly z ,i say1 ?+s'll 2 all "r4 ,d y "u/&80
  ,%e no4$4
  8,gd4 ,n{ climb up on my back & hang on10 he 9/ruct$ h}4
  ,he mov$ qkly1 backtrack+ p}iodic,y 9 an ef=t 6make 8 trail 3fus+4 ,b he soon r1liz$ t backtrack+ 0 co/+ hm valua# "t4 ,! ,g}mans & _! dogs 7 ga9+ on !m4 ,giv+ up ! idea ( 4guis+ 8 trail1 he h1d$ /rai<t =! ne>e/ riv}4 ,he knew x 0 froz51 b he _h an idea4 ,once he _h r1*$ xs bank1 he travel$ on until ! riv} n>r{$ 6a wid? ( ab ei<t feet4 ,! ice 0 fairly new1 =m$ dur+ ! previ|s "d & ni<t's h>d freeze & n yet cov}$ 0sn{4
  8,hang on z ti<t z y c10 he sd 6,9grid z soon z he _h /opp$4 8,i've got 6use my h&s1 b ,i don't want 6let y get d{n40
  ,%e clung 6hm s ti<tly t %e ne>ly *ok$ hm1 b he did n -pla94 ,he knew t x 0 bett} 6be> ! /ra9 ( ,9grid's wei<t ?an 6let h} d{n & risk hav+ ! dogs pick up h} sc5t4 ,! fact t !y cd pick up 8 0 bad 5|<4
  ,scann+ ! >ea1 he f.d two gd-siz$ bran*es1 dra7$ !m ov} 6! riv}'s $ge1 & ev5tu,y manag$ 6=m a bridge acr ! riv}4 ,he /ood a few seconds 6cat* 8 br1?4 8,i'm go+ 6take y ov} 6! o!r side10 he !n sd4 8,b y're go+ 6h 6be z / z possi#4 ,if ,i lose my bal.e1 we'll bo? 5d up fall+ "? ! ice40 ,he %ift$ h} wei<t 6! mo/ -=ta# posi;n & !n /epp$ | onto ! logs4 ,8 legs trem#d4 ,z he /ood try+ 6/1dy hmf1 he he>d ! dogs ag4 ,_! s.d 3v9c$ hm t !y _h cau<t ! sc5t & 7 n{ on 8 trail4
  ,/>t+ |1 he slid 8 "r foot =w>d too f> & 2gan 6topple4 ,qkly he drew 8 left foot up p>allel 6his "r & wait$ until he 0 ag /1dy4 ,!n he mov$ 8 "r foot =w>d1 ? "t only sli<tly4 ,?us1 9* 09*1 he made 8 way acr ! logs4
  8,all "r1 ,9grid10 he sd1 jump+ onto ! opposite side4 8,hang on ti<t ag2 ,i've got 6get up t tree40
  ,x took all ! /r5g? he _h 6hoi/ !m bo? up 96! tree4 ,b spurr$ on 0fe>1 he manag$ 63t9ue climb+4
  8,n{1 y sit up "h1 & ,i'll 2 back10 he sd z he settl$ h} on a hi< bran*4 ,"! 0 a look ( t}ror 9 h} eyes z he 2gan 8 desc5t4 8,don't look d{n111 he sd4 8,j sit /4 ,i'll 2 back up 9 a m9ute40
  ,he 0 slid+ d{n f limb 6limb s fa/ t 8 h&s & face 7 gett+ t}ribly scrat*$ f ! b>k4 ,b he _h no "t 6worry ab s* ?+s4 ,z soon z he r1*$ ! gr.d1 he ran back 6! riv}bank & 2gan recross+ ! bridge4 ,? "t he crawl$ on 8 h&s & knees1 5abl+ hm 6make x 9 less ?an half ! "t4
  ,once on ! o!r side1 he took up a h1vy /ick4 ,he 9t5d$ 6use x 6br1k "? ! ice & make 8 pursu}s ?9k t he _h fall5 "?4
  ,lift+ ! h1vy /ick ov} 8 h1d1 he br"| x d{n ) all 8 mi<t onto ! ice4 ,x crack$4 ,ag he rais$ x & /ruck a bl{4 ,he _h brok5 "?4 ,b z he look$ at 8 "w1 he knew t x 0 n gd 5|<4 ,! cracks t ext5d$ f ! hole 7 n l;g 5 or num}|s 5|<4 ,9 ord} 63v9ce !m1 he wd h 6actu,y use 8 wei<t 6br1k "?4
  ,0? "t1 ,rudi cd he> t ! dogs 7 9 a fr5zy4 ,!y knew !y 7 close4 ,s did he4 ,qkly1 he sat d{n & remov$ 8 boots & socks4 ,he !n took (f 8 %irt & coat4 ,ty+ "ey?+ up 9 8 coat1 he toss$ ! bundle ov} 6! o!r side (! bank4 ,he !n /epp$ | onto ! ice4 ,x held firm4 ,he squatt$ d{n1 !n jump$ up & came back d{n )a cra%4 ,! icy wat} t cov}$ hm 0 s cold t he 0 mo;t>ily p>alyz$4 ,he felt z if he 7 dr{n+4 ,!n 8 feet f.d ! bottom (! riv}1 & he /ood4 ,8 h1d 0 abv ! wat}4 ,move6 ,get |1 y idiot6 he yell$ at hmf4 ,b ! cold r1*$ | & seem$ 6hold ea* jo9t & muscle 9 a vise-l grip4 ,6move 0 agony4 ,help me1 ,"l1 he pray$1 & he soon f.d 5 /r5g? 6grab hold ( "o (! logs & pull hmf | (! wat} & onto 8 make%ift bridge4
  ,he lay bal.ed acr ! logs1 pant+ until he 2gan 6he> n only dogs b al voices4 ,he /ru7l$ 6his h&s & knees & recross$ ! riv}4
  ,z soon z he r1*$ ! bank1 he slid on 8 boots1 put on 8 coat1 & hurri$ly /u6$ ! re/ ( 8 clo?+ d{n 9side 8 coat4 ,!n /&+ ne> ! hole1 he lift$ ! f/ log 0xs 5d4 ,c>e;lly walk+ atop ! second log1 he half dra7$1 half c>ri$ ! f/ "o 96! bru%4 ,f ! riv}bank he haul$ up ! second log & dra7$ x away4 ,a fall5 bran*1 cov}$ ) l1ves & sn{1 lay acr a ?icket4 ,he pull$ x | & us$ x 6try & cov} ! tracks made 0! logs & 8 feet on ! sn{y riv}bank4 ,summon+ 8 la/ ve/ige ( /r5g?1 he made x up ! tree4 ,sn{ plopp$ (f xs bran*es & fell 2l1 cov}+ up m (! tracks4 ,a tra9$ woodsman l ,osc> wd h r1d ! clumps ( fall5 sn{ z a sure sign t "s"o 0 up ! tree1 b ,rudi guess$ t ! soldi}s 7 n t exp}i;ed4
  8,"h6 ,ov} "h10 ,rudi he>d "o (! soldi}s %|t4 8,looks l :o"e x 0 fell "?40
  ,! dogs quiet$ once !y r1*$ ! riv}1 =! sc5t _h /opp$ at ! hole 9 ! ice4
  8,h{ deep's ! riv}80 ,rudi he>d ! second soldi} ask4
  8,i don't "k10 ! f/ "o sd4 8,b ,i'm sure x's deep 5 6dr{n a man40
  8,maybe10 sd ! o!r4 ,! unc}ta9ty 9 ! second soldi}'s voice made ,rudi anxi|s1 = alr 8 tr|s}s 7 /iff & froz51 & 8 h&s & feet _h alm lo/ all s5se ,( feel+4 ,he _h 6get 6a fire soon1 or he wd freeze 6d1?4
  8,ev5 if x wasn't all t deep10 ! f/ soldi} r1son$1 8if any"o fell "?1 he'd dr{n4 ,! cold wd freeze hm /iff 2f he cd "e "w up 5 /r5g? 6pull hmf |40
  ,rudi he>d ru/l+1 & mo;ts lat} ! second soldi} sd1 8,"h1 %ove ? /ick d{n "!1 & see h{ deep x is40
  ,rudi he>d a spla%4 8,at l1/ five feet10 ! f/ answ}$4 8,once "s"o fell in1 ,i assure y he wdn't 2 a# 6get |40 ,!n af a ,prol;g$ sil;e1 he a4$1 8,2ss1 ev5 if he did1 he'd freeze 6d1? | "h once he'd gott5 wet4 ,-e on4 ,o!rwise1 we'll 2 froz5 too4
  8,suppose y're "r10 ! second soldi} f9,y agre$4 8,i am gett+ hungry4 ,let's get go+40
  ,! f/ man seem$ 5?usia/ic ab t4 8,gd idea6 ,"! w 2 pl5ty ( "t af lun* 6*ase resi/.e fi<t}s & runaway ,jews40
  ,?ank y1 ,"l1 ,rudi murmur$ z he li/5$ 6! soldi}s' lau<t} fade away4
  ,!n z he & ,9grid climb$ d{n f _! hid+ place1 he pray$1 ,n{ j keep !m away l;g 5 = me 6get a fire go+ t w dry my tr|s}s & get ! blood mov+ 9 my ve9s ag4
  ,0? "t1 ,rudi wond}$ if he wd ev5 2 a# 6build a fire4 ,z he 2gan ga!r+ k9dl+1 he r1liz$ t "! 0 no feel+ left 9 8 h&s4 ,?|< he cd see hmf pick up ! twigs1 he cd n feel 8 h&s clut*+ !m4
  8,"h1 ,9grid10 he sd1 8hold on 6~! twigs = me a c|ple ( seconds40
  ,he vigor|sly b1t 8 h&s ag/ 8 ?i<s 9 an ef=t 6get 8 circul,n go+ 2ag4 ,x "w$1 & soon he 2gan 6feel a prickl+ s5s,n 9 8 f+}s4 ,9grid seem$ a bit f"r5$ 0his /range 2havior4
  8,x's all "r1 ,9grid10 he assur$ h}4 8,i'm j s cold ,i c h>dly hold on 6any?+4 ,s we've got 6"w fa/40
  ,he 0 f9,y a# 6-plete ! f.d,n =! fire4 ,!n came ! mo/ di6icult "p--li<t+ ! mat*4 ,he _h n"e felt s clumsy4 ,af ag slapp+ 8 h&s ag/ 8 ?i<s =a few mo;ts1 he drew a mat* | ( 8 pocket & tri$ 6/rike x4 ,x took s"eal "ts 2f he 0 su3ess;l1 b at la/ ! fire blaz$4
  ,he built ! fire close 6! trunk ( an enorm|s tree t _h fall54 ,x reflect$ ! h1t a ll bit1 mak+ a nice w>m space 2t xf &! flames4 ,he sat on top (! trunk1 h&s /ret*$ |1 wet tr|s}s z close 6! flames z he cd get )|t s+e+ !m4 ,he gl.ed at ,9grid4 8,we're go+ 6h 6/ay "h ab an h|r until ,i'm gd & ?aw$ |40
  ,reluctantly1 %e came & sat d{n 2s hm4 8,x'll 2 all "r4 ,!y've g"o10 he sd4 8,& ,god w keep !m away10 he a4$ emphatic,y4
  ,8 ~ws seem$ 6satisfy h} & at ! same "t 69cr1se 8 {n fai? 9 ,god's protec;n4 ,b ev5 ?|< 8 fai? 0 /r;g1 8 _s 0 h1vy4 ,rudi 0 tir$--tir$ ( runn+1 tir$ (! cold1 tir$ ( bl1k w9t} =e/s4