,,*APT] ,,XII

,I H NO IDEA H[ L;G ,LOP-,E> & ,I W&]$ 9
  !
L& NOR? (! RIV]4 ,WE 7 L M>9]S WRECK$
ON A DES]T ISLE1 S F> Z 3C]N$ !
  LIKELIHOOD (
\R GETT+ HOME AG4 ,WE TURN$ \R BACKS ^U
  !
RIV]1 &= WEEKS & MON?S ADV5TUR$ 9 T
WILD];S ": "! 7 NO ,FOLK4 ,X IS V
DI6ICULT = ME 6RECON/RUCT \R J\RNEY+1 &
IMPOSSI# 6D X F "D 6"D4 ,MO/ ( X IS
HAZY & 9DIST9CT1 ?\< "H & "! ,I H VIVID
RECOLLEC;NS ( ?+S T HAPP5$4

,ESPECI,Y D ,I REMEMB] ! HUNG] WE 5DUR$
  ON !
M.TA9S 2T ,L;G ,LAKE & ,F> ,LAKE1 &!
  CALF
WE CAU<T SLEEP+ 9 ! ?ICKET4 ,AL1 "! >E !
,TREE ,P :O DWELT 9 ! =E/ 2T ,L;G ,LAKE
&! M.TA9S4 ,X 0 !Y :O *AS$ U 96!
M.TA9S & -PELL$ U 6TRAVEL ON 6,F> ,LAKE4
,F/1 AF WE LEFT ! RIV]1 WE "W$ T[>D !
WE/ TILL WE CAME 6A SMALL /R1M T FL[$ "?
M>%L&S4 ,"H WE TURN$ AWAY T[>D ! NOR?1
SKIRT+ ! M>%ES & AF S"EAL "DS >RIV+ AT
:AT ,I H CALL$ ,L;G ,LAKE4 ,WE SP5T "S
  "T
>.D XS UPP] 5D1 ": WE F.D FOOD 9 PL5TY2
& !N1 "O "D1 9 ! =E/1 WE RAN F\L (!
,TREE ,P4 ,^! CR1TURES 7 F]OCI\S APES1
NO?+ M4 ,& YET !Y 7 N S DI6]5T F
U4 ,!Y 7 M HAIRY1 X IS TRUE2 _! LEGS 7
A TRIFLE M TWI/$ & GN>LY1 _! EYES A BIT
SMALL]1 _! NECKS A BIT ?ICK] & %ORT]1 &
_! NO/RILS SLI<TLY M L ORIFICES 9 A
  SUNK5
SURFACE2 B !Y _H NO HAIR ON _! FACES &
  ON !
PALMS ( _! H&S &! SOLES ( _! FEET1 &
!Y MADE S.DS SIMIL> 6\RS ) "S:AT SIMIL>
M1N+S4 ,AF ALL1 ! ,TREE ,P &! ,FOLK 7
N S UNLIKE4




,I F.D HM F/1 A LL )]$1 DRI$-UP OLD
FELL[1 WR9KL$-FAC$ & BLE>Y-EY$ & TOTT]Y4
  ,HE
0 LEGITIMATE PREY4 ,9 \R _W "! 0 NO
SYMPA?Y 2T ! K9DS1 & HE 0 N \R K9D4
,HE 0 A ,TREE-,MAN1 & HE 0 V OLD4 ,HE 0
  SITT+
AT ! FOOT (A TREE--EVID5TLY 8 TREE1 = WE
  CD
SEE ! TATT]$ NE/ 9 ! BRAN*ES1 9 : HE
SLEPT AT NI<T4














,I PO9T$ HM \ 6,LOP-,E>1 & WE MADE A RU%
  =
HM4 ,HE />T$ 6CLIMB1 B 0 TOO SL[4 ,I
  CAU<T
HM 0! LEG & DRA7$ HM BACK4 ,!N WE _H
  FUN4
,WE P9*$ HM1 PULL$ 8 HAIR1 TW1K$ 8 E>S1
  &
POK$ TWIGS 96HM1 & ALL ! :ILE WE LAU<$ )
/R1M+ EYES4 ,8 FUTILE ANG] 0 MO/ ABSURD4
  ,HE
0 A -ICAL SI<T1 /RIV+ 6FAN 96FLAME !
COLD A%ES ( 8 Y\?1 6RESURRECT 8 /R5G?
  D1D
& G"O "? ! OOZ+ (! YE>S--MAK+ WO;L
FACES 9 PLACE (! F]OCI\S "OS HE 9T5D$1
GR9D+ 8 WORN TEE? TGR1 B1T+ 8 M1GRE
*E/ ) FEE# FI/S4







,AL1 HE _H A C\<1 & HE GASP$ & HACK$ &
SPLUTT]$ PRODIGI\SLY4 ,E "T HE TRI$
  6CLIMB
! TREE WE PULL$ HM BACK1 UNTIL AT LA/ HE
SURR5D]$ 6HIS W1K;S & DID NO M ?AN SIT
& WEEP4 ,& ,LOP-,E> & ,I SAT ) HM1 \R
  >MS
>.D EA* O!R1 & LAU<$ AT 8 WRET*$;S4

,F WEEP+ HE W5T 6:9+1 & F :9+ TO
WAIL+1 UNTIL AT LA/ HE A*IEV$ A SCR1M4
  ,?
AL>M$ U1 B ! M WE TRI$ 6MAKE HM C1SE1
! L\D] HE SCR1M$4 ,& !N1 F N F> AWAY 9
! =E/1 CAME A 8,GOEK6 ,GOEK60 6\R E>S4
  ,6?
"! 7 ANSW]+ CRIES1 S"EAL ( !M1 & F
V F> (F WE CD HE> A BIG1 BASS 8,GOEK6
  ,GOEK6
,GOEK60 ,AL1 ! 8,:OO-:OO 60 CALL 0 RIS+
  9 !
=E/ ALL >.D U4



,!N CAME ! *ASE4 ,X SEEM$ X N"E WD 5D4
,!Y RAC$ U "? ! TREES1 ! :OLE TRIBE (
!M1 & NE>LY CAU<T U4 ,WE 7 =C$ 6TAKE TO
! GR.D1 & "H WE _H ! ADVANTAGE1 = !Y
7 TRULY ! ,TREE ,P1 & :ILE !Y \-CLIMB$
U WE \-FOOT$ !M ON ! GR.D4 ,WE BROKE
  AWAY
T[>D ! NOR?1 ! TRIBE H[L+ ON \R TRACK4
,ACR ! OP5 SPACES WE GA9$1 & 9 ! BRU% !Y
CAU<T UP ) U1 & M ?AN ONCE X 0 NIP &
TUCK4 ,& Z ! *ASE 3T9U$1 WE R1LIZ$ T WE
7 N _! K9D1 EI1 & T ! BONDS 2T
U 7 ANY?+ B SYMPA!TIC4

,!Y RAN U = H\RS4 ,! =E/ SEEM$ 9T]M9A#4
,WE KEPT 6! GLADES Z M* Z POSSI#1 B !Y
ALW 5D$ 9 M ?ICK =E/4 ,"S"TS WE
?"\ WE _H ESCAP$1 & SAT D[N 6RE/2 B
ALW1 2F WE CD RECOV] \R BR1?1 WE WD
HE> ! HATE;L 8,:OO-:OO60 CRIES &! T]RI#
8,GOEK6 ,GOEK6 ,GOEK60 ,? LATT] "S"TS
  T]M9AT$ 9
A SAVAGE 8,HA HA HA HA HAAAAA6660


,& 9 ? FA%ION 7 WE HUNT$ "? ! =E/
0! EXASP]AT$ ,TREE ,P4 ,AT LA/1 BY
MID-AFN1 ! SLOPES 2GAN RIS+ HI<] &
HI<] &! TREES 7 2COM+ SMALL]4 ,!N WE
CAME \ ON ! GRASSY FLANKS (! M.TA9S4 ,"H
0 ": WE CD MAKE "T1 & "H ! ,TREE ,P
GAVE UP & RETURN$ 6_! =E/4

,! M.TA9S 7 BL1K & 9HOSPITA#1 & ?REE
"TS T AFN WE TRI$ 6REGA9 ! WOODS4 ,B
! ,TREE ,P 7 LY+ 9 WAIT1 & !Y DROVE U
BACK4 ,LOP-,E> & ,I SLEPT T NI<T 9 A
  DW>F TREE1
NO L>G] ?AN A BU%4 ,"H 0 NO SECUR;Y1 &
  WE
WD H BE5 EASY PREY = ANY HUNT+ ANIMAL T
*.ED AL;G4








,9 ! MORN+1 :AT ( \R NEW-GA9$ RESPECT =!
,TREE ,P1 WE FAC$ 96! M.TA9S4 ,T WE _H
NO DEF9ITE PLAN1 OR EV5 IDEA1 ,I AM
  3FID5T4 ,WE
7 M]ELY DRIV5 ON 0! DANG] WE _H ESCAP$4
  ,(
\R W&]+S "? ! M.TA9S ,I H ONLY MI/Y
MEMORIES4 ,WE 7 9 T BL1K REGION _M "DS1
  &
WE SU6]$ M*1 ESPECI,Y F FE>1 X 0 ALL S
NEW & /RANGE4 ,AL1 WE SU6]$ F ! COLD1 &
LAT] F HUNG]4

,X--WAS A DESOLATE L& ( ROCKS & FOAM+
  /R1MS
& CLATT]+ CAT>ACTS4 ,WE CLIMB$ & DESC5D$
MI<TY CANYONS & GORGES2 & "E1 F E VIEW
PO9T1 "! SPR1D \ 2F U1 9 ALL DIREC;NS1
RANGE ^U RANGE1 ! UNC1S+ M.TA9S4 ,WE
  SLEPT AT
NI<T 9 HOLES & CREVICES1 & ON "O COLD
  NI<T WE
P]*$ ON TOP A SL5D] P9NACLE ( ROCK T 0
ALM L A TREE4

,& !N1 AT LA/1 "O HOT MID"D1 DIZZY )
  HUNG]1
WE GA9$ ! DIVIDE4 ,F ? HI< BACKB"O (
E>?1 6! NOR?1 ACR ! DIM9I%+1
D[N-FALL+ RANGES1 WE CAU<T A GLIMPSE (A
  F> LAKE4
,! SUN %"O ^U X1 & AB X 7 OP51 LEVEL
GRASS-L&S1 :ILE 6! EA/W>D WE SAW ! D>K
  L9E
(A WIDE-/RET*+ =E/4

,WE 7 TWO "DS 9 GA9+ ! LAKE1 & WE 7 W1K
) HUNG]2 B ON XS %ORE1 SLEEP+ SNUGLY 9 A
?ICKET1 WE F.D A "P-GR[N CALF4 ,X GAVE U
  M*
TR\#1 = WE KNEW NO O!R WAY 6KILL ?AN )
  \R
H&S4 ,:5 WE _H GORG$ \R FILL1 WE C>RI$ !
REMA9D] (! M1T 6! EA/W>D =E/ & HID X
9 A TREE4 ,WE N"E RETURN$ 6T TREE1 =!
%ORE (! /R1M T DRA9$ ,F> ,LAKE 0 PACK$
?ICK ) SALMON T _H -E UP F ! SEA TO
SPAWN4


,WE/W>D F ! LAKE /RET*$ ! GRASS-L&S1 &
"H 7 MULTITUDES ( BISON & WILD CATTLE4
  ,AL
7 "! _M PACKS ( WILD DOGS1 & Z "! 7
NO TREES X 0 N A SAFE PLACE = U4 ,WE
  FOLL[$
NOR? AL;G ! /R1M = "DS4 ,!N1 &= :AT
R1SON ,I D N "K1 WE ABRUPTLY LEFT ! /R1M
  &
SWUNG 6! EA/1 & !N 6! S\?EA/1 "? A
GRT =E/4 ,I % N BORE Y ) \R J\RNEY4
,I B 9DICATE X 6%[ H[ WE F9,Y >RIV$ AT !
,FIRE ,P'S C.TRY4












,WE CAME \ ^U ! RIV]1 B WE DID N "K X =
\R RIV]4 ,WE _H BE5 LO/ S L;G T WE _H -E
  TO
A3EPT ! 3DI;N ( 2+ LO/ Z HABITUAL4 ,Z ,I
LOOK BACK ,I SEE CLE>LY H[ \R LIVES &
  DE/9IES >E
%AP$ 0! M]E/ *.E4 ,WE DID N "K X 0
\R RIV]--"! 0 NO WAY ( TELL+2 & IF WE _H
N"E CROSS$ X WE WD MO/ PROBABLY H N"E
RETURN$ 6! HORDE2 & ,I1 ! MOD]N1 ! ?\S&
C5TURIES YET 6BE BORN1 WD N"E H BE5 BORN
  4













,& YET ,LOP-,E> & ,I WANT$ GRTLY
  6RETURN4 ,WE _H
EXP]I;ED HOMESICK;S ON \R J\RNEY1 !
  YE>N+
= \R [N K9D & L&2 & (T5 _H ,I _H
RECOLLEC;NS (! ,SWIFT ,"O1 ! "Y FEMALE
  :O
MADE S(T S.DS1 :OM X 0 GD 6BE )1 & :O
LIV$ 0H]F NOBODY KNEW ":4 ,MY
  RECOLLEC;NS
( H] 7 A3OMPANI$ 0S5S,NS ( HUNG]1 &
^! ,I FELT :5 ,I 0 N HUNGRY & :5 ,I _H J
EAT54












,B 6-E BACK 6! RIV]4 ,FOOD 0 PL5TI;L1
PR9CIP,Y B]RIES & SU3UL5T ROOTS1 & ON !
RIV] BANK WE PLAY$ & L+]$ = "DS4 ,& !N
! IDEA CAME 6,LOP-,E>4 ,X 0 A VISI#
  PROCESS1
! -+ (! IDEA4 ,I SAW X4 ,! EXPRES.N 9
8 EYES 2CAME PLA9TIVE & QU]UL\S1 & HE 0
GRTLY P]TURB$4 ,!N 8 EYES W5T MU4Y1 Z IF
  HE
_H LO/ 8 GRIP ON ! 9*OATE ?"\4 ,? 0
FOLL[$ 0! PLA9TIVE1 QU]UL\S EXPRES.N Z !
IDEA P]SI/$ & HE CLUT*$ X ANEW4 ,HE
  LOOK$ AT
ME1 & AT ! RIV] &! F> %ORE4 ,HE TRI$ TO
SP1K1 B _H NO S.DS ) : 6EXPRESS !
IDEA4 ,! RESULT 0 A GI2]I% T MADE ME
  LAU<4
,? ANG]$ HM1 & HE GRA2$ ME SU45LY & ?REW

ME ON MY BACK4 ,( C\RSE WE F"\1 & 9 ! 5D
  ,I
*AS$ HM UP A TREE1 ": HE SECUR$ A L;G
  BRAN*
& POK$ ME E "T ,I TRI$ 6GET AT HM4

,&! IDEA _H G"O GLIMM]+4 ,I DID N "K1 &
HE _H =GOTT54 ,B ! NEXT MORN+ X AWOKE 9
  HM
AG4 ,P]H X 0 ! HOM+ 9/9CT 9 HM
ASS]T+ XF T MADE ! IDEA P]SI/4 ,AT ANY
RATE X 0 "!1 & CLE>] ?AN 2F4 ,HE L$ ME
D[N 6! WAT]1 ": A LOG _H GR.D$ 9 AN $DY4
,I ?"\ HE 0 M9D$ 6PLAY1 Z WE _H PLAY$ 9
! M\? (! SL\<4 ,NOR DID ,I *ANGE MY M9D
  Z ,I
WAT*$ HM T[ UP A SECOND LOG F F>!R D[N !
%ORE4

,X 0 N UNTIL WE 7 ON ! LOGS1 SIDE 0SIDE
  &
HOLD+ !M TGR1 & _H PA4L$ \ 96!
CURR5T1 T ,I LE>N$ 8 9T5;N4 ,HE PAUS$ TO
PO9T AT ! F> %ORE1 & RESUM$ 8 PA4L+1 AT
! SAME "T UTT]+ L\D & 5C\RAG+ CRIES4 ,I
"U/OOD1 & WE PA4L$ 5]GETIC,Y4 ,! SWIFT
CURR5T CAU<T U1 FLUNG U T[>D ! S\? %ORE1
  B
2F WE CD MAKE A L&+ FLUNG U BACK T[>D !
NOR? %ORE4

,"H >OSE 4S5.N4 ,SEE+ ! NOR? %ORE S NE>1
,I 2GAN 6PA4LE = X4 ,LOP-,E> TRI$ 6PA4LE
  =
! S\? %ORE4 ,! LOGS SWUNG >.D 9 CIRCLES1
  &
WE GOT NO":1 & ALL ! "T ! =E/ 0
FLA%+ PA/ Z WE DRIFT$ D[N ! /R1M4 ,WE CD
N FI<T4 ,WE KNEW BETT] ?AN 6LET G !
  GRIPS (
H&S & FEET T HELD ! LOGS TGR4 ,B WE
*ATT]$ & ABUS$ EA* O!R ) \R T;GUES UNTIL
! CURR5T FLUNG U T[>D ! S\? BANK AG4 ,T
0 N[ ! NE>E/ GOAL1 & TGR & AMICABLY WE
PA4L$ = X4 ,WE L&$ 9 AN $DY1 & CLIMB$
DIRECTLY 96! TREES 6RECONNOITRE4