,,*APT] ,,IV -- ,,! ,,TRAIL ,,( ,,!
    ,,GODS
  ,9 ! FALL (! YE>1 :5 ! "DS 7 %ORT5+ &!
BITE (! FRO/ 0 -+ 96! AIR1 ,:ITE ,FANG
GOT 8 *.E = LIB]TY4 ,= S"EAL "DS "! _H
BE5 A GRT HU2UB 9 ! VILLAGE4 ,! SUMM]
CAMP 0 2+ 4MANTL$1 &! TRIBE1 BAG &
BA7AGE1 0 PREP>+ 6G (F 6! FALL HUNT+4
,:ITE ,FANG WAT*$ X ALL ) EAG] EYES1 &
:5 ! TEPEES 2GAN 6-E D[N &! CANOES 7
LOAD+ AT ! BANK1 HE "U/OOD4 ,ALR !
CANOES 7 DE"P+1 & "S _H 4APPE>$ D[N !
RIV]4
  ,Q DELIB]ATELY HE DET]M9$ 6/AY 2H4 ,HE
WAIT$ 8 OPPORTUN;Y 6SL9K \ ( CAMP 6!
WOODS4 ,"H1 9 ! RUNN+ /R1M ": ICE 0
2G9N+ 6=M1 HE HID 8 TRAIL4 ,!N HE CRAWL$
96! HE>T (A D5SE ?ICKET & WAIT$4 ,! "T
PASS$ BY1 & HE SLEPT 9T]MITT5TLY = H\RS4
,!N HE 0 >\S$ 0,GREY ,B1V]'S VOICE CALL+
HM 0"N4 ,"! 7 O!R VOICES4 ,:ITE ,FANG CD
HE> ,GREY ,B1V]'S SQUAW TAK+ "P 9 !
SE>*1 & ,MIT-SAH1 :O 0 ,GREY ,B1V]'S
SON4
  ,:ITE ,FANG TREM#D ) FE>1 & ?\< !
IMPULSE CAME 6CRAWL \ ( 8 HID+-PLACE1 HE
RESI/$ X4 ,AF A "T ! VOICES DI$ AWAY1 &
"S "T AF T HE CREPT \ 65JOY ! SU3ESS ( 8
"UTAK+4 ,D>K;S 0 -+ ON1 &=A :ILE HE
PLAY$ AB AM;G ! TREES1 PL1SUR+ 9 8
FREEDOM4 ,!N1 & Q SU45LY1 HE 2CAME AW>E
( L"OLI;S4 ,HE SAT D[N 63SID]1 LI/5+ 6!
SIL;E (! =E/ & P]TURB$ 0X4 ,T NO?+ MOV$
NOR S.D$1 SEEM$ OM9\S4 ,HE FELT ! LURK+
( DANG]1 UNSE5 & UNGUESS$4 ,HE 0
SUSPICI\S (! LOOM+ BULKS (! TREES &(!
D>K %AD[S T MI<T 3C1L ALL MANN] ( P]IL\S
?+S4
  ,!N X 0 COLD4 ,"H 0 NO W>M SIDE (A
TEPEE AG/ : 6SNU7LE4 ,! FRO/ 0 9 8 FEET1
& HE KEPT LIFT+ F/ "O =E-FOOT & !N !
O!R4 ,HE CURV$ 8 BU%Y TAIL >.D 6COV] !M1
& AT ! SAME "T HE SAW A VI.N4 ,"! 0 NO?+
/RANGE AB X4 ,^U 8 9W>D SI<T 0 IMPRESS$
A SU3ES.N ( MEMORY-PICTURES4 ,HE SAW !
CAMP AG1 ! TEPEES1 &! BLAZE (! FIRES4
,HE HE>D ! %RILL VOICES (! WOM51 ! GRUFF
BASSES (! M51 &! SN>L+ (! DOGS4 ,HE 0
HUNGRY1 & HE REMEMB]$ PIECES ( M1T & FI%
T _H BE5 ?R[N HM4 ,"H 0 NO M1T1 NO?+ B A
?R1T5+ & 9$I# SIL;E4
  ,8 BONDAGE _H S(T5$ HM4
,IRRESPONSIBIL;Y _H W1K5$ HM4 ,HE _H
=GOTT5 H[ 6%IFT = HMF4 ,! NI<T YAWN$ AB
HM4 ,8 S5SES1 A3U/OM$ 6! HUM & BU/LE (!
CAMP1 US$ 6! 3T9U\S IMPACT ( SI<TS &
S.DS1 7 N[ LEFT IDLE4 ,"! 0 NO?+ 6D1
NO?+ 6SEE NOR HE>4 ,!Y /RA9$ 6CAT* "S
9T]RUP;N (! SIL;E & IMMOBIL;Y ( NATURE4
,!Y 7 APPALL$ 09AC;N & 0! FEEL ( "S?+
T]RI# IMP5D+4
  ,HE GAVE A GRT />T ( F"R4 ,A COLOSSAL
& =M.S "S?+ 0 RU%+ ACR ! FIELD ( 8 VI.N4
,X 0 A TREE-%AD[ FLUNG 0! MOON1 F ^:
FACE ! CL\DS _H BE5 BRU%$ AWAY4
,REASSUR$1 HE :IMP]$ S(TLY2 !N HE
SUPPRESS$ ! :IMP] = FE> T X MI<T ATTRACT
! ATT5;N (! LURK+ DANG]S4
  ,A TREE1 3TRACT+ 9 ! COOL (! NI<T1
MADE A L\D NOISE4 ,X 0 DIRECTLY ABV HM4
,HE YELP$ 9 8 F"R4 ,A PANIC SEIZ$ HM1 &
HE RAN MADLY T[>D ! VILLAGE4 ,HE KNEW AN
OV]P[]+ DESIRE =! PROTEC;N & -PANION%IP
( MAN4 ,9 8 NO/RILS 0 ! SMELL (! CAMP-
SMOKE4 ,9 8 E>S ! CAMP-S.DS & CRIES 7
R++ L\D4 ,HE PASS$ \ (! =E/ & 96!
MOONLIT OP5 ": 7 NO %AD[S NOR D>K;SES4
,B NO VILLAGE GREET$ 8 EYES4 ,HE _H
=GOTT54 ,! VILLAGE _H G"O AWAY4
  ,8 WILD FLI<T C1S$ ABRUPTLY4 ,"! 0 NO
PLACE 6: 6FLEE4 ,HE SLUNK =LORNLY "? !
DES]T$ CAMP1 SMELL+ ! RU2I%-H1PS &!
4C>D$ RAGS & TAGS (! GODS4 ,HE WD H BE5
GLAD =! RATTLE ( /"OS AB HM1 FLUNG 0AN
ANGRY SQUAW1 GLAD =! H& ( ,GREY ,B1V]
DESC5D+ ^U HM 9 WRA?2 :ILE HE WD H
WELCOM$ ) DELI<T ,LIP-LIP &! :OLE SN>L+1
C[>DLY PACK4
  ,HE CAME 6": ,GREY ,B1V]'S TEPEE _H
/OOD4 ,9 ! C5TRE (! SPACE X _H O3UPI$1
HE SAT D[N4 ,HE PO9T$ 8 NOSE AT ! MOON4
,8 ?ROAT 0 A6LICT$ 0RIGID SPASMS1 8 M\?
OP5$1 & 9 A HE>T-BROK5 CRY BUB#D UP 8
L"OLI;S & FE>1 8 GRIEF = ,KI*E1 ALL 8
PA/ SORR[S & MIS]IES Z WELL Z 8
APPREH5.N ( SU6]+S & DANG]S 6-E4 ,X 0 !
L;G WOLF-H[L1 FULL-?ROAT$ & M\RN;L1 ! F/
H[L HE _H "E UTT]$4
  ,! -+ ( "DLI<T 4PELL$ 8 FE>S B 9CR1S$
8 L"OLI;S4 ,! NAK$ E>?1 : S %ORTLY 2F _H
BE5 S POPUL\S2 ?RU/ 8 L"OLI;S M =CIBLY
^U HM4 ,X DID N TAKE HM L;G 6MAKE UP 8
M9D4 ,HE PLUNG$ 96! =E/ & FOLL[$ ! RIV]
BANK D[N ! /R1M4 ,ALL "D HE RAN4 ,HE DID
N RE/4 ,HE SEEM$ MADE 6RUN ON = "E4 ,8
IRON-L BODY IGNOR$ FATIGUE4 ,& EV5 AF
FATIGUE CAME1 8 H]ITAGE ( 5DUR.E BRAC$
HM 65D.S 5D1V\R & 5A#D HM 6DRIVE 8
-PLA9+ BODY ONW>D4
  ,": ! RIV] SWUNG 9 AG/ PRECIPIT\S
BLU6S1 HE CLIMB$ ! HI< M.TA9S 2H4 ,RIV]S
& /R1MS T 5T]$ ! MA9 RIV] HE =D$ OR
SWAM4 ,(T5 HE TOOK 6! RIM-ICE T 0 2G9N+
6=M1 & M ?AN ONCE HE CRA%$ "? & /RU7L$ =
LIFE 9 ! ICY CURR5T4 ,ALW HE 0 ON !
LOOK\T =! TRAIL (! GODS ": X MI<T L1VE !
RIV] & PROCE$ 9L&4
  ,:ITE ,FANG 0 9TELLIG5T 2Y ! AV]AGE (
8 K9D2 YET 8 M5TAL VI.N 0 N WIDE 5
6EMBRACE ! O!R BANK (! ,MACK5ZIE4 ,:AT
IF ! TRAIL (! GODS L$ \ ON T SIDE8 ,X
N"E 5T]$ 8 H1D4 ,LAT] ON1 :5 HE _H
TRAVELL$ M & GR[N OLD] & WIS] & -E 6"K M
( TRAILS & RIV]S1 X MI<T 2 T HE CD GRASP
& APPREH5D S* A POSSIBIL;Y4 ,B T M5TAL
P[] 0 YET 9 ! FUTURE4 ,J N[ HE RAN BLLY1
8 [N BANK (! ,MACK5ZIE AL"O 5T]+ 96HIS
CALCUL,NS4
  ,ALL NI<T HE RAN1 BL"U+ 9 ! D>K;S
96MISHAPS & OB/ACLES T DELAY$ B DID N
DAUNT4 ,0! MI4LE (! SECOND "D HE _H BE5
RUNN+ 3T9U\SLY = ?IRTY H\RS1 &! IRON ( 8
FLE% 0 GIV+ \4 ,X 0 ! 5DUR.E ( 8 M9D T
KEPT HM GO+4 ,HE _H N EAT5 9 =TY H\RS1 &
HE 0 W1K ) HUNG]4 ,! REP1T$ DR5*+S 9 !
ICY WAT] _H LIKEWISE _H _! E6ECT ON HM4
,8 H&"S COAT 0 DRA7L$4 ,! BROAD PADS ( 8
FEET 7 BRUIS$ & BLE$+4 ,HE _H 2GUN
6LIMP1 & ? LIMP 9CR1S$ )! H\RS4 ,6MAKE X
WORSE1 ! LI<T (! SKY 0 OBSCUR$ & SN[
2GAN 6FALL -- A RAW1 MOI/1 MELT+1 CL++
SN[1 SLIPP]Y "U FOOT1 T HID F HM !
L&SCAPE HE TRAV]S$1 & T COV]$ OV] !
9EQUALITIES (! GR.D S T ! WAY ( 8 FEET 0
M DI6ICULT & PA9;L4
  ,GREY ,B1V] _H 9T5D$ CAMP+ T NI<T ON !
F> BANK (! ,MACK5ZIE1 = X 0 9 T DIREC;N
T ! HUNT+ LAY4 ,B ON ! NE> BANK1 %ORTLY
2F D>K1 A MOOSE -+ D[N 6DR9K1 _H BE5
ESPI$ 0,KLOO-KOO*1 :O 0 ,GREY ,B1V]'S
SQUAW4 ,N[1 _H N ! MOOSE -E D[N 6DR9K1
_H N ,MIT-SAH BE5 /E]+ \ (! C\RSE 2C (!
SN[1 _H N ,KLOO-KOO* SI<T$ ! MOOSE1 & _H
N ,GREY ,B1V] KILL$ X )A LUCKY %OT F 8
RIFLE1 ALL SUBSEQU5T ?+S WD H HAPP5$
DI6]5TLY4 ,GREY ,B1V] WD N H CAMP$ ON !
NE> SIDE (! ,MACK5ZIE1 & ,:ITE ,FANG WD
H PASS$ 0& G"O ON1 EI 6DIE OR 6F9D 8 WAY
6HIS WILD BRO!RS & 2COME "O ( !M -- A
WOLF 6! 5D ( 8 "DS4
  ,NI<T _H FALL54 ,! SN[ 0 FLY+ M
?ICKLY1 & ,:ITE ,FANG1 :IMP]+ S(TLY 6HMF
Z HE /UM#D & LIMP$ AL;G1 CAME ^U A FRE%
TRAIL 9 ! SN[4 ,S FRE% 0 X T HE KNEW X
IMMLY = :AT X WAS4 ,:9+ ) EAG];S1 HE
FOLL[$ BACK F ! RIV] BANK & 9 AM;G !
TREES4 ,! CAMP-S.DS CAME 6HIS E>S4 ,HE
SAW ! BLAZE (! FIRE1 ,KLOO-KOO* COOK+1 &
,GREY ,B1V] SQUATT+ ON 8 HAMS & MUMBL+ A
*UNK ( RAW TALL[4 ,"! 0 FRE% M1T 9 CAMP6
  ,:ITE ,FANG EXPECT$ A B1T+4 ,HE CR\*$
& BRI/L$ A LL AT ! ?"\ ( X4 ,!N HE W5T
=W>D AG4 ,HE FE>$ & 4LIK$ ! B1T+ HE KNEW
6BE WAIT+ = HM4 ,B HE KNEW1 FUR!R1 T !
-=T (! FIRE WD 2 HIS1 ! PROTEC;N (!
GODS1 ! -PANION%IP (! DOGS -- ! LA/1 A
-PANION%IP ( 5M;Y1 B N"O ! LESS A
-PANION%IP & SATISFY+ 6HIS GREG>I\S
NE$S4
  ,HE CAME CR++ & CRAWL+ 96! FIRELI<T4
,GREY ,B1V] SAW HM1 & /OPP$ MUN*+ !
TALL[4 ,:ITE ,FANG CRAWL$ SL[LY1 CR++ &
GROVELL+ 9 ! ABJECT;S ( 8 ABASE;T &
SUBMIS.N4 ,HE CRAWL$ /RAI<T T[>D ,GREY
,B1V]1 E 9* ( 8 PROGRESS 2COM+ SL[] & M
PA9;L4 ,AT LA/ HE LAY AT ! MA/]'S FEET1
96^: POSSES.N HE N[ SURR5D]$ HMF1
VOLUNT>ILY1 BODY & S\L4 ,( 8 [N *OICE1
HE CAME 9 6SIT 0MAN'S FIRE & 6BE RUL$
0HM4 ,:ITE ,FANG TREM#D1 WAIT+ =!
PUNI%;T 6FALL ^U HM4 ,"! 0 A MOVE;T (!
H& ABV HM4 ,HE CR+$ 9VOLUNT>ILY "U !
EXPECT$ BL[4 ,X DID N FALL4 ,HE /OLE A
GL.E UPW>D4 ,GREY ,B1V] 0 BR1K+ ! LUMP (
TALL[ 9 HALF6 ,GREY ,B1V] 0 (F]+ HM "O
PIECE (! TALL[6 ,V G5TLY & "S:AT
SUSPICI\SLY1 HE F/ SMELL$ ! TALL[ & !N
PROCE$$ 6EAT X4 ,GREY ,B1V] ORD]$ M1T
6BE BR"\ 6HM1 & GU>D$ HM F ! O!R DOGS
:ILE HE ATE4 ,AF T1 GRATE;L & 3T5T1
,:ITE ,FANG LAY AT ,GREY ,B1V]'S FEET1
GAZ+ AT ! FIRE T W>M$ HM1 BL9K+ & DOZ+1
SECURE 9 ! K T ! MORR[ WD F9D HM1 N W&]+
=LORN "? BL1K =E/-/RET*ES1 B 9 ! CAMP (!
MAN-ANIMALS1 )! GODS 6:OM HE _H GIV5 HMF
& ^U :OM HE 0 N[ DEP5D5T4