​Andrasberg, 1890’s America

‘’Papa why are they burning them and not burying them?’’
‘’Boy get back from that window’’ he grabbed the boy’s shoulder spinning him back.
‘’What did I say earlier?’’ he pointed a finger at the boy’s face.
The boy’s quivering hands started to creep up further into him
‘’Go sit with your sister and mother’’ he pointed at the boy
‘’Yes sir’’ the boy meandered away from the window
Looking at the pile of bodies in the middle of main street. He looked towards both ends of the singular town street. His doctors office dead center and in front of the burning pile of bodies. The glow of the fire flamed and shadowed around the dozens of buildings on either side of it. The faint shadow and flicker of things moving in a few of the shop windows. Flickering and pestering with the southern wind from the valley picking up. The smell from the pit of flames flowed into him like the town suppers once did.
‘’Boy’’ he turned around. ‘’What did I say’’
‘’Mama said to come back down’’
‘’What’s wrong boy’’
‘’She’s getting worse I think’’
‘’You think’’
‘’She smells different’’
‘’Is your sister still with her’’
‘’No mama told her to come downstairs with me’’ the boy pointed at the door behind them that once opened led up to the second story of the doctor office where they lived.
‘’Come boy’’ he opened the door seeing his daughter sitting on the steps looking at the door that led to the alley out back.
‘’Connie come off those steps and come here’’ he locked the door that led to the front office. 
‘’You stay here with your brother and you best listen to him while I’m upstairs’’
‘’Is mama going to be okay?’’
‘’Stay with your brother now’’ he patted her shoulder.
‘Few more years till I worry about her filling out. She’ll be pretty like her mother was’
He loosened his grip and went up the stairs. 

Opening the door to their bedroom she could barely blink open. He could see her faint pale face flicker with the candle lamp on the bedside.
‘’Harlow’’ she feebled out.
‘Fever and Ague was what it started at. Now even he hadn’t the faintest idea of what was going through the town. All he knew is they couldn’t stay much longer’
‘’Remember what we agreed?’’
‘’Celestine’’ he grabbed and held her had. Damp with sweat but cold as ice.
‘’Promise me Harlow’’
‘’I will’’
‘’Promise me you’ll take them there if you need too. They’ll accept you if your with him’’
‘’I know’’ he rolled his thumb over her hand.
Bang. Bang.
They both turned to the door where the sound of banging was coming from downstairs.
‘’Go check. I still have some time’’ Celestine barely breathed out.
He got up and left the room. Seeing the door shaking and rasping it’s hinges around at the bottom of the stairs. 
Bang. Bang.
He rushed down and looked to the corner by the stairs that had Emery shielding his sister from the ruckus.
Bang Bang
He looked to the door and back to his children. 
‘’It’s growling at us’’ he heard Connie cry tucked into the shield of her brother.
Bang Bang Bang.
Crash.
The door slammed off the hinges of the frame and slammed into the ground pushing him back slightly before he felt the things hands grab at his vest and pull him right into the doorknob of the door on the ground.
‘’DADA’’
‘’PAPA’’
He looked back from the words to the foamed snarling mouth of Hosea the horse stable owner. He was ripping and clawing at the floor like a wolf digging into the pit of a snake den. 
Wood chips scrapping off as it started to crawl and leapt onto him.
Grabbing the neck as it snatched at him and tried to bite any part of his face. 
Spit mashed and covered his face as he moved it away and around as it moved like wild buck half dead.
He tried to turn his body off the door he feel onto. 
Pushing the thing off him towards the bottom stair he pulled his boot back and slammed it into it’s face.
Scrambling to his feet he leaned down and hit the thing a few more times and pulled the head of it back in both his hands as he knelt down.
Setting its face on the stairs he stomped on the back of it as it folded around the wood step and foamed out it’s last..
‘’Boy get over here’’
He leaned up off his knees slowly inhaling and few times.
‘’BOY’’ he called again.
‘’It’s not gonna hurt you now’’ he waved the boy over to him as he came over to the bottom of the steps.
He patted Hosea’s pockets and belt. Only a small knife on his belt. He pulled it out and shoved it in his belt back side.
‘’MAMA are you feeling better?’’ he looked over to Connie looking up the stairs.
Turning he saw his Celestine.
She snarled back.
‘’MAMA’’ Connie tightened her grip around the stuffed bear she was holding.
He reached back and opened the door to the front of the building.
‘’Take your sister to the front of the shop’’ He didn’t look down from Celestine’s mouth starting to foam around the edges. The once beautiful edges they sanctioned their path together with.
‘’But you said to stay……..’’
‘’NOW BOY’’

He saw the door slam as he turned to his shivering sister.
‘’Is MaMa going to be okay?’’
‘’She’s just sick is all’’
Bang.
They looked back to the door that shut them out.
Bang bang.
‘’AAAAAAAAAAAAA’’ they heard unmerciful scream of their father
Then silence.
‘’What is Pa Pa doing?’’
‘’Lets go look at the fire’’ Emory led her towards the windows in the shop.
‘’Why don’t they dig them?’’ she asked clutching the bear she held.
‘’I dunno. It’s bright though ain’t it’’
‘’Have you seen one that big before?’’
‘’No’’ he was cutoff as the door to the stairway opened.

‘’Come here’’ Harlow waved from the doorway.
‘’What did I tell you about that fire boy’’
The pair scuttled towards him. As they came into the stairwell it was only the trio.
‘’Where did Ma Ma go?’’ he heard as he stared at the black night out of the alley door.
‘’What was wrong with old man Hosea?’’ He heard from the other as he turned back to them.
‘’Come upstairs’’ he started to push the children up the stairs.
Getting to the room Celestine once mended the residents of the town, he pointed to the bed. 
‘’Sit there both of you’’
He walked over to the closet on the other side of the room and slid a wooden chest out of it.
Opening it he grabbed the belt and holstered colt single action army and fastened it around his waist. Grabbing the long oil skin duster from the chest he tossed it on and grabbed the side by side coach gun and the pouch of shells. Closing the lid he walked over to the children sitting on the bed.
‘’We need to go. We need to be quiet. Really quiet’’ he placed his hands on their shoulders.
‘’Where did Ma go?’’
‘’She’s gonna meet us there’’
‘’Where is there?’’
‘’Outside of town. Hush now we need to go’’ he turned around and grabbed the saddle bags that held the meagre supplies he scrapped together earlier slinging it over his shoulder.
‘’Up lets go’’ he waved to them as he led them down the stairs.
Getting to the bottom he turned back.
‘’Remember quiet’’ he held up a finger over his mouth. ‘’Connie grab his belt and don’t let go. You go where he goes. Clear’’ he pointed at her.
She looped her finger in his belt.
‘’And’’
‘’Don’t let go’’
He brushed her cheek.
‘’Good Connie’’
‘’You boy stay behind me. And go where I tell you to go’’
‘’Got it’’ he pointed at the boy.
‘’Yes sir’’
‘’Good lets go’’

Peering out of the back door of the office, he scanned both sides of the alley. 
Black as the night. Except the faint glisten of the orange hue poking and rushing between the shadows of the buildings. The fire now at it’s peak as such that you could see the tip of the flame over the buildings. 
Just ahead of a small outhouse was side street access to the other side of town. He could hear the horses rustling on the hitching post that he couldn’t see.
‘Givin’s trapper shop. What’s his horses name?’ he tossed the thought aside realizing it was the only way out of town.
Briefly looking over the double mound under an old horse blanket, he shuffled the kids past it.
‘’Behind the privy there’’ he pointed to the tall back house as the small pair scuttled over to it.
‘’You’’ he heard just as the pair got behind the house. Turning around he faced it.
‘’You god dam snake oil doc. You brought hell on this town’’
‘’Just wait a………’’
Jake the town drunk pulled his revolver out and pointed it. The whip sharp gesture he could only muster when he was stone sober.
‘’I didn’t know what would happen’’ Harlow pulled his gaze from Jake and down the side alley to the main street where two swaying figures crept through.
Harlow took a step back.
‘’Don’t move another god dam’’ he cocked the hammer back ‘’Drop the coach gun’’
Harlow dropped it to his side.
‘’Belt too’’
‘’Just wait a moment Jake. We can work something out’’ Harlow raised his hands not taking the belt off. Looking past Jake’s shoulder, he turned and saw them.
‘’Jesus Mary of……….’’ one of the foaming towns folk reached for Jake.
‘’BANG’’ Jake shot one as it continued the dozen paces towards him, closing quick.
He snatched the coach gun from the ground and fired at Jake’s legs
BLAST
‘ARGH’’ Jake started to cry holding the stump of his leg as the first foamed creature dove onto him, the other feel behind it covering the mans whimpers to a slight gargle as his voice cracked and flowed back into his lungs that he would die in.
Turning and running to the back of the outhouse, he grabbed the boys hand and started to run down the side alley that lead to Given’s Trapper Shop. Stopping just at the end. He looked back to the boy.
Pressing his finger on his lips for a moment staring at the boy.
He turned and peered around the corner of the shop.
‘Two?’ he looked at the brown horse beside Given’s black fox trotter. Turning back to the children he knelt down.
‘’You and your sister take Given’s horse. Ride and don’t stop unless I tell you you got it’’ he pointed at the boy.
‘’Yes sir’’
‘’Make sure your sister gets on first at the front’’
The boy nodded.
‘’If we get separated where did I tell you to stay’’
‘’Mile market four on the way out’’
Peering around the corner it was the same as before the horses oddly quite in their rustling. The orange hue barely visible this side of town from the fire. Looking back towards his back shop entrance they came from he couldn’t see any of what they left nor heard. Looking back to the horses he started to crouch walk up the wood stairs to the hitching post.
Looking back he waved the boy forward.
They scuttled past him and to the side of the black fox trotter. 
Slowly undoing the rein over hitching post he brushed the face of the horse.
‘’Good girl’’ he whispered seeing Connie boosted onto the front of the saddle. The boy following after.
CRACK
SMASH
He ducked under the window that smashed over his head along with a bullet wizzing by his hat so close he felt the breeze.
‘’You good for nothing piece of’’ another shoot cracked out of Given’s Trapper Shop he recognized the voice of the owner.
Hearing the crunch of glass by the window he leaped over and into the shop tackling Given’s over the smashed window and onto the broken glass.
‘’GO BOY’’ he yelled behind him.
Hearing the horse gallop he felt the fist of Given’s come down on him. His vision spinning like the drink in a tavern of whores he blacked out momentarily.
Awakened to Given’s reaching for his revolver that was knock ed out during the tackle. He rushed to his feet and kicked the revolver down and isle of the store and leaned a hit Given’s with all his weight falling over with the hit onto the floor. 
He grabbed his stomach. 
‘Set it back later’ He winced over as he hunched up to his feet and limped out the door. Reaching down he grabbed his coach gun that had fallen. 
Tossing the rein over the post. He went to step down when he felt the rush and the mud cake his face.
‘’You ain’t getting away that easy you snake oil bastard’’ he felt his hair get pulled from the mud of the ground and smack back in.
Pushing up with all his weight he could feel Given’s weight give slightly.
Turning his head he saw the back leg of the horse. Over the mud fading his vision getting worse with every blink and pull of his hair.
Feeling Given’s hand free from his hair he pushed back with his knee’s and elbows as quick as he could.
Reaching back he grabbed a piece of Given’s clothing and flipped him off his back towards the horses feet.
Getting up just as Given’s did he raised his hand and smacked the rear of the horse that kicked Given a dozen boot lengths away.
Given’s body moved slightly with a groan as it landed in an unnatural twisting motion.
Grabbing his coach gun from the mud, he grabbed the saddle and swung himself up.
Clutching his stomach and chest he steered the reins over to Given’s. 
He aimed the barrel of the coach gun at Given’s groaning back.
BLAST
The horse skittered around slightly until he grabbed the reins over his stomach and turned the horse sharply around. Looking back at Ivey Tales it was ruin. Fire as tall as if they built a dozen higher than they did. 
Turning sharply away he started down the trail up towards the exit of Ivey Canyon.
He winched over the horse’s every step. The wet mud smacking each of the hoof’s as it slowly came up and down. He could taste the blood in his mouth as each step slightly bounced him up and down moving his unset rib around. 
‘’CRACK’’
‘’BOOM’’
He shuttered up grabbing the reins as he saw the flash behind the lighting strike off in the horizon. Briefly seeing the marker for mile three.
’The boy would try for some cover. Where around that would he go?’ Harlow looked around the dead night. Only the slight east light behind him from the moon glinting his path. 
’Should have given the boy the gun’ He turned back and winced. Seeing nothing trailing him. He grabbed the reins and tossed the doubt of his past decision as he smacked the horse a few times and quickened it down the path to the final mile marker.

Slowing the steed down. He jabbed his boot heels into the side of it. Reefing the rein back with the fresh unset of his rib. 
‘’Easy easy boy’’ he spun the horse around seeing the final mile marker up ahead a few body lengths ahead. 
‘’Where’s your friend’’ he stirred his eyes around the night scape.  Not seeing anything two of his lengths ahead or around him.
‘’CRACK’’
The flash came behind steering the horse around he saw the dull un-nightly black of the horse they were on when they came.
‘’Yah’’ he snapped the horse and rode off the path towards the other horse.
Reaching the other horse he saw the barrels lying on the ground a few feet away.
‘’BOY’’
‘’CONNIE’’
Connie screeched and barrelled out of the front of one, the boy following after.
‘’We hid in those over there’’
‘’Good girl’’ he didn't get off his horse. 
‘’Boy help your sister up we need to go’’
He helped Connie onto the horse.
‘’Stay beside me or in front where I can see’’ 
The boy nodded and smacked the reins of the horse forward with his fathers.
‘’Where are we going?’’
‘’Eavesscape’’
‘’What if……..’’ Connie looked back over the basin they rode up out of Ivey Valley. ‘’It’s like here was’’
‘’Never mind that. Try and get some rest. We’ll be riding all night’’
‘’Okay papa’’ she slunked onto her brothers shoulder as he rode the horse.
‘’Here boy’’ he waved over to their reins ‘’You look like yous gonna slip off in tired’’
The boy handed him the reins.
Tucking them around his saddle hitch a few times he looked over to the children fading into sleep as the horse trotted up and down beside him.

It was the first time he had any time to think of anything that had just happened back in town.
‘I have no idea if anyone else got out. What if someone with it got out. God Celestine oh god. How am I going to go this road without you by my side?’ he wiped his face and continued down the dark trail of the night out of the valley.
‘Celestine oh Celestine. Why did we try and help. I told you this ought to happen if we did it. Why do you insist I take them to where you escaped? No I refuse. I told you we would never go back there’ Harlow snapped the reins to a slow trot and rested his eyes slightly on the trail for a few moments. It would be a few hours before dawn struck the sky.

He almost went past the hunched husk on the side of the trail. Looking ahead and back to the horse.
‘Haven’t rested my eyes in so long they are starting to deceive me’ he wiped his face as they trotted towards the hunched husk by the willow tree.
‘’Coin for a telling?’’ the husk crooked out in a raspy old voice.
‘What’s an old man doing on the side of the road this far out?’
‘’What are you doing out here old man?’’
‘’Coin for your future?’’ the hunched figure looked up.
Lifting the lamp he sparked he held it up and forward off his horse.
‘’What’s an old crane like you doing wondering the night?’’
She shacked the metal cup out towards him ‘’Coin for a telling? You are on the wrong path that much is free’’
‘’What are you on about old hag?’’
‘’My stories don’t come free. It’s hard out here for an old hag as you say’’ she reached the cup towards the horse. ‘’Your story is already told’’ she nodded to the children on the horse behind him. ‘’There’s is not’’
He reached into his satchel and grabbed a coin from a purse inside. Flicking it into the cup she held out.
‘’Thank you kindly. Your headed the wrong way.’’
‘’Big White. You come from there?’’
‘’I come from nowhere’’
‘’West you must go’’
‘’Big White is north’’
‘’Across the western stream towards the cold mountains’’
‘How does the crane know about that?’
‘’Were not welcome there. No one is’’
‘’The boy has the mark he is accepted’’
‘’Get on with it’’
‘’Cross the stream with the boy’’
Harlow wiped the reins of the horse and started off past the old crane.
‘How did she know about the boys mark?’ he tossed the question around as they made their way up the trail of the cliff. Each trot of the horse against the cold damp slop of the dirt trail. He took his hat off and wiped his head.

Exiting the switchback a mile or so past the shadow of the elder trying to change the future. He smelt the smoke ahead of the cliff edge and the orange hue started to light the sky above the clouds. 
‘It happened here too’ Harlow looked back and forth over the town down the edge of the cliff in the valley. Each end black and charred with the smouldering remains of what the path of the hell come to the residents. The center of the town was as bright hot as the sun. The screams echoed out of the valley up with the smells of the perished and burnt. Taking off his hat, he saw the children stir awake on the horse.
‘’Papa’’ 
‘’Lets go’’ Harlow turned the horse around.
‘’Papa what’s happening down there’’
‘’Nothing lets go’’ he turned the horse holding the reins to the other and headed off down the path they came. 
It wasn’t but a half mile where it shifted west of the main trail. Stopping at the trail head he looked back and forth to the trail that he already traveled. Turning the horses down the under beaten path he slowed the speed. Listening more and more with each hove slapping the wet mud they traveled over. Hearing the dull roar of the stream he turned back and called to the boy.
‘’Boy’’
He continued the horses forward as he heard the rustling of the boy.
‘’Papa’’
‘’Were gonna stop up ahead and rest for the rest of the night. Get your sister ready’’
‘’Yes sir’’
Harlow let go of the reins as he tossed them back to the boy. 
Guiding the horse through the light brush it was only a dozen feet to the stream. Swinging off the horse and tossing the reins around a branch he took in the area on the last path east of the western side of the river. Seeing a large smooth edged rock he swung the saddle bag off the horse and went over to it to start setting up for the night. 
‘’Snap’’ Harlow turned to the trail head that he came from.
‘’Boy you get your sister ready yet?’’
‘’Sorry papa’’ the boy stepped out of the trail head along with two men not more the size of his. The sister behind them.
‘’We don’t mean no harm’’ One of the men stepped forward ‘’We just homesteader's down yonder’’ he pointed north up the stream. ‘’Wes heard the mares and came’’
Harlow stood up resting his hand on his belt. ‘’I don’t mind sharing the stream but you best set up up there a bit farther’’ he nodded up the stream.
‘’Thank you mister?’’
‘’Harlow’’
‘’Jean and this here’’ the man waved back to the other as they pulled a hood down from the poncho. ‘’Is Mary Beth my wife. Wes expecting a youngen soon’’ Mary Beth rubbed her belly.
‘’You can set up a bit closer there’’ Harlow stopped them a yard down the stream ‘’If you want to that is’’
‘’Two heads are better my old ma used to say’’ Jean walked closer to Harlow setting up his camp. 
‘’Theres about fine’’ Harlow replied to the pair a dozen steps away. ‘’Boy get a fire going’’
‘’Yes sir’’ the boy walked into the head of the shrubs off the stream.

Walking over small branches and bark pickings he swept them up under one arm. Walking back to the trail head he came from and tossing the pile onto the rocks by the stream. He repeated this several times. The last few not tossing the wood and kindling but stacking it just before out of sight. He wondered for a few minutes landing on a small stump. Sitting down he grabbed a stick and started to poke the ground in no particular manor nor pace. With each stab at the ground the sounds of the forest and the fury of the river seemed to dissipate into nothing. Sudden dark silence from the echoes of the screams of the furious day that had not yet past him.
‘What are we going to do? Where are we going to go? Am I sick? Are they?’
‘’Snap’’ a branch cracked behind him. Turning it was Connie
‘’Papa said to come help’’
He patted the stump he sat upon as she joined him on it.
‘’Are we going across the river?’’
‘’I dunno’’ he looked out over the shrubs to the trio of people and past them to the mountain that changed from green to white about half way up.

He couldn’t remember being there or we he came from. He was too young to remember anything but the snaps and shapes of a memory trying to piece itself together after a nested bear rambled through it. He remembered how it felt.
‘’Tap tap’’
‘’Tap tap’’
’Tap tap into his shoulder. A stick with a small pick at the end. Back and forth. He remembered remembering nothing. Just the tapping against his skin and bone. Tap tap. Wipe. Tap tap.’
‘’He wears the mark now’’

He rubbed his shoulder trying to remember what Connie asked.
‘’Yes I think we are going across it’’ He looked over the brush to the sunset closing behind the mountain. The small flicker of the fire coming to life between the trio by the river.
‘’Grab some of that kindling’’ he grabbed a shoulder full and made his way out of the brush to the fire.
‘’Right here boy’’ Harlow pointed to the side of the fire.
‘’Connie go wash your hands in the stream after’’
‘’Yes papa’’

Pulling a small grate from the saddle bag he set it over the fire along with a can of beans that he pried open.
‘’Wes got this hare’’ Jean pulled a skinned hare out of his bag ‘’Wes could combine?’’
Harlow nodded and pointed to it and looked to the boy
The boy brought it back and he dressed it for the fire.
‘’Much obliged’’ Harlow took a sip from his canteen and handed it to Connie coming back from the river. ‘’Here fill it up stream a ways.’’
‘’Okay papa’’ she grabbed the canteen and skipped down the stream further
‘’Back to what I was saying before they got back. You folks hear anything about Big White or Andrasberg of late?’’ 
‘’Wes saw the flames over by Big White but we not see it for our own eyes’’
‘’Don’t go back there.’’
‘’What’s happening?’’
Harlow stirred the tin of beans. The savoury syrupy smell of the molasses mixed in with the can lingered as he stayed with the question.
‘’Folks are turning feral like dogs’’ Harlow stirred the tin some more and turned the kabob of hare over. ‘’Don’t think nor speak just like rapid animals’’
Jean shivered slightly and scratched his forearm. ‘’Wes had a donkey like that. More dumb than rabid but all the same. Hows yous figuren it catches onto folks?’’ 
‘’Scratches or bites is what I’ve got it figured as.’’
Jean scratched at his arm and shivered again. ‘’Wes best be staying out here like wes has been then’’
Connie came back with the water. Harlow poured a sip into the tin and stirred and flipped the mare. ‘’This aught to be best eaten soon’’
The boy came back with two small metal plates and single utensils. Jean and Mary Beth shared a single one.
Slicing the mare in quarters the hot steam and earthy moss of the animals diet wafered around as he scooped the pieces around to each. Tossing the kabob into the flames he motioned for the plates as he tossed the sweet topping of the beans over each’s mare meat. Blending together in a steam of hot.
The all sat silently. Ate quick and voraciously. Only the scrapes of flesh and utensils cleaning the last of the meal that both groups hadn’t seen in days. And both likely wouldn’t see another for some good time yet again.

Finishing the meal Harlow passed the dishes to the children and motioned them over to the stream to wash up along with the dishes. Seeing them get to the stream Harlow looked back to the pair across the fire.
‘’She talk?’’ Harlow looked the woman up and down. No older than the man, well along and trying to hide it under the oversized cloth that wrapped around her toes to chin leaving her mouth and eyes exposed with a hood covering everything else.
‘’Not so much’’ Jean thumbed to her. ‘’Trying to teach her but you know how tis is’’ Jean shrugged and pulled a bottle of whiskey from his sack. Taking a swig he motioned it to Harlow who motioned it back. Scratching his arm Jean took a tug and set it back into the bag.
‘’You want me to look at that’’
‘’Naw just itchy is all. God dam rose bushes is a whore I tell you’’ Jean scratched at his arm.
Tossing a stick onto the fire the children came back.
‘’Once yous put those away get to sleep. Long day ahead tomorrow’’
‘’Yes papa’’ rang twice
‘’Wes best be getting down too’’ Jean crawled to his knees and helped Mary Beth to hers. Turning back to the tent Jean waved and closed the front flap.

Looking around the lilting down fire, Harlow uncrossed his legs as he looked over to the small tent the children were sleeping in. Looking to the other tent it was quiet as the dead as well. Getting up he smoothed his bedroll out that he would lay upon under the stars for the night. Satisfied with it’s bedding he meandered down river to the stream and knelt down to wash his face.
‘One of them is not like the other’ he scrubbed with his hands over his face.
‘’Don’t reach for the dark as soon as you see the light Harlow’’ he could hear Celestine’s sweet whispers in the days and years after he got out of the gang.
‘’There ain’t nothin but the darkness’’ he would grit back not knowing anything else then raping and pillaging the banks of the west for most of his life. Hoped on shine and whiskey. Waking up to find that he ought to make a reason for what he did instead of having one.
‘If they show any more over night—————’ his churning thoughts got cast down the stream from Jean creeping up to join him.
‘’Yous up for some company’’
Harlow didn’t respond as the man knelt down a pace or so beside him. Rolling up his sleeves Harlow couldn’t quite make out anything on his skin in the dark of the night. Seeing him wash his face he caught a glimpse of the rash.
‘’Them rosebushes make you itch more them deem dime pieces of pussy sept this itches worse than the most ragged of them’’
‘’Is swear on my mother I ain’t been scratched by no thing human or otherwise.’’
Harlow snatched his arm and looked it over. Twisting it around in the damp moonlight that reflected off the river.
‘Seems like the rashes the children in the valley used to get’ he twisted the arm some more and released it.
‘’Wes not fibbin I tell ya’’
‘’I reckon I believe ya’’ Harlow knelt over his knees .
‘For now’ he corrected looked over the man with the suspicion still lingering.
‘’I wasn't gonna ask in front of the other but yous Harlow of the Hill Raiders’’
Harlow snapped his look to the man.
‘’I mean once was’’ Jean snapped his hands up ‘’I just heard the stories in the taverns and towns. Is it true yous caved in a train tunnel with everyone in just to get the back bank car?’’
‘’Them are just tales of times I aunt not try and remember. Them days are gone by me. Had a good woman set me straight. Down the righteous path’’
‘’I heard you once ran a stage coach of a cliff full of bankers just so you wouldn't have to blow open the safe’’
‘’Ive heard enough of your stories true or otherwise’’ Harlow swiped a hand up into the air with his voice raising with it ‘’Best time to get to sleep’’ Harlow stood and left for his bedroll.

Laying down on the bed roll he didn’t sleep. Peering through the crack through his hat resting over his face. His hand rested on his side by his old ways. Itching to be released. He never needed a reason before. Watching the glint from the fire over the tent across from him. No shadows about just slumber.

‘’Got a touch of coffee going’’ Harlow looked to Jean getting out of their tent.
‘’That be mighty good I think’’ Jean stretched tall and lanky then walked over and accepted the cup. ‘’Where you folks headed to?’’ he asked taking a swig.
Harlow looked west across the stream and nodded to the snowed over start of the mountain.
‘’Oh no no sir. Yous should go somewhere else’’ Jean set the coffee down————.
‘’I reckon I know where I’m going and what it’s all about’’ Harlow grinned down to him ‘’What do you know about those hills and mountains?’’
‘’Just stories from folks not so different then you’’ Jean took a sip of coffee ‘’Just a different spot on a different road’’
‘’Wheres you homestead at’’
Jean thumbed behind him up the north of the river.
‘’Day or so back yonder’’
Harlow nodded.
‘’Why you down this far from it?’’
Jean thumbed to the woman getting out of the tent ‘’Wes got no idea how to deliver wells we know how it goes but————— fools errand Is suppose knowing now about those settlements’’
‘’Papa you can help them can’t you?’’
Harlow snapped his gaze to Connie.
‘’Yous done this before?’’
‘’I was town doc with my late one in Andrasberg’’
‘’Wes sure been blessed from above’’ Jean waved his hat above his head
‘’Did I say I was gonna help?’’
Jean waved his palms up.
‘’Mister I’s just figured since yous been so kind and now that yous boy says you a doctor?’’
‘’How long?’’
‘’She started showing several months ago’’
‘’Before the snow or after?’’
‘’Before’’
‘’Shit’’
‘’Whats you mean mister?’’
‘’Nothing, she's due soon’’
‘’Yes sir, wes figured that much for awhile’’
‘’Let me think on it while we pack up?’’
‘’Yous very kind even if you don’t help us folks you've helped enough without doing anything more’’ Jean waved to him.
‘’I. I’ll think on it as we pack and that will be the end of it for now’’
Jean turned and started to pack up his camp.
‘’Boy is yours and yours sisters ready?’’

‘’Yes sir’’ he shoved the last of the blanket into the saddle bag beside him
‘Why does he not want to help them more?’ The boy tossed around as he listlessly shoved the last of the items into the travel sack as he watched the pair aside from him. ‘We used to help folks like them all the times’ grabbing the remainder of Connie’s items and looking to his Pa.
‘’Why can’t we?’’ he whispered to the large shadow packing the saddle bags
‘’You know why’’
‘’But theses been fine since we saw them’’
His fathers eyes were always cold, cold like the snow they would be walking over. Not cold like this. Cold like the boy had never seen before. Nothing behind them. Not the sly smirk that he was famous for as it was the only way you could tell. Shoulders that once towered over the boy slanted to his level as he wearily packed the rest.
‘’Is everything packed?’’
‘’Yes sir’’
‘’And if I————‘’
‘’Its packed’’
‘’Good go sit down there with your sister need to talk to the folks here’’
The boy grabbed Connies hand and led her down the stream to a lower spot where they would cross.

‘’I’ll need to take a look over you’’ Harlow took off his hat as the woman hunched and crossed her arms.
‘’Wes really appreciate that’’ Jean looked to Mary Beth.
Harlow nodded to her.
‘’Yous would need to take———— We can pitch a shade with your coat. Go over by those shrubs and use them’’ Harlow pointed to the brush off the river
‘’Go help her’’ he nodded to Jean as she shivered off to the branches.
As he was rolling his shirt sleeves up and washing his hands in the stream Jean caught his shoulder. 
‘’She's ready sirs’’
‘’Alright stay here’’ 

‘’Hey you kids need anything?’’ Jean called from up the river
Looking to Connie skipping rocks over the river Emery waved and shook his head.
‘’Whats pa doing?’’
‘’Looking over that lady over there’’
‘’Is she sick like mommy was?’’
‘’I du——— No I don’t think so. Let me see that rock’’
‘’Here you got to hold it like this’’ he motioned a smooth side over and tossed it over the river hoping thrice. ‘’Here you try’’ he handed another to her and he heard the shallow splash of it landing in the water.
‘’There pa’’ Connie pointed past them as he walked out of the shrubs and past Jean over to the kids.
‘’Are we going to help her?’’ 
‘’Shush for now little one’’ Harlow patted her shoulder as he washed his hands and face in the stream.
The boy could see the pair talking up the river motioning back and forth to the brush and his father.
Scrubbing his face, he put his hat back on and stood up, looking down the stream of the river with his hands on his hips. He wondered a few feet down stream.

The once emerald shine of the river now cold and clear with the cauldron of seasons stirring below the cold of the winter it caught. The crisp lines going down the stream, like the first did at one time. The natural way. Natures way. Her weary route with nothing but her emerald eyes guiding him from the bottom to the top. The stream that left this valley and twisted through the untamed valleys holding the reclaimed towns that they past. The ones that were once meant for them. Now back to their rightful place in the circle. The ways of the stream flowing. Transcending  into him. Take them. 

‘’Lets go’’ Harlow turned around to the children. Walking past them.
‘’I’ll help you folks but you listen to what I say when I say’’ he pointed.
‘’Yes sur’’ Jean walked forward and shook his arm like pasta several times ‘’Wes gonna do just as yous say. You more capable than us’’
‘’Lets go then’’

————————————————-

Several Weeks Later

‘’Go get some more timber for the fire boy’’
No answer only the boys teeth chattering as he crouched by the fire.
‘’Boy’’
‘’Yes pa. Just trying to—‘’
‘’Go when that last log there goes down’’
‘’Thank you pa’’
‘’She's hot’’ Jean walked out of a small tent several feet on the opposite side of the fire. ‘’Sweating something of the devil out of her’’
‘’Connie go see by her side. Do you remember how to rinse and wipe with the rags?’’
‘’Like mama showed me yup’’
‘’Good. Go on now’’
‘Still two good weeks till we get to the cave at the top. She was good and ready a week prior. Something is fighting it. What?’ Jean poked the fire and flipped the last of the prior log into ashes.
‘’Boy’’
‘’Yes sir’’

‘’Somethings wrong ain’t it?’’
‘’I dunno’’
‘’She should have had it already’’
‘’What?’’
‘’She should have gave birth a week ago the latest’’
‘’So I’ve heard’s of plenty folks that go longer than the docs say’’
‘’Not like this’’
‘’Not like what?’’
‘’In the wilderness in the cold with a raging plague pollenating the land we travel’’
‘’You've seen us both here. You best not be sayin———-‘’
‘’I sayin she looks fine. But she ain’t fine you see?’’
They both turned at the yells from the tent. Jean was the first in followed by Harlow.

‘’Somethings happen papa’’
‘’Here let me see’’
‘’It’s coming’’ Harlow dropped the dress hem down.
‘’Papa whats happening?’’ Emory peered into the rats going about in the nest. It wasn't much bigger the boy thought.
‘’Go get the fire going well need the warmth. Jean go help him’’
‘’I aint————‘’ 
‘’It’s too dam small for even me in here. Go before you make her and it worse’’
‘’But’’
‘’But get the fuck out’’
Jean stumbled out of the tent
‘’Here pass those rags Connie’’
Dropping the dress hem again he passed the soiled red and brown rags to her.
‘’Get me some of those clean ones and start on rinsing these best you can’’
Connie dunked a handful of rags in a nearby bucket and grabbed a fresh set.
‘’Alright Connie come here’’ Harlow grabbed her arm and pulled her under the dress seem. ‘’See that there? When I tell you to lightly but firmly grab and guide it out can you do that?’’
‘’Like when you helped that gimp boy walk. You did it right slow but made sure each step of his was good and sturdy’’
She nodded.
‘’Okay Marry Beth push’’
She yelled and pushed and groaned and rasped and ripped at the sides of the tent.
‘’Again’’ Harlow appeared from below again.
‘’I I I I ————‘’
‘’AGAIN’’
Jean smashed in through the front of the tent over her cries cracking the cold north of the mountains.
‘’Jesus christ’’
‘’Get out. Were almost done but well be twice as worse and three times the dead if you keep up with it’’
‘’Again’’
‘’PAPA I got it’’
‘’Hold it still’’ Harlow cut the cord with his knife and cradled the child from his young teen girl.
‘’Tend to her’’ Harlow nodded to Mary Beth passed out drenched in sweat.
‘’Get some of those fresh damp rages on her face and clean her the best you can’’ Harlow ducked out of the tent.
‘’Oh my lord’’ Jean ran up.
‘’Here let me see my boy’’
‘’Hold on. We need to check him first’’
‘’He ain’t got that shit that those others have’’ Jean started to shout and point down the mountain the spit flapping his fresh first born child.
‘’Ain’t got nothing to do with that you dumb shit imbecile. The little ones need much when they first come out and it’s mother is in a tough spot. Go check on her while I tend to the child’s needs’’
‘’Oh god Mary Beth’’
‘’She’s fine she needs the comfort of a——‘’
Jean rushed into the tent.

‘’Boy’’ he heard his father call from behind their tent where he was stacking the fire wood.
‘’Yes Pa’’ he bolted out front freezing in the cold and his tracks.
‘’Come grab the little one and hold him gently on our side by the fire’’ Harlow reached the small child down to his son. ‘’Not too close’’
‘’Yes sir’’ he cradled and swaddled around to the side by their tent. 
‘’PAPA’’
Harlow pushed the boy and baby into their tent as he rushed to the tent towards his daughters cry.
‘’Don’t you touch her you little witch devil child I’ll cut those beading wondering eyes right out that sk————‘’ the remaining words ending with the top of his right jaw check and ear racing by each other against the canvas of the tent walls silencing the echoes of the needy man dying to save his wife his child anything and everything he once had vanished into the side of the tent as he laid his first and final restful weary eyes on his first born.
Harlow cocked the hammer of his revolver back grabbing the knife Jean once held over his daughter and tossed it out the tent door. Aiming the revolver at the body then looking to his daughter.
‘’What happened?’’
‘’What?’’
‘’What happened?’’ he pointed to Jean.
She pointed at Mary Beth lying on the ground.
Kneeling closer into the tent Harlow held his revolver back to his shoulder and leaned over Mary Beth as she started to foam and snarl grabbing his daughter with his other he tossed her out the front of the tent and pulled the trigger. Holstering it and leaving the tent he looked to his shivering children at the foot of their tent as he dropped to one knee.
‘’Papa are you alright?’’
He waved his hands over the fire.
‘’Papa?’’
‘’I’m fine. You both did good. Help your brother with the baby and pack up the tent. We need to leave soon’’
‘’What happened to———‘’
‘’Enough of that. They was both sick. Very sick. Got angry and feral like those oth————‘’ Harlow veered to the thud of the baby being dropped at Emery’s feet. ‘’BOY what in the——— has gotten into you?’’
‘’You said rabid like those other folks’’
‘’Harlow smacked him across the face.
‘’Pick it back up. Did I say it was rabid?’’
‘’No sir’’
‘’Good help your sister like I told you’’ Harlow walked out into the dead of the black forest night. The slight glint of the moon being the only light when he reached far enough outside of camp.

————————————————-

Several More Weeks Later

The boy hadn’t said nor made a sound in the sleep of the night. The teenage daughter did the talking for him. These soulless and unforsaken lands are the only ones that know why the boy won’t speak.
‘’Boy’’ he called back seeing the shivering shadow creep ahead as he joined his side.
‘’Go run up ahead take some kindling along the way and get everything ready. You still got that flint and knife?’’ he nodded and ran along up front falling and getting himself out of the snow several times until he rounded the corner on the out bank of the mountain that trailed off to the last section.
He leaned on the tree beside him and took his hat off and knocked the snow off against the tree. Turning back he opened the tent tart that was cradling his daughter and the small child on the make shift sled he was pulling.
‘’Can you hear me?’’ she nodded tossing the heavy beads of sweat of her face. ‘’Are you warm enough?’’ so nodded down as he wiped her face with a cloth. ‘’Well be there shorty you see’’ she rolled back into a shivering slumber as he pull the tent tarp back over her and made his way to the bend.

Building the small fire he pulled the knife out of his belt and scratched at the flint several times till a small smoke cloud begun. He blowed slight and slow building it up as the snow around the base started to melt and meld with the pitt. The flame getting big enough that he tossed two sticks the size of his arms onto the flame. Sitting back he crossed his legs and felt the fire with his hands.
‘She’s sick like ma and he wont tell me. Says she’s fine. She not fine. She like that other one that was sick. We exchanged her for the baby. Baby is the devil’ Emory poked at the fire turning to heat the ruffle of the snow behind him.
‘’Good’’ his father called pulling the sled to the side of the fire. ‘’Help me unpack’’
He grabbed the other tent and started to pitch it beside them. Stopping each odd moment or so to add another larger stick to the fire as it built it’s strength they would feed upon. Tossing the flap to the front open his father pushed him out of the way as he cradled the baby into the tent and set it in the corner.
‘Devil baby’ he glared at his father ‘Why’d you trade her for that devil baby? Did that witch make you do it?’ his father pushed him out the way again as he cradled his sister inside and set her on a fur blanket.
‘’Go dress that mare the bigger one we got’’
’That’s all we got. And you gonna give it to that devil baby I bet you are’ he tossed back and forth between his father and the corner of the tent where the baby was resting in a small fur sleeve.
Leaving the tent he grabbed the tails sticking out of the saddle bag and slammed them down into the snow. Pulling his knife out he jammed it into both several times up and down and tossed the skins away to the side. He shaved the eatable parts off both and tossed the rest into the trees to his side. Grabbing the grate and stick from the bag he rammed it into the ground beside the fire and tossed the meat bits onto it.
‘’Good you got it started’’
‘That’s all we have’
‘’Why won’t you talk boy?’’
‘I don’t talk to devil dealers’ he looked at the flames as he flipped the meat
‘’Why won’t you look at me’’ Harlow grabbed his shoulder and turned him to face him.
‘You can’t take back the thing’s you did. None of them’ he ripped his arm free and flipped the meat again.
‘’Good were close boy’’ Harlow grabbed the stick from the boy and turned the meat taking the task with him.
‘Would’t even tell her before she got her sick’ he looked up at his father turning the meat again.
‘’What boy? You can look but can’t speak?’’
He got up and left and started to walk away from the fire.
‘’Boy where the hell are you going? Talk to me god dammit’’
He started to piss in the snow right by the saddle bag.
‘’Ah’’ he heard a grumble from his father
Crouching back down beside the fire he turned his back to warm the rest of him.
‘’You wanna feed your sister or the baby?’’
He turned around and rubbed his hands together then held them to the fire.
‘’I’ll feed your sister. She needs more care now’’
‘Just gonna make her more sick’ he glared up at his father.
The fire popped and shot a coal to the side.
‘’Boy I aught to smack the living shit right outa that look’’ he raised his hand.
‘’Your mother skinned you last time you gave that look. Gave you a licken so hard you was red for a week’’ he slowly lowered his hand.
‘You can’t hurt me no more. Not after you traded that bag of a baby with those witch folk’ he tossed the look away staring back into the fire.
‘’Here take this chunked up and give it the baby while I get our sisters ready. We’ll eat whats left’’
The boy grabbed the handful of chunks and scuttled into the tent.

Spinning the meat stick over the fire he grabbed a bit of the end and cut if with his knife. Cutting through the first piece .
‘That god dam boy ought to talk soon. Were to cold and hungry for anyone to stay this bitterly silent’
Grabbing another piece from the stick he cut it the same as the first.
‘Almost can’t remember what the boy sounds like. Should have hit him earlier might have gotten something anything even and angry outburst or fit would suffice the cold was bitter and crisp without the loss of words deadly and deceitful without them.’
The boy came back out the tent.
‘’Not gonna be much left at the end of this here’’ he scooped the meat into his hand and left for the tent.
The crisp drop in temperature was sharp but not long nor lingering. 
‘’Here Connie’’ he dropped a few bits into her mouth as she slowly chewed.
‘’Small bites there. Small but eat it all’’ he dropped what was left of the food as the baby started to cough and choke.
‘’Jesus’’ he left his daughter and rushed to the corner of the tent where the child was started to change colour no longer coughing. ‘’Fucken hell must not have cut it small enough’’ he pinched the food clogging the baby’s windpipe and tossed it out as it started to breathe again.
‘Barely running on scraps and even scarcer sleep makes everything harder’ he wiped the weariness from his eyes and pressed his palms deep into them.
‘’Aright Connie. Let’s get the rest of that in you’’ he picked up the now cold chunks of meat and finished what he came in to do.

He poked a log out of the fire and into the snow.
‘’Boy what the hell are you doing tossing good logs like that?’’
‘Devil baby didn’t crook nor cry and he couldn’t have been more dissatisfied with losing another meal to that witch devil baby.’
‘’Here’’ Harlow passed over a slice of meat from the stick and took the remaining one for himself. ‘’Eat then go to bed’’
He rolled to his side on the cot he sat on beside the fire and looked upon the orange graze that glistened over the faint snow and trees.
‘When we get there they’ll take the devil baby’

————————————————-

Three Day’s Later

He rode the horse till the first day it fell in its place. He towed the two of the smallest in the sled he had made. Switching with the boy when he needed short rests he could only pull that much for so long. 

————————————————-

The Final Day

The hiss of the arrow shot right onto his thigh above his right knee. Falling to the snow he grabbed at it.
‘’Arg boy get down’’ he saw the boy run ahead of him
‘God speed he quick on nothing but no sleep and snow for water’ he scanned the trail the boy rounded ahead of him.
‘’You don’t belong here’’ he heard from the shrubs off one of the trail sides.
‘’You go’’
‘’I have children’’
An arrow snapped into the makeshift sled
‘’God stop’’ He pulled himself up and waved both his hands before he fell in front of the sled.
Another arrow went above his head into a tree beside them.
‘’Papa’’ crooked from the tent covering Connie. Looking back he saw her stir several times.
Looking up the trail he still could not see the boy nor the people talking to him as two people rounded the corner in white fur skin coats.
‘’Child’’ the taller one pointed to the sled.
‘’Yes my daughter and another’’
‘’Daughter’’
‘’Kin my kin’’
‘’The other’’
‘’A strangers’’
‘’How you have a strangers baby?’’ The shorter one took a step closer to his side that he never realized was several steps already beside him. Holding his hands up as he knelt off his leg.
‘’I was trying to help is all’’
The taller one poked the cover of the sled with his bow.
The other pulled his bow back and aimed the arrow at Connie.
‘’Sick’’
‘’no no no no no’’ he waved and tried to get in front of it
‘’Not sick not sick’’
‘’Look very sick’’
‘’Sick but not the sick————‘’ he pointed down the hill the dusk sky showing the faint smoke of distant fields just now taking the slop from the innards of the towns that fell to the rapid and ravaged once humans.
‘’We go to see medicine woman. Then we see how sick’’ the one closest to the sled flipped the cover over Connie and went to grab the rope pulling the sled.
‘’No no’’ Harlow grabbed at his arm as he jerked it away and pushed him to side into the snow.
The other grabbed under his shoulder and lifted him up unholstering his revolver at the same time and taking it.
‘’Argh’’ he winced getting up with the arrow still in his leg.

Rounding the last trail of the cliff they crossed over a small stream and entered the cave. The entrance was marked with large post’s with skulls lined up and down. A hundred between all the posts. The dim glow of the flames inside the cave bounced through the skull cracks and flickered onto the small stream that housed the cave entrance. The man got off the horse and gestured him off as he tried to land on his good leg.
‘’Medicine woman’’ he pointed into the cave as a trio of men dressed in similar fur coats come out. A tall hooded figure behind them.
He tried to winch forward and grabbed at the man for balance.
‘’Medicine woman will tell you if you can pass’’
He looked to the sled crossing the river with the children in it. The boy nowhere in sight.
‘’Where’s the boy’’
‘’Medicine woman’’ he pointed to the hooded figure lifting the cover on the sled. She pulled something from her cloak and put it into Connies mouth. One of the others grabbed the baby and went back into the cave. The cloaked woman started to make way over to them.

‘’The boy’’ she pointed to him ‘’Is not of your kind’’ she leaned and whispered to him.
‘’Where is he?’’
‘’Here’’
‘’Who was his mother?’’
‘’Celestine’’
‘’She was one of us’’
He nodded.
‘’Your not his father’’
He nodded.
‘’He is welcome with the others’’ she pointed back to the sled.
He went to speak and stopped as the sled was towed into the cave.
‘’Where are you taking her?’’
‘’They will be safe’’ she patted his shoulder and led him over the stream to the entrance of the cave.
Torches and small burning logs littered each of the building spanning walls. Glows of orange shadowed over small drawings on the walls. Extending it’s shadow to a large center area with tents surrounding a large bon fire. Several paths littered off it with similar smaller tents. Getting to one of the tents around the bonfire the cloaked woman opened it and gestured Harlow in.
‘’Sit’’ she motioned beside the small fire.
He tried to bend down to sit and fell over. The arrow moving in a direction in his leg as he hit the edge of the pillowed cushion on the ground.
The hooded woman uncovered her hood ‘’I am Aanakwad’’ 
He nodded as she bend down and looked at the arrow in his leg. She got back up and went to the other side of the tent. Returning with a knife, a cup and some sort of paste in a bowl. She bent down and grabbed the arrow shaft and snapped it just as quick. She then pulled the other end out quicker than the snap then rubbed whatever the paste was on either side. Wrapping a cloth around it she pinched the knot tight.
He drank the liquid in the cup and coughed it out. She tipped it back to his lips and he drank the rest. 
‘’Thank—————‘’ he finished the cup of liquid and handed it back
‘’Do not thank me yet outsider’’
‘’I——————‘’ he trailed off as he felt his head heavy and weightless. His vision blurring at the edges as he scanned the tent and fell into sleep.

‘’Who gave you’’ a tall fur coated man pointed his finger at his shoulder where the sign was etched in. 
‘Finally gone of the devil baby. Need to find Connie’ Emory looked up at the man in the fur coat.
‘’You no speak’’ 
He shrugged the reply looking around the cave trying to find the sled Connie was in.
‘’What you looking for’’ he turned the boy by the shoulder and turned to face him
‘’Where’s my sister?’’
‘’Safe’’
Aanakwad came over to them as he said it.
‘’She’s safe and being treated. She’s very sick’’ she looked down to the boy ‘’Now come with me. You have a choice to make’’

Harlow looked down to his naked leg wrapped around his thigh was the bandage the medicine woman put on him. He didn’t have his clothes on nor anything else under the long fur cloak that he was wrapped in.
‘’Good you are awake’’ Aanakwad motioned up from a bowl she was mixing some ingredients together.
‘’How long was I————‘’
‘’Half the day’’
‘’Where’s the boy and girl?’’
‘’Safe. The baby will stay with us from now on. Your daughter is welcome to stay as well.’’
‘Why the hell is she leaving the boy out?’ he searched her expressionless face.
‘’The boy?’’
‘’Has made his choice’’
‘’What choice?’’
‘’To stay’’
He leaned back on the cushions the relief from the pillow almost the same as the river of uneasiness that floated out with it.
‘They are safe’ he leaned back further onto the cushions.
‘’You are sick’’ she pointed a few inches above her left wrist.
He raised his and saw the scratch marks.
‘Didn’t feel it when I delivered the baby. Didn’t feel it after too cold and weary. Simple fool should have seen it’ he rubbed his hand over it. 
‘’I haven’t————‘’
‘’We can prolong many things but none such as yours can only be longed for for the remainder of their time’’
‘’How long’’
‘’By mid day tomorrow. Come’’ Aanakwad got up of the ground and motioned for his hand as he accepted it struggling up.
‘’Where are we going?’’ he waved the tent flap open as he leaned on her as they walked further into the cave.
‘’When I was just a girl I was told a story by an elder after my————’’ she waved to him ‘’Well I suppose you know’’
He nodded.
‘’This Elder traveled far and wide. Dedicated the last of his life to roaming. Finding other elders to share wisdom with. Moving on to the next and the next’’ she waved as they turned a corner showing bits of sunlight starting to filter in from opening ahead of them.
‘’This elder was trying to find something but could never seek such a thing. No matter how many other elders he talked to no matter how far he travelled across the seas he came back without finding what he was looking for’’
‘’What was he looking for?’’ Harlow steadied his leg and slowed the walk down seeing an opening at the end of the tunnel shinning with the glow of dusk coming in. The damp crisp mountain breeze shot past him cooling his legs.
‘’When he came back everyone wanted to know what he found and what he learnt. So he told them. He told them all the conversations that he had all the knowledge he gained. Some of which we use as medicine. Some were how to build. How to love. How to heal.’’ she lifted him up to help him more and pointed to his leg ‘’He told the tribe for a moon span of everything he knew. Then he would come out here in the evening a sit’’ she waved over the cave entrance that was several buildings high up and overlooking a large village of tents and clay huts.
‘’This is incredible’’ Harlow placed a hand on the cave wall and looked over the valley ‘’It’s bigger than any city I have seen in my life. Several dozen Ivey Tales could fit in the village and still show more buildings around it’’
‘’It is. We are very proud and very protective of it’’ she reached to help him off the wall and pointed down the cliff path to the right of the exit ‘’Come lets go sit’’
He hobbled down the side of the path overlooking the cliffside and the village below. Rounding the corner she motioned him to a set of pillows with a table beside it. A hot pot of something was fuming beside a set of cups.
‘’Here sit. You will only get weaker as it comes’’
He groaned as he hunched down into a pile of pillows.
‘’Why did you bring me out here?’’
‘’To show you what the older elder was looking for’’ she sat down and waved over the valley.
Harlow leaned back and took it in. The roasting of a deer waffled up and into the wind passing as soon as it was taken. He could hear the faint sound of a sound beating around a fire.
Aanakwad reached into her fur coat draped over her as she sat down and set his belt with his holstered revolver and his knife in between them.
He peered to the gift in between them.
‘’Did he find what he was looking for here?’’ he looked over the valley and back to her chilled blue eyes.
‘’Yes in that exact spot you sit upon he found what he was looking for’’ she nodded to his belt and belongings between them ‘’He found it naturally unlike yourself’’ 
‘As good a spot as any to see over the bed of thorns he sat. The sick chilling his bones. His mouth dry and scarred of the replenishment he so wanted.’
‘’What did he pass from?’’
‘’The will to choose and the satisfaction that the answers may not be the point’’ she waved over the valley. ‘’It’s a safe place. Safe for all’’ she returned her gaze back to him. ‘’Would you like to see them?’’
‘’No it will be easier if I didn’t’’
She nodded and poured two cups from the steaming pot and handed him one.
‘’Thank you’’ he sipped.
‘Mountain shine and tea?’ he looked at the rim of the cup ignoring the question and taking another drink.
‘’Something to ease the tension’’ she blew over her cup. 
‘’Always thought it would the hands of my past that would do it’’
‘’Sometimes we live our life longing for something that cannot or will not be there. We convince ourselves that it’s out there. Something better’’ she waved over the ridge of the cliff. ‘’What is the point of life if one cannot choose where to take it or when to———‘’ she motioned between them.
‘’Suppose it’s better than I deserve’’
‘’Deserve doesn’t have anything to do with death. Death is undeserving in it’s journey. It comes and goes like the mother beneath us and over us’’ she pointed to the rock floor and waved over the edge to the forrest surrounding the village. 
He took a hard sip of the drink and set the cup down.
‘’I’ll come back later. Is there anything you want for after?’’
‘’No. You’ve already done more than I ever had any merit to.’’
She set her cup down and got and up walked around the corner back into the cave they came from.

He looked over the ridge to the trees just below. The wind rustling them. Snapping branches and tossing birds to each other in songs. The trees that stood tall and proud but yet did not know their place as they were simply there. Providing what needed to be had to what was around it. All his past sins snapping with the tree in the wind. The yellow and brown leaves flowing off the tree like gifts for the unforgiven nor not the forgiven. He reached to his side and closed his eyes.

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