THE ADVENTURES OF MY FATHER'S WOOD.
BY RLP.
PART 1 (ONE)
The pulsating winter rain pounded my soft skin. I tried to escape it's wrath but the pervasive force of nature, like an unrelenting ball bearing bomb which buries each piece of shrapnel deeper than the last, was inescapable. I turned to Casia, my hunting partner. We had covered these woods for food for almost a week now, with little success. The harsh Serbian climate at this time of the year, especially in the open fields, did not make for successful nut gathering and we would be lucky if we made it through to Spring, but we always found a way.
"We need to find shelter!" I shouted, barely audible over the amplified crashing of water to ground. She responded by taking the lead, drawing me over to piece of corrugated iron which had been mercilessly torn in to two pieces and left to the woods. The lefter most piece was sunk into the knoll and provided temporary relief, we huddled under it and contemplated our next move.
"We can't stay here for long, Casia."
"I know Ru, just for twenty minutes, please. I need a rest."
"Ok, but we must move again soon, we must keep on the lookout for food."
"Ok."
She looked ready to capitulate under the weight of malnourishment and fatigue, so I leant over and kissed her.
"mmm."
"We'll find something soon, I promise."
"mmm."
I looked up towards the sky. It was late afternoon but already the night was closing in and the ominous pigment in the cloud overhead was also present in clouds as far away as the eye could see. Soon it would be dark and we would have to make camp for the night. I told Casia that we should consider spending the night here, it would allow her time to rest and navigating in the dark in this weather would cause more problems than they would solve. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. I watched her light breathing for a few minutes, smiled to myself and hopped back into the rain. I would provide food for her by morning.
BY RLP.
PART 1 (ONE)
The pulsating winter rain pounded my soft skin. I tried to escape it's wrath but the pervasive force of nature, like an unrelenting ball bearing bomb which buries each piece of shrapnel deeper than the last, was inescapable. I turned to Casia, my hunting partner. We had covered these woods for food for almost a week now, with little success. The harsh Serbian climate at this time of the year, especially in the open fields, did not make for successful nut gathering and we would be lucky if we made it through to Spring, but we always found a way.
"We need to find shelter!" I shouted, barely audible over the amplified crashing of water to ground. She responded by taking the lead, drawing me over to piece of corrugated iron which had been mercilessly torn in to two pieces and left to the woods. The lefter most piece was sunk into the knoll and provided temporary relief, we huddled under it and contemplated our next move.
"We can't stay here for long, Casia."
"I know Ru, just for twenty minutes, please. I need a rest."
"Ok, but we must move again soon, we must keep on the lookout for food."
"Ok."
She looked ready to capitulate under the weight of malnourishment and fatigue, so I leant over and kissed her.
"mmm."
"We'll find something soon, I promise."
"mmm."
I looked up towards the sky. It was late afternoon but already the night was closing in and the ominous pigment in the cloud overhead was also present in clouds as far away as the eye could see. Soon it would be dark and we would have to make camp for the night. I told Casia that we should consider spending the night here, it would allow her time to rest and navigating in the dark in this weather would cause more problems than they would solve. She closed her eyes and fell asleep. I watched her light breathing for a few minutes, smiled to myself and hopped back into the rain. I would provide food for her by morning.