D-Boy

Chapter 2-1

Chapter 2

Three weeks later, Derek reached civilization.

When he left the cabin, he had the clothes on his back and a few pants and shirts that had been Michael’s and then his, in the back pack. He also had the tin box, a flint fire-starter, as much dried meat as he could fit in, and the bow with its quiver of arrows.

He had no idea where he was when he started out, and thus no idea which way to head. So he decided to keep the sun to his left, which meant he would be heading north. At least it was summer, so he didn’t have to worry about snow or even rain too much, but the nights were still chilly. He made it a habit to look for caves or rocky overhangs to keep him protected while he slept. He put on two or three layers of clothing at night and managed to keep warm enough that way.

He almost gave up finding any town, sometimes wondering if he was going in circles despite trying to keep track of the sun’s movement. He managed to shoot an occasional rabbit or squirrel and find berries or wild vegetables, so at least he didn’t starve.

If I’d gone another direction would I have found the highway where the accident took place? Or would I have just gone deeper into the mountains than I seem to be now. There has to be an end to them sometime.

All these and many other such thoughts went through his mind as he made his way up and down the rocky slopes, crossing the occasional stream or fast-running brook. When he came to one of those, he would stop and try to wash up. He had an empty glass canning jar, which he filled with water, drinking it sparingly, not knowing how long it would be until he found more.

Finally, late one morning, he came over the crest of yet another steep hill and saw a small town far below him.