Doug sat on a log stool with a bare foot across his knee. “You got any of those big bandages left. Joe?”
”Three or four; How’s your blisters?”
“Look at this one - half dollar size, and bleeding. I wish I hadn’t bought these new boots. I wore them for a week - figured they’d be broke-in by now.”
“We’re all gimped up in some way”, I said. “Your blisters, my stiff leg, and Dan’s got a weak ankle from an earlier accident” I looked over at Ed. “Well Ed. What’s wrong with you?”
“Yeah! How come you ain’t hurt?”
“Hey now”, Ed screeched. “My Achilles’ tendon is sore; I can barely walk.”
“I knew he’d come up with something; couldn’t stand to be left out.”
“I just don’t complain like some people I know.”
“Poor Ed. The silent sufferer.”
“Ah crap. Let’s get out of here”, he said as he headed out the door.
Doug suggested we place one of the air mattresses in the bottom of the raft to help distribute the weight. The boat had a small leak, but we judged the repair could wait till evening. We cast off.
Crisp air and muted echoes of a silent morn cast its spell as we paddled the long axis of the glass smooth lake. I rowed while the others lounged with their backs pressed against the sides. No one said anything for a time, reluctant to break into the mood, but finally someone ventured, “This is the type of scene you see in travel magazines. Think of all the people who never get to see a sight like this.”
“Yes! But there’s more to it than just a photo. A photo can’t convey the other things you sense - the feel of it.”
“Alaska is like that. There is nothing more majestic when its sunny… nor more dismal when it rainy and overcast.”
“You guys sound like you’re making an ad for the local tourist bureau. Do you think this weather will hold?”
“Those clouds over there look like snow, and that’s where the weather has been coming from. We’re high enough - could get snow before we get out of here.”
“Which mountain did you get the small one on?”
“The one that’s off to the right. It slopes up a long way and then levels off - looks like it goes on up to the next higher peak, but its actually separate. The level spot is the top.”
“You shot it on the level spot?”
“Yeah! It rolled all the way down to the brush.”
“Then it rolled half way down the mountain. That must have been quite a sight.”
“Let’s hope the wind doesn’t come up before we head back.”
”Think we can get all the meat in the raft?”
“Yes, but three of us will have to walk along the shore. That won’t be too bad if we don’t have to carry anything.”
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