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Post by kaijafon on Sept 26, 2011 22:33:01 GMT -6
This:
Kept going, instead, but couldn’t stand the thought of returning to the warm cabin without finding some resolution to what he perceived as a growing weakness in him, an unacceptable slipping that would surely lead to his demise, or worse, if not immediately corrected.
Is what I was talking about how an anorexia person thinks. Just Einar replaces the thought of being FAT (anorexia) with TRAINING (Einar).
It is a dangerous thought process and if Einar does not snap out of it, he will end up like those anorexia's that also do not snap out of it.
And by snap out of it, I mean realize just how dangerous that thinking is. Reminds me of those in deep stages of hypothermia who think they are warm and cast off their clothes. (in another part of the story)
I still think it is good to think about it so we do not fall into the same dangerous mindset. Obsession is not a good thing and Einar is there.
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Post by pjaster on Sept 26, 2011 23:24:20 GMT -6
kaijafon, that is a very interesting observation. I often see things ~a kilter~ off how others see things, when it is discussed, it always comes down to "Life Experience" This week past, I officially turned in keys to the old place. Richard, watching me tie down the trailer, said: "well, I can say one thing for sure, you do tie knots"! Earlier, he started to say well cut that line, its too long.... I looked at him, and said, Cutting ropes and lines is ONLY done in an emergency.Sunday Evening, the heavens opened up, I had three leaking spots.... and put up my (Brand New) 8 foot ladder, and the tarp purchased to cover, in case roof sealing did not get done before storms hit (sort of where Einar is with them shingles)! Well, guess what? the 100 foot shank of line that I had kept UNCUT for TEN YEARS, was cut, and cut and cut again... and me, carrying my Gerber Salt weather diving knife, with my TEETH, as it was [glow=red,2,300]~the knife~[/glow] at hand.  I can not agree, NOR disagree with your comment, it is YOUR COMMENT.... but I value view points that are ~askew, off kilter, a half bubble off plumb~ !!!!! philip |
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Post by FOTH on Sept 27, 2011 6:37:33 GMT -6
That poor Einar he needs the rabbit stick so bad, but it would only injure him with no chance knocking any sense into him. I belive if i were Liz i would have tied him up and force fed him by now. Do you have any idea how badly that would have gone? Better just stick with using the rabbit stick… I would have hoped that EA would have learned his lesson after losing those toes. He'll be in dire straights, and so will Liz and the young'un, if he loses any fingers. What does it take for a foolish, egotistical, self-centered, prideful man to learn a little humility and do what's right, regardless of what he's done in the past, or what he thinks ought to be OK for him? I don’t think it’s about pride and humility at this point. He’s just got a notion in his head about what he thinks he must do to keep himself ready for winter, and once he decides on something, that thing generally gets done regardless of the obstacles he may face. Guess this one could stand to be reconsidered, though. This: Kept going, instead, but couldn’t stand the thought of returning to the warm cabin without finding some resolution to what he perceived as a growing weakness in him, an unacceptable slipping that would surely lead to his demise, or worse, if not immediately corrected. Is what I was talking about how an anorexia person thinks. Just Einar replaces the thought of being FAT (anorexia) with TRAINING (Einar). It is a dangerous thought process and if Einar does not snap out of it, he will end up like those anorexia's that also do not snap out of it. And by snap out of it, I mean realize just how dangerous that thinking is. Reminds me of those in deep stages of hypothermia who think they are warm and cast off their clothes. (in another part of the story) I still think it is good to think about it so we do not fall into the same dangerous mindset. Obsession is not a good thing and Einar is there. He can be rather single-minded at times, and I do get your point. kaijafon, that is a very interesting observation. I often see things ~a kilter~ off how others see things, when it is discussed, it always comes down to "Life Experience" Yes, it’s hard to see past certain life experiences sometimes, and that’s the position Einar is in, wanting to keep on doing the things that he believes are the only ones that have kept him going in the past, whether or not they may make the most sense at the present time. It can be an extremely difficult thing to let go of. Philip, glad to hear that you’re officially out of your old place, and continuing to get settled in the new one. Sounds like quite a storm you had, before your roof was quiet ready for it! Sorry about your 100 foot line, which is now in pieces, keeping your roof from leaking… Sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Thank you all for reading, and for the discussion!  |
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Post by FOTH on Sept 27, 2011 6:38:06 GMT -6
Liz was somewhat alarmed at the sudden earnestness in Einar’s eyes, the way he clung to her, and she stopped in her bustling excitement over the soon-to-be rabbit stew, sat down beside him. “Tracks. I saw tracks on my way up here.”
“What kind of tracks?”
“They were…I might have seen wrong, but looked like they were human tracks. Headed down.”
She was on her feet, staring hard at him and looking angry and scared all at once. “I don’t think you can have seen wrong. You don’t see wrong when it comes to tracks. Human tracks, and you’re just now telling me?”
“Just now remembering… I wasn’t quite awake when I saw them, which is why I’m hoping I just saw wrong, imagined them, something…but I’m starting to think they may have been real.”
“Where? Where area they?” Liz was moving as she spoke, shoving items into her backpack and tossing Einar’s to him, demanding that he hurry, pack, get things together. They were leaving. Had at least to be prepared to leave, because there was no way she was sitting there in the cabin and waiting for some unknown individual--she hoped it was and individual, and not an entire group whose tracks Einar had crossed, but wasn’t sure he would have told her at present, was not certain he would have been able to remember--to happen upon their cabin with them in it. Or to make his way back down to the nearest spot where he could get a phone connection, and call in a tip… Einar got the idea, began packing--didn’t have to add much, as he kept that pack ready to go when he wasn’t using it for other purposes, loaded down with as much as he could reasonably carry should they have to hastily abandon the place in the night--alarmed at the realization that Liz had been the first one to think of the step. He took another spoonful of honey, hoping it might help him wake up, be a bit more quick on his feet.
“Down in the willows they were, between here and the tarn. Just a single set of tracks, heading down. But before we act, I need to go back and make sure. Like I said, could have been imagining things.”
“Einar, you…oh, let’s go. I’m coming with you. Don’t forget about your hands. You don’t want to freeze them again. Better keep them tucked inside your shirt part of the time, under a hide, something. Here. I’ll wear my parka, you take both hides. You’re still freezing from earlier. I can see it. My pack is ready.”
“Mine too. I’ll put out the fire.”
Silently they set out together across the clearing and into the timber, moving cautiously, Einar’s atlatl and darts slung over his back, spear grasped tightly in one hand despite the still-painful results of the morning’s minor frostbite as they descended through the trees, heading for the spot where he believed he had seen the tracks. Wished his memory might be clearer. Figured it would have been, had he eaten some breakfast that morning before setting out.
There. He remembered that twisted, fire-blackened old stump of a limber pine where it jutted out over a grove of lively little willows, enduring victim of some long-ago lightening strike, and he pointed to it, nodded to Liz and traded spear for atlatl, holding a dart at the ready. Hand hurt, but he wasn’t even feeling it. As they advanced on the remains of the tree, step by silent, stealthy step, moving slowly so as not to make crunchings and cracklings in the still-frozen morning snow, Einar found himself wishing Muninn was with them, as the bird seemed quite adept at surveying a scene and giving warning when it was due. The bird had flown off first thing that morning, though, taking advantage of the break in the weather to skim across the treetops and down across the basin in search of a bite to eat, and he had not yet put in an appearance.
Careful. They may be waiting to ambush you. Tracks may have been a decoy to get your attention and keep you looking in the wrong direction while they set up their ambush, and suddenly things took on a very dangerous feel, Einar wide awake and motioning to Liz to keep low, follow him into the willows. Beneath the concealment of the little trees he crouched, waited until she drew so near that he barely had to whisper to make himself heard.
“Up there…you see the little stand of firs just up the hill?”
She nodded. “Get yourself up there, real slow, real quiet, and wait for me. Don’t like the feel of this. Don’t want the little one in the middle of it until I get some idea of what’s going on. Wait for me there. I’ll come for you in a minute.”
Liz did not even consider protesting. His tone of voice left no room for protest. She went, swiftly, quietly, to wait for him, praying that he would make the right decisions down there, conduct himself with caution and be ready should the situation prove more dangerous than either of them yet knew.
Through the willows Einar moved, twisting, turning, barely brushing a stalk or a shoot, despite the density of the patch as he wound his way closer to the blackened tree that was connected in his memory with the sighting of the tracks. Not a sound, not a breath of wind stirred the willows as he moved, and despite the persistent chill of the morning, the place was beginning to seem terribly oppressive. Nothing. Reached the tree without seeing anything out of the ordinary, and he was relieved. Would be embarrassing to have to admit to Liz that he had imagined the entire thing, dreamt it, but he couldn’t have cared less, knowing what those tracks, had they been real, would have meant for the two of them. Einar’s relief was short lived, and he stopped, frozen in his footsteps, staring into the brush around him and listening, listening, but hearing nothing. Sensing nothing. Hoped he could trust his senses. Knew they had been failing him, of late.
Time to go back for Liz, no immediate danger detected in the area, no ambush, and Einar beginning to grow more and more uncomfortable at the idea of her being up there in the trees alone. She was waiting exactly where he’d asked her to wait, bow ready, arrow in place as she crouched behind a small outcropping of granite, peering over its top in readiness. Recognized Einar, lowered the bow. Come, and his voice was barely a whisper, barely a breath, and they reached the burnt-out tree together, Einar pointing to a small clearing just beyond it.
There in the snow, neat and so crisp that she could nearly read the word on the logo in the center of the tread, lay a single line of boot tracks, heading down.
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Post by thefishinmagician on Sept 27, 2011 15:04:58 GMT -6
I agree! What could be better than Nutella brownies? You can start a thread in the "story" section if you'd like, where the question about where to post comments is posted. This sounds good! Recipe is up! Here's the direct link... freedomofthehills.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=story2&action=display&thread=35Man! I sure hope that's Kilgore tromping around! If it's not, our couple could be in trouble! |
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Post by FOTH on Sept 28, 2011 16:56:40 GMT -6
No chapter today, because I wasn't able to get one written last night.
Thanks for reading, and I'll be back tomorrow with another.
TheFishinMagician, thanks for the Nutella brownie recipe! That sure sounds good.
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Post by pjaster on Sept 28, 2011 17:28:53 GMT -6
Chris, I have again, a differing view....
Had I cut that line before, (with many the opportunity ;D ) I would NOT have had it to cut when the Emergency of the MOMENT was there!
The real issue is, during the final daze (correct spelling, but also meaning a period of time...) I misplaced my rope bag... "and everything in its place"
I have roughly speaking 1000 feet of 550 para cord. all shanked in various lengths, over 300 feet from a German 24 diameter parachute, so they are all radius + length to harness. then a good buy on a 500 foot roll of Black 550.... &c ! that one 100 foot piece was one of three shanks I located, "on the run"...
No regrets of cutting it at all.... just the ancient to me voice of my Father.... "rope is your friend, and can save your life...." "treat it proper, and do not take the lazy man approach of cutting it up, learn your knots, know them blind folded, and cut them ONLY when damaged, OR an emergency"
I deemed the down pour an emergency, and will keep the short pieces... they are still good, just short!
In HIS Service,
philip
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Post by grantmeliberty on Sept 29, 2011 0:11:08 GMT -6
I feel the same way about cordage, Philip. I used to carry a 100 foot hank of paracord, but have since cut it down to 3 approx 33 foot hanks. I also have a 1000 foot roll of OD paracord, so if I need a long length I have that too.
Whenever I run across a piece of twisted lay cordage, poly or manilla, I feel compelled to put an eye splice in one end and a back splice in the other. If it is someone else's, I will ask permission first LOL
I really hate to see twisted rope coming apart and becoming useless.
On knots, does anyone else tie a Zeppelin knot?
That and follow through figure 8 knots are favorites of mine now.
I have long loved my bowlines, especially the one handed, which I was taught about 55 years ago.
If anyone is familiar with the slippery sheet bend, I like to tie into a bowline in the same manner, so that I have a quick release. I used to tie shop aprons on that way, which I had to tie in the back, and it was easier having the bowline to tie into. Also very quick to remove.
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Post by ref100 on Sept 29, 2011 0:48:32 GMT -6
All I can say is what I am thinking. Einar has been walking this area all morning. Is it possible he is seeing his own prints and not realizing it? He is not very coherent. Here is a question for the masses. Question- For those that have seen "the wizard of oz" multiple times. (in my case that's a bunch growing up. 12 to 15 times. I'm getting old.) Remember them running into the poppies and falling asleep? If you watch it again will the outcome change? If you think it will then your thinking is not quite right. Einar is doing this. The same thing that has been done over and over lots of times, he expects the outcome to be different when nothing else has changed? Might want to check his thinking. Sorry that's just the way I see it.  Great work Foth, just frustrating. But life can be very frustrating. |
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Post by FOTH on Sept 29, 2011 15:12:58 GMT -6
Chris, I have again, a differing view.... Had I cut that line before, (with many the opportunity ;D ) I would NOT have had it to cut when the Emergency of the MOMENT was there! Well, that is a good point. Guess it was just being saved for the right moment. No regrets of cutting it at all.... just the ancient to me voice of my Father.... "rope is your friend, and can save your life...." "treat it proper, and do not take the lazy man approach of cutting it up, learn your knots, know them blind folded, and cut them ONLY when damaged, OR an emergency" Yes, it sure can save your life, and as a climber, I’ve from time to time had to remind folks rather forcefully not to step on the rope. Especially if it’s my rope, but regardless, you just don’t step on a rope. Good you had that line intact to cut up during your “downpour emergency,” though! Whenever I run across a piece of twisted lay cordage, poly or manilla, I feel compelled to put an eye splice in one end and a back splice in the other. If it is someone else's, I will ask permission first LOL I really hate to see twisted rope coming apart and becoming useless. Same here. I even collect, clean and coil up the baling twine that I find while out wandering…and it’s come in handy from time to time too! All I can say is what I am thinking. Einar has been walking this area all morning. Is it possible he is seeing his own prints and not realizing it? Interesting that you should ask…though one would have to hope Einar wouldn’t make such an enormous oversight. For those that have seen "the wizard of oz" multiple times. (in my case that's a bunch growing up. 12 to 15 times. I'm getting old.) Remember them running into the poppies and falling asleep? If you watch it again will the outcome change? If you think it will then your thinking is not quite right. Einar is doing this. The same thing that has been done over and over lots of times, he expects the outcome to be different when nothing else has changed? Might want to check his thinking. Sorry that's just the way I see it. Great work Foth, just frustrating. But life can be very frustrating. Yes, life can be frustrating… Not to speak for Einar, but I don’t think he is so much expecting the outcome to change when he repeatedly does the same thing as he is thinking he hasn’t quite done the thing right yet, in the first place, and so must keep on trying, and trying… |
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Post by FOTH on Sept 29, 2011 15:14:14 GMT -6
The tracks were not fresh. Einar had been sure of that much as soon as he’d seen them, their depth and definition not in the least resembling the faint scratches and scrapings made by his boots and Liz’s as they traversed the hard-frozen snow that morning, and he supposed the fact ought to be reassuring, but it wasn’t. Meant the intruder must have passed by sometime during the previous day, late morning or early afternoon, judging from the slight melting and expansion around the edges of the tracks, had made his way along through the timber not terribly far below the cabin and might well have smelled their smoke, if not seen it. And now he was gone, long gone by the looks of things and beyond their reach had they wanted to stop him. Which Einar very much did, wanted to track him down, observe him and measure his intentions, and he certainly would have done so had the man not possessed such a solid lead.
As it was, Liz following him at a careful distance and keeping a sharp eye out for any sign that they were being watched, Einar stalked the trail down through the willow-clearing, keeping to the timber and observing it from a distance as it pursued a rather straight course, straighter than he would have normally walked and, as confirmed for him by long experience with such matters, straighter than most other men would have traveled as well, unless pressed for time and bent on covering ground as quickly as possible in pursuit of one mission or another. The man had at times behaved oddly though, wandering from his straight course with footsteps that appeared erratic, stumbling, tripping around for half a minute or so before standing stalk-still, turning one way and another as if attempting to regain his bearings or, Einar could not help but think, trying to remember where he was, and why he had come to be there. Which could mean one of several things, could indicate anything from a wayward and weary hunter--more than weary I’d have to say; fella looks like he’s half dead and mighty confused…wonder if he’s gonna make it down at all?--anxious to be down out of the snowy backcountry to a traveler who had observed some sign of their presence, drawn his conclusions and was moving cautiously, stopping to listen for signs of trouble as he made his way out to report the sighting to the feds. Crouched there studying the man’s track where they disappeared into the spruces he shook his head, wishing he could answer with some certainty the riddle, discern the man’s purpose and intentions. Without some measure of certainty he was beginning to doubt the wisdom of their remaining in the area, starting to fear the prospect of returning to the cabin, even, lest they find that an ambush had been laid in their absence. Liz seemed to sense his growing doubt, crouched beside him and put a hand on his knee.
“A hunter, do you think?”
“He wasn’t carrying much of a pack by the looks of his stride, certainly not any portion of a deer or elk. Not a very heavy fellow for the size of the boots, either. And he was limping, dragging a heel now and then, breaking that real straight, purposeful stride of his and wandering like he was lost…looks like he must have been awful tired.”
“An unsuccessful hunter? Tired and sore-footed and maybe even slightly injured? It’s easy to slip and twist an ankle on the snowy rocks, and with all this new snow, the elk have probably almost all gone down lower, so it’s not unreasonable to imagine he might have been unsuccessful.”
“Yes, as every hunter would know, which is part of what concerns me. Why was he up this high right now? And what did he see?”
“Our smoke, maybe.”
Einar nodded, silent, eyes grave, and Liz knew what he was thinking, shook her head.
“I don’t want to leave.”
“Neither do I, but if it’s between that and waiting around to be captured…”
“We only have the one cache that’s far enough from the cabin. It wouldn’t be much to start a winter on. Let’s not be hasty about it. Let’s try and figure out what this guy was doing up here.”
Einar nodded, went back to studying the tracks.
“Looks like his boots were pretty close to being worn out…see here how the tread’s all broken down along the outer edge? Bet he was anxious to get down out of the high country with these ratty old boots, once the snow started. But there’s a pretty good chance he might have spotted our smoke on his way past, even if he was a lousy hunter with bad boots. And though it’ll probably take him longer to make it down out of the mountains than it might someone who was better equipped, he’ll get there eventually. Seeing how badly he was limping though, looks like I’ve got a better chance than I first thought of catching up to him if I really hustle. Better do it, better have you wait over at our cache--just in case he’s already made it out and reported this--while I…”
“Einar, sit down!”
“What?”
“Right here on this log--sit down.” He sat, still puzzled but recognizing the urgency in her voice and Liz crouched beside him, pulling off his right boot, holding it sole-side up beside one of the tracks.
“When you were out collecting bark for shingles the other day--yesterday! That was yesterday!--did you come down this far?”
Einar shook his head, rested it on his knees as he placed a hand in the nearest track. Didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, understanding where Liz was going with her question and knowing she was right. He rose, relieved, ashamed and terribly angry with himself--probably would have been frightened, too, had he not been so mad--took her pack as well as his own and started up the slope towards the cabin, grim, silent, unable to meet Liz’s eye when she came up beside him and kept pace but then she stopped and he stopped too, leaning on his spear and staring at the ground until she took his face in her hands--dear, dear Einar, don’t do this to yourself--still trying to persuade him to look at her. Which finally he did, only to find her eyes glowing, full of life and something that could easily have been mistaken for joy.
“It’s alright. It was only part of a day, and now we get to keep our cabin and everything we’ve set aside for the baby…Einar, I’m so glad it was just your tracks we were following all this time, and I know you’re unhappy that you were able to make that kind of mistake but it’s one any of us could make under the right circumstances, so let’s just leave it, go home and get on with the day. I can’t wait to get home! So glad we get to see that place again…”
No, things are not Ok, not with me anyway. I’ve lost it, lost just about everything that was keeping me going out here and now it seems I’ve lost my tracking skills and my mind both, in addition to everything else. “Yeah. Me too. Glad we can go home, and I’m gonna get us some more caches set up so we’ll be better off if this ever happens again. Happens for real. This was a good opportunity to assess our state of readiness I guess, though it never should have happened. I’m just sorry the little one’s got a lousy hunter with bad boots, a limp and a head full of mush for a father. Guess he ought to have better than that.”
“We can fix it! All of it. New boots are next on the list for both of us, and all you need to do to get the mush out of your head is eat, eat more than once or twice in a week and maybe allow yourself a bit of rest now and then, and your head will be just fine. Now. It’s a beautiful fall day, sunny and warming up and the snow’s starting to melt off, so what do you say we go home and do the next step in getting that goat hide tanned?” Reluctantly Einar took the hand Liz was offering him--didn’t deserve it, or her, or any of it, grace, gift freely given and sometimes so terribly difficult to accept--and they started up the slope together.
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AlaskaSue
Member
One of the Frozen Chosen
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Post by AlaskaSue on Sept 29, 2011 18:54:20 GMT -6
Love it! Never would have guessed he was following his own tracks. But the end, oh, he is so on the mark. It is humbling to receive a gift, one so freely given as the love and loyalty he has with Liz. And what a picture of the grace given to us, so wholly undeserved, of the love and mercy of our Father and our Lord. This was a jolt for Einar, but maybe it'll work better in the long run than any walloping he may feel he deserves from that rabbit stick! Thank you!!! Such a blessing to read this each day! |
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