THE PASSAGE

THINGS TO CONSIDER

"Jamie, is there something wrong?"

"Did you say something?"

"Yes, I asked if you are going to let me try your weapon now?"

"Um, yes, I suppose it would be okay."

We find a relatively large downed tree trunk not too far away. Using the hatchet, I cut out a section of bark about a one-foot square. In the center of that, I make a deep notch. I walk Solstice back about fifteen paces from the target and give her the same instruction my father gave me many years ago.

"Okay, Solstice, it's going to be loud, and it's going to push you back. Now, cock the hammer back and aim at the target the way I showed you. And remember, squeeze the trigger, don't pull."

"Yes, Jamie, you have already told me that three times."

I watch her brace herself with a foot behind her as she cocks the persuader, holding it with both hands. I take a few steps back as she draws the weapon up to ready herself for the shot. She concentrates for only a few seconds before I hear the massive boom.

Solstice turns and looks at me with excitement about her that I can only imagine being the same one I had the first time I fired my Dad's Persuader, a gleam in her eye, mouth hanging open, surprise written all over her face.

"Wow, this is a powerful weapon." She turns it over in her hand and looks it up and down.

Just then, we catch movement up ahead.

"Solstice, look, it's little pigs. The boom must have scared them from cover."

They take off, running and squealing, about ten of them in a group, all the same size. If this had been two weeks ago, I would have thought that they were cute. Right now, I find myself thinking about roast pigs and how to hunt them.

I dismiss the thought for now. We have the deer meat back at the cabin that we need to finish. Besides, Toby will be better soon enough. I'm sure that he will want to take on the responsibility of being the man of the house and hunt for us. I would rather learn to cook than hunt anyway. Solstice seems to enjoy cooking, so maybe I won't even have to do that. Taking care of Cain in itself is almost a full-time job right now.

Solstice did pretty well for her first time firing a weapon, especially with it being a handgun. The bullet hit about four inches above the bull's eye. It didn't even kick her back when she fired it.

After we inspect the target, she quickly declares that she wants to try again. I remember feeling the same way my first time, so I agree to let her shoot just once more for now. She does much better the second time, coming in at only an inch below the bull's eye.

We continue back towards the grove of fruit trees, with Solstice talking about how much she enjoyed her recent experience. She tells me that if we do make it back to Eden by chance, she wants one of these revolvers.

Daylight is starting to fade as we come upon the grove, and the temperature is dropping quickly. We spend only a little time inspecting the trees' layout, reaffirming our theory that someone did plan this grove here.

We make our way down the trail towards the cabin and come upon the backside in just a few minutes. The smoke coming from the fireplace indicates that Toby has managed to rekindle the fire.

For supper, we finish the leftover stew and tell Toby about our adventures this afternoon. Solstice also gets Toby caught up on some of the conversations about Nod that she and I had the previous evenings while I entertain Cain. Toby has many questions for her, and I learn new information about Nod also.

A couple of hours later, we are all tired and decide to go to bed. Toby convinces me to sleep in the bed with him one more evening. We are both too tired to think about sex tonight anyway.