Chasing Fire

Wayward Gypsy Travelers - Part 19

They spent their last day at Devil's Fork preparing for their journey back to civilization.  The old buildings sat solemnly as they made their way through the lost town.  It didn't feel like they were saying goodbye forever to the ghosts, only until we visit you again.  It started to rain, as it did often during summertime in Alaska she noticed. 

Bear knew the way they should go and headed in a different direction that lead them closer to the highway.  Even walking all day they still couldn't make it and decided they would have to find a place to stop for the night.  Bear said he thought he saw a group of birds circling a thicket and it could be a camp or a home.  He was right.  As Noralee followed him into the brush they came upon a small home built with a hodge podge of pieces from campers, tents and salvaged wood.  The little cabin had its own brand of rustic charm.  It was delightfully random and eclectic, made from scrap and refuse into something functional.  Bear called out to the resident.  There was still plenty of daylight left but he wanted to make sure they didn't surprise them and end up getting shot.  It seemed like such an odd thing to see a home in the middle of a National Park like Denali, but it was the perfect place for someone who wanted to get away from people. 

"Duncan!  Are you home?"  Bear called out and waited for a minute when he heard a stirring from inside the mélange of building materials.  It was a home his brother Matt would have been proud of if he were here.

"Bear Brown! I haven't seen you come this way in dog years.  You were a squirt the last time I saw you.  Look like your Dad now.  That is the only way I could recognize you."  The old man named Duncan looked exactly like what she could imagine a hermit would look like.  He had a long, thick grey beard that stretched all the way to his belt buckle and wild, long greyish black hair down his back.  Even though he was old, he moved quickly and was lean, but not too skinny.  He was good at getting his own food because there were no grocery stores here.  His eyes took some getting used to.  The way he stared at Noralee made her nervous and she didn't know why.

"Duncan!  I had a feeling you would remember me.  It has been a long time.  Can we keep the rain off our heads tonight and bunk with you?  This is my lady, Noralee Hale.  We are getting married."  Bear was proud of her and smiled brightly showing her off like a shiny, new penny.  Noralee blushed a little.  It was odd being introduced to someone who rarely saw people. 

Duncan's eyes widened and he slipped his glasses from around his neck and peered closely at Noralee.  "Well, she is a pretty thing.  Where did you find her?" 

"Here!  She was lost."  Bear was chuckling, "You never know what you might run across out here.  Moose, Bear, Trout, Wife?"

"Well, I'll be.  I been here for forty years and I never found any pretty ladies.  You are blessed Bear Brown.  Must be Irish luck.  No wait...what did your Dad call it?  Brown luck." 

"I am not sure it would be Brown luck, that kind of luck is always bad."  He laughed and followed Duncan inside. 

"I don't have much room but you can have the penthouse.  Hugh Hefner wouldn't mind if you borrowed it."  Duncan joked about the section of the self styled, illegitimate, gypsy bungalow that used to be part of a camper built upon a foundation of tree longs.  "It will keep the rain off you if nothing else." 

"I am much obliged to you." 

"Obliged?  What do you have to trade?" 

It was the customary dickering of the Bush Folks and Noralee just stood quietly and listened. 

"I need a strong back to help me fix my roof." 

"Deal!" 

It was a strange system of currency to Noralee.  Cash was almost obsolete and carried little value.  It was all about the commodity of physical things and services you couldn't do for yourself.  She suddenly hoped she didn't get included in their bartering.  Duncan wasn't too creepy but he was a man left alone for a long time and she clung close to Bear and zipped her jacket all the way up to her chin.  She wasn't letting Bear out of her sight.  It wasn't that she thought Duncan would do anything, but in a place like this there were no rules or boundaries and just about anything could happen.  She was very dependent on Bear to protect her.  He seemed at ease with Duncan and that gave her a peace of mind to not worry too much about him.  Even though if a serial killer wanted to hide out this was the perfect place.  As far as she could remember no one ever caught the Zodiac Killer and it was possible she was having dinner with a fugitive.  Why else would someone live this far away from civilization on purpose?  Either criminal activity or mental illness must have drove them to literally the end of the Earth.  And although he looked like a sweet, harmless old man Noralee knew looks could be deceiving.