Rust

Chapter 8

     The ashes of a well-spent cigarette rained down like the leaves of Autumn past Boq's gray-tinted beard and on to the crisp snow-covered ground. The wind dusted the man's thick coat with a fresh white layer. He waited motionlessly, leaning against a rise in elevation and watching a succulent boar dig in the ground nearby. 

     He leaned forward and pulled back an arrow in a PVC pipe that was carefully melted and bent into the shape of a bow. He focused in on his target and resisted the shaking of his draw-hand. He took a breath and held it, then released his grip. The arrow whistled through the air and pierced the boars hide. A loud squeal bellowed out from the surprised beast as it dashed away kicking and snarling. 

     Boq sprang forward hesitantly and followed the beast. Despite its injuries, it proved difficult to tail. If not for footprints and blood-covered snow, Boq might have lost his catch. After a longer chase than Boq anticipated, a cry rang out just ahead of him. He turned around a small hill. The boar was fidgetting around in a net of barbed wire that was strung between two trees. 

     Boq dropped his cigarette out of his mouth and crushed it with his foot, letting out a sigh. He begrudgingly pulled a sharp stone out of his pocket and slit the boar's throat. The blood pooled under the creature as Boq carefully untangled it from its metallic binds. A few small cuts later, and the body was free. He draped the hog in a thin tarp and tied it off, throwing the package over his back, and carried it off towards home.

     He made the journey in just under an hour. The limestone cave entrance and the still amber flame welcomed him. He slapped the hog down to the right of the cliff face outside of the opening of the cave and began chopping away. The warmth of the blood kept his hands from freezing.

     "I thought you said I could do it this time," a voice said behind him.

     "You weren't here Rubi," Boq said without turning around. He began skinning the creature. "Maybe if you weren't too busy building snowmen you'd get to experience the wonder that is digging through an animal carcass."

      Rubigo set his ax down against the side of the cliff and neatly stacked logs on to the already existing pile. "You should be flattered, Boq."

     "And why is," Boq said while pulling on skin. "...that?"

     "Because I made one that looked just like you. It's pretty ugly, but I couldn't get the bad smell just right."

     Boq let out a slight chuckle and rubbed his hands through the snow to clean them. He stood up and looked at Rubigo. "Alright lad, you know how it's done. Save the tusks, watch the teeth, spare the ribs, don't-"

     "Ya, ya, ya, I got it," Rubigo interrupted. He kneeled down and impatiently picked up where Boq left off. 

     Boq shook his head and walked over to the fire. He threw in plenty of fuel and stoked it back to life. He then went into the cave and picked up a book off a log by his bed. He threw himself down on his twig and dried brush bed and laid the book gently over his eyes. The book's title read Dorothy of Oz and it was extremely old and worn.

     "Oh, now don't tell me you're taking a nap already, old man. It's hardly noon," Rubigo called out sarcastically. Boq made loud obnoxious snoring noises in retaliation. 

      Rubigo began taking strings of meat and placed them over a stand dangling over the open fire. He laid out the bigger chunks of valuable meat and flesh and put the tusks and bones in a separate pile. He finished his cleansing and started cooking more of the meat on a large rock slab.

     He took a large bite of a meat strand and savored the comforting flavor. "Been a while since we've had bacon Boq. I almost forgot what it tasted like."