Page 216 of Seven Oars
“The main town’s built on the shore,” Chet said, pushing aside the tarp covering the“window”.
Rosamma caught a blast of snow from the ski square in her face.
“I see.” She moved the flap quietly back into place, but not before catching a glimpse.
The“town” was a cluster of squat log cabins, varying in size, set low to the ground. Lights glowed in thick windows. The air smelled of woodsmoke.
“Behind the town are the White Fields,” Chet said.“Then the mountains. I’m taking you to the mountains, where the Rix lives.”
They passed the town and skied across the open tundra of the White Fields. Rosamma peeked through a slit in the flap. Gentle, rolling hills stretched ahead, blanketed in snow.
Megroyara’s cold was rough but dreamy. Hypnotic. It held the beauty of a dark fairy tale, awash in the shifting glow from its northern lights.
Chet stopped at the bottom of the hill.
It has started snowing.
Rosamma looked up at the forest-encased mountain ahead, where a trail vanished into the trees. Bluish green evergreens loomed above, forbidding. The wind picked up, shaking their shaggy branches.
“That’s it. That’s the end of the road,” Chet said.
She glanced questioningly at him.
“It’s too narrow from here on up, and…”
“And what?”
He exhaled a puff of mist.“Can’t go up in the rig.”
She looked again at the mountain and the dense, heavy trees wrapping it like fur.“Then I guess I walk the rest of the way.”
Chet nodded and spat on the ground.
Rosamma thanked him and took the bag he untied from the back.
“Listen, I don’t mean to give advice, but… are you sure about going up there?”
She glanced at the white groove of trail snaking upward.“It’s just a forest.”
“And he’s just a friendly neighborhood lumberjack. Hell… I’m just saying.”
Rosamma smiled at him.“I’ll be fine.”
He rummaged in the truck.“Here. You can return it later.”
Rosamma accepted the small flashlight.“Thank you.”
Adjusting the hood of her parka against the wind, she hefted her bag, waved at Chet, and started walking.
The snow was deeper than she’d expected—her feet sank almost to the tops of her short boots.
“Hey, I’ll wait here for a bit,” Chet called.“Holler if you need help.”
“I will!” she called back. It was pointless. The trees would swallow any sound. Chet knew it, too, but she figured he felt responsible.
Following the trail, she entered the forest. It was quieter here and not as windy. Under the trees, the snow wasn’t as deep.
But it was blindingly dark.
