Alabama Moon Read Free Page B

Because of that, we don’t owe anything to anybody.”
    â€œWho is it that thinks we owe them somethin’?”
    â€œThe government.”
    â€œThat’s right.”
    After a moment: “And what’s gonna happen to everybody that relies on the government?”
    â€œWhen the war comes, they’re not gonna be able to take care of themselves,” I said.
    â€œThey’ll have forgotten how to grow food and trap game, how to make their own clothes and shelter,” he said.
    â€œHow to find their own medicine in the forest,” I said.
    â€œThat’s right.”
    â€œHow to shoot rifles.”
    â€œThat’s right,” Pap said. “All of those things.”
    â€œAnd I know how to do it all.”
    He nodded. I stood, walked over to the stove, and put some more wood into it. Even when Pap let us burn it all night, the heat was rarely enough to keep our breath from streaming in front of our faces.
    I returned to the hide pile. “I’m not gonna get better,” he said.
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œI’m not gonna get better.”
    â€œYou’re gonna die?”
    He nodded.
    I felt my stomach twist. “Tonight?”
    â€œNo, but soon. Somethin’ like this leg won’t heal.”
    â€œHow soon?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    â€œBut I don’t understand.”
    â€œThink about it. Think about a deer that breaks its leg. What happens?”
    â€œBut you’re not a deer!” I yelled.
    â€œThere’s no difference. We’re all animals.”
    I felt like I would get sick on the floor. “What will I do?”
    â€œThat’s what I’m gonna tell you.”
    Pap said that it might not be long before Mr. Wellington ran me off the property. I would have to find someone else to live with. Pap said there were many other people like us all over the country. He said there were more now than ever. Most of them were out west, in Montana, Colorado, Utah,and Wyoming. Alaska was even better. A man could still homestead in Alaska. He could get to places where no one would find him. People could still make a living off trapping up there. Hides were worth something in Alaska. I’d have to find my way there.
    â€œBut how?”
    â€œYou’ll figure it out. You can’t rely on me anymore. Just remember the things I taught you. Take cover durin’ the day and move at night. Use the stars. Don’t trust anybody. Write me smoke letters if you get lonely.”
    â€œDo you talk to Momma with smoke letters?”
    â€œSometimes I do,” he said.
    â€œDoes she say anything back?”
    â€œShe does, but not in the way you’d think.”
    â€œHow will I get answers from the smoke?”
    Pap didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “You just do what I tell you,” he finally said.
    For the first couple of days I tried to keep our regular routine each morning while Pap was sick. I rose before daylight and checked the traps. I brought back what I caught, skinned it, butchered it, and prepped the hide. I hauled water from the creek and cut needles for tea. In the late afternoon, I did my reading lessons.
    But it was hard to keep my mind on these things with Pap lying in the shelter getting worse. Suddenly it seemed like there wasn’t a reason for doing anything. Mr. Abroscotto hadn’t bought our hides in years. We had plenty of water stored up already, and if Pap was going to die soon, why didwe need more? And how would I find a place like Alaska on my own?
    I couldn’t clean Pap’s wound without him twisting about in pain. Finally, he told me to stop worrying over it and leave it alone. “It won’t do it any good,” he said. “It’s too far gone to trouble over.”
    â€œIt’s not too much trouble, Pap. I don’t mind.”
    â€œLeave it be. Put that rag away.”
    â€œWhat if we cut it off?”
    â€œToo late. Infection’s up