Chapter 18
Claire, Maggs and I crossed into North Carolina, then did one of the backward twists the Appalachian Trail was known for. A big loop southeast before heading back north. Claire had Boone’s remains in a small wooden box deep inside her ruck. I assumed Danny’s ashes were there too.
It was a bit less than one hundred miles to Fontana Dam which is under a couple of hours on the Interstate but I was thinking a week on the trail.
Depending. So far, my journey had been anything but smooth.
I was sure my entity had some more surprises lined up for me.
I was concerned about Claire but also worried about her being with me as Punisher Tattoo Woman was out there somewhere.
So far, she’d avoided confronting me when others were around, but perhaps her patience was growing thin?
Oddly enough, my patience was thicker.
I was strangely comfortable walking with Claire and her burden of grief.
We didn’t talk from the time the vet came back with the cremated remains and we gathered our gear and hit the trail.
The silence didn’t bother me. Every so often I could see tears on Claire’s face, but most of the time, we were focused on the trail, trying not to trip and fall.
Looking for the next blaze on the tree that indicated where the trail went.
We didn’t stop for lunch. A few breaks for water and to rest. We pushed on until dark.
Found a flat spot and camped. I cooked a meal and we shared it.
The weather was obliging, clear, so we didn’t pitch our tents.
We lay down. Maggs lay on the ground between us.
I was on alert, in case Clarie wandered off in the middle of the night, but eventually I fell into a deep sleep, trusting Maggs to alert me.
Besides, I knew she had to make it to the dam with Boone. And Danny.