Chapter 15

           "Walter"wokeupintheapartmentlateintheafternoonofDecember8,restlesstogohunting,longingforthethrillofthechase.Helovedbeingoutinthewoodsalonewithagun.

           Walterdidn’tfindhimselfoutonthespotveryoften,andheknewhewouldbecalledupononlywhenhisuncannysenseofdirection—aspecialskillhe’dacquiredfromhuntinginthebushinhisnativeAustralia—wasneeded.Thelasttimehe’dbeenoutwasyearsagowhenBillyandhisbrother,Jim,hadbeenonasummerbivouacwiththeCivilAirPatrol.BecauseofWalter’strackingability,hehadbeenpressedintoserviceasaspotter.

           Buthehadnothuntedforaverylongtime.

           SothisafternoonhetookituponhimselftoborrowRagenshandgunfromthetopoftherefrigerator.Thoughitwashardlyasubstituteforarifle,itwasbetterthannothing.Helistenedtotheweatherreport;hearingthatitwascold,hedecidedtobringamackinawandgloves.UnabletofindhisAussiehatwiththepinned-upbrim,hesettledforaskimask.HepackedalunchandsetoffsouthonRoute664.Heknewinstinctivelywhatdirectiontofollow.Southwouldleadhimtowoodedareaswherehecouldhunttohisheart’scontent.HegotoffthehighwayandfollowedthesignstoHockingStatePark,wonderingwhatgamehewouldfind.

           Hedroveintotheforest,parkedthecarandbegantowalk.Ashepresseddeeperintothewoods,thepineneedlesfeltslipperybeneathhisfeet.Hebreatheddeeply.