Acid Rain by R.D Rhodes (ebook reader txt) 📕

and went through a maze of silver birch trees, reaching a clearing, which unveiled the Amazonian-like canopy below. But the sun was setting on the western hills. As we made our way back orange light pierced through and brightened the pines’ red bark. We reached the road and sided it back to the old man tree, then followed our footsteps back up to the tent.

Chapter 44

T he blue gas burned in the evening's half-light. The wind died away to leave only the stream making a noise. There was no rush, and it was peaceful just sitting by the stove, cooking the food that would sustain us, like it had sustained the ancestors.

But it got dark very quickly and it made me little uneasy. I switched on the lantern and I could imagine how much the tent must have stood out- glowing an only glow in the middle of the dark forest.

“What’s the time?” I asked.

Harry glanced from his book to his watch. “Six-thirty.”

As the blackness deepened, I thought I could sense something outside. I knew it was probably just me not being used to sleeping out, but knowing it didn’t relax me any.

When the food was ready, I handed Harry a plate of rice, and we mixed in some bananas.

“Do we have any water left?” I asked.

Harry nodded appraisingly and wagged his spoon. “Compliments to the chef. Oh. No, I don’t think we do. I’ll go.”

“No, it’s alright. I need to pee anyway.” I took the bottle and unzipped the door.

“Do you want a headtorch?”

“No, it’s arite, I can see.”

I stood up. I couldn’t actually. Even though the snow brightened things, I could barely make out the blurry trees or the silhouetted clouds that blotted the moon. The stream got louder. I kept looking into the shadows that filled every corner. What am I so worried about? I thought. Animals? Ghosts? I didn’t know. I reached the burn just as the moon broke free to glisten on the water. I dipped the bottle in and carried it back towards the luminous glow of the tent, but stopped, about thirty yards away. I glared around, eying the trunks of the many black trees, and I said quietly, “Thank you for your accommodation. We really appreciate it. We will leave everything as we found it, and respect your home. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

The world remained silent and still. What I had said was what I felt- we were in someone else’s home, some other realm. And I didn’t know if we had any right to be there.

We finished our food and boiled up some tea. It was nice and warm inside. I reflected on the day’s trek- and now here we were. We’d gone from the south of England to the north of Scotland, moving pretty much non-stop for the last five days. Always with a goal in mind and a destination to get to. And now we had reached it. We’d made it. We’d arrived. We were still, and amongst stillness. And it hit me, “What the hell are you going to do now?” “What the fuck are you doing out here?”

We’ve had fun today, I thought. Throwing snowballs. Skimming stones. Going walking. But what will we do tomorrow? And the day after that, and after that? How long will it be until we’re bored stiff? I realised then, that for the first time in my life, I had no routine to lose myself in, and that my time had always been planned for me, from since I was born. I remembered what that woman said on the bus leaving Glasgow,

“I wouldn’t know what to do without my work. I’d be bored.”

I hope that doesn’t happen to me, I thought. I would have to make sure I didn’t let it.

Harry looked up from his book, Moonwalking with Einstein. “You feelin’ okay?”

“Yeah.” I said. “You?”

“Uh-huh. You’re nervous, though? I can feel it.”

“I’m fine. Really.” I lied.

He looked back at his book, and flicked a page. “What do you want to do tomorrow?”

“I was just thinkin’ that. I dunno, maybe explore the area a bit more. Climb some of those big mountains?”

“Yeah, it’s maybe a bit too icy for me, but maybe. See what the weather's like.”

He went on with his book. Then he lay down and spread the pages above him. I was grateful he was out there with me, someone to turn my mind to. Something else to focus on in that lonely, remote place. I was so grateful for that light above our heads too. Good company, shelter, food, water, and a warm bed; sitting there surrounded by the dark world outside made me appreciate it all so much.

A long period of quiet passed. I yawned.

“Ye tired?”

“Not really. I wish I was.” I said.

He put his book down. “Yeah. It’s gonna be a long night. It’s a pity we came now and not in summer. But that’s the way things worked out, I suppose.”

“It’s fine. Just the darkness. We’re only gonna get about eight hours light a day. That’s a lot of time sitting inside a tent! But, it’ll be fine. Just have to keep ourselves busy.”

Harry took a noisy sip of his tea. It wasn’t really that noisy, but it was the only sound I could hear and I couldn’t help focusing on it.

“So, how many school trips did you go on here, when you were younger?” I asked.

 “Just one actually. We went to the dog falls, remember-”

“Yeah. The falls we passed, about an hour after our last camp?”

“Yeah. I was young though. About seven or eight.” A wistful nostalgia came over his face. “Had a really good teacher then, Mr Young. He used to say this was the most beautiful glen in Scotland. Gave me a packet of