Christopher Dinsdale's Historical Adventures 4-Book Bundle. Christopher Dinsdale
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“Dad walked through these woods too?” whispered Jesse.
He nodded. “I often feel your father among these trees and animals. The memories of us together here are so strong. This is where I come on those days when I miss your father. And with you here now, well, I know he's smiling on both of us. He wanted you to experience what he experienced as a child.”
His father was here? Jesse's skin felt cold, even in the humid, still air. The questions he had held back for so long now flooded his mind. He fought with all of his strength to hold back the tears he could feel quickly building in his eyes. Jesse had to ask.
“Why did you wait so long to see me?”
His uncle sighed. “Your dad wanted it that way. He saw too many children like you being torn between the two different worlds of their parents and not really fitting into either one. Your mother was born and raised in the city. She had her family there to help look after you, and that is where she was happy. Your dad felt you would learn your place in their world and be happy, too. He didn't want you to come here until you were at an age when you would appreciate his culture, and hopefully not reject it. He wanted you to be twelve before you took your first trip to Six Islands.”
Jesse was beginning to understand, but he still felt hurt. “Didn't you want to see me before now?”
Uncle Matthew put a hand on Jesse's shoulder. “I loved my brother very much, Jesse. And yes, I wanted to visit you and watch my brother's son mature and grow. But I understood what your father was trying to do. Childhood is such a confusing time. He didn't want to increase the burden upon you. Losing a dad is hard enough. Remember, you are my brother's son, not mine. It is not my place to question his judgment when it comes to the raising of his child.”
Jesse thought about what his uncle had just told him. Suddenly, the forest didn't seem so foreign. He pictured his father walking through these very same woods with his brother, just as he was doing with his cousin and uncle right now. He didn't know why, but the plants and ground seemed to suddenly radiate a warm glow. His body started to relax. His father had actually enjoyed this sort of stuff! Jesse decided to try and get into the spirit of things…that is, once his stomach stopped growling.
They set up camp in a clearing by the edge of a gurgling creek that stitched its way through the fabric of the green forest. Uncle Matthew was hoisting trout after trout from the creek, as if the fish bit onto the hook by command. Jason was busy rearranging the stones of an old fire pit, while Jesse was given the task of collecting dry twigs and branches. Jesse dropped another load of sticks in front of Jason, who crouched as he organized the tinder. Jason waved him down and Jesse, tired from the long walk, thankfully collapsed onto his knees.
Jason raised an eyebrow. “Do you want to see an old Indian fire-making trick?”
“Sure,” replied Jesse.
Jason grinned. “Now watch carefully.”
Jason brought his two hands close together. Starting slowly at first, he began to rub his palms together, gradually picking up speed. Jesse was amazed at the concentration on Jason's face. The hands were now a blur, and Jason's breath grew ragged.
“Almost…there,” he grunted.
Jesse jumped back as a flash of flame leapt skyward. A small, orange fire burned like magic from the skin of Jason's cupped hands!
“Whoa!” yelped Jesse, as he watched the flame suddenly disappear, not believing his eyes. “How did you do that?”
“I told you,” said Jason innocently, “it's an ancient secret. I can't go just around telling everyone.”
“Please?” begged Jesse.
Jason looked at him suspiciously. “Can I trust you to keep a secret?”
“Sure! Tell me!”
Jason paused. “All right, then. Put your hands like this.”
Jesse cupped his hands as Jason directed.
“Start slowly and rub your hands back and forth. Speed up the rubbing, that's it. Good. Now go as fast as you can!”
Jesse winced. His hands were starting to hurt from the rubbing. “I can't go any faster. What do I do now?”
“Now for the most important step. Ready?”
“Yes, I'm ready!”
“Flick the lighter.”
Jesse froze. “What?”
Jason opened up his hand. Sitting inside his cupped palm was a disposable lighter.
“Flick the lighter, see?”
The lighter burst into the same orange flame that Jesse had seen earlier. Jason collapsed onto his side, laughing.
“Oh, man, I got you good!” howled Jason. “You should've seen your face!”
Jesse didn't know whether to feel angry or amused. Seeing his cousin rolling around on the ground tipped the balance. Jesse broke into a grin.
“You're an idiot!” he growled and playfully pushed his cousin back into the dirt. “I'll never believe another word you say!”
The laughter broke Jesse's sombre mood, and the two boys chatted about the Toronto Maple Leafs, school and the fact that they both liked to play lacrosse. Jesse was amazed by how quickly he took to his cousin. Usually shy, it sometimes took weeks before he would joke around with a new friend.
Within minutes, the fire was burning brightly, and Jason went to get drinking water from a shallow well that had been dug near the creek. Jesse wandered over to his uncle and watched as he expertly cut open and cleaned the half-dozen trout. Noticing Jesse turning pale at the sight of the gutted fish, he pointed him in the direction of a small clearing and a patch of raspberry bushes. Jesse, bag in hand, was put in charge of foraging for their dessert.
After a delicious dinner of pan-fried fish, boiled knotweed root and raspberries, Uncle Matthew produced a bag of hot chocolate powder. As they chatted and sipped the warm drink, darkness seeped into the forest. By the light of the fire, they spread out the sleeping bags in a circle around the burning timber. Soon they were lying back, looking up at the stars that blinked on and off through the gently rustling leaves. Flames from the fire seemed to bring the swaying branches to life. The surrounding limbs and leaves danced fiercely to the flickering orange tempo. The show was hypnotizing.
Uncle Matthew broke the spell. “Tomorrow we will hike to another site. It is a site of our ancestors. It was a place that your father held close to his heart. Before he became sick, he told me that he was looking forward to taking you there himself.”
“Why was it so special to him?” asked Jesse.
Uncle Matthew poked at the glowing ashes of the fire. “It will be easier for you to see for yourself. You'll have to wait until tomorrow.”
Jesse rolled to face his uncle. “I remember mom telling me that