The River

Jack and Wynn take turns keeping watch during the night. Wynn sits by the fire, recalling memories of his father. He looks off across the lake for any sign of the fire but sees nothing. In addition, he ponders what caused Maia’s injuries. He discounts that a bear could have done it, since the nature of the injuries, including the separated shoulder, aren’t consistent with a mauling. He considers that she may have fallen out of a tree but starts to align with Jack’s suspicions. As he sits there in the dark outside the tent, he holds the rifle. Maia’s condition is improving; her body temperature has come back up, and she has stopped shivering. Wynn begins to get sleepy and wakes up Jack, who takes over so that Wynn can sleep.

Jack helps Maia urinate. She can utter only approximations of words. Jack and Wynn prepare the canoe and get Maia ready for the journey back to where they left Pierre. They wrap her in a sleeping bag, place her in the canoe, and push off.