
     ,,*apt} ,,ei<te5
     ,,ano!r ,,gd-bye
    ,,dec4 #aici

,a ~w fitly spok5 is l apples ( gold 9 pictures ( silv}4
--,prov}bs #be3aa #df

  8,yr life dep5ds on yr abil;y 6obs}ve ! _w >.d y10 sd ,osc> ! next morn+ :5 he & ,rudi />t$ | = ,rudi's f/ full lesson 9 survival4 8,f :at ,i c tell10 ,osc> 3t9u$1 %>p5+ 8 knife on a r|< /"o z !y walk$ al;g1 8y hav5't se5 or he>d any?+ s9ce y 5t}$ ! woods40
  ,rudi 0 gr{+ a ll tir$ ( ,osc>'s -;ts on 8 9exp}i;e 9 ! =e/4 8,i hav5't be5 z bad z all t10 he retort$4
  8,no80 ask$ ,osc>4 ,he /opp$ abruptly4 8,close yr eyes10 he sd defiantly4
  8,:at =80
  8,j d z ,i say40
  ,rudi obey$4
  8,n{1 tell me :at k9d ( tree y're /&+ 2s40
  8,i don't "k ! "n ( x10 answ}$ ,rudi4
  8,!n j describe x10 sd ,osc>4
  ,rudi hesitat$4 8,x looks l any o!r tree10 he f9,y sd 9 exasp},n4
  8,l any o!r tree10 8 tutor mock$4 8,d y "k h{ _m k9ds ( trees "! >e 9 ! _w1 boy8 ,& y're go+ 6/& "! & tell me !y all look alike80
  8,well1 ,i didn't say t1 exactly10 sd ,rudi1 op5+ 8 eyes4
  8,keep ~? eyes clos$10 ,osc> ord}$1 8& hold | yr h&40
  ,z ,rudi /ret*$ | 8 h&1 he felt ,osc> lay "s?+ 9 8 palm4
  8,"!1 ,i've giv5 y a clue10 ,osc> sd4 8,n{ tell me :at k9d ( tree x is40
  ,rudi ran 8 f+}s ov} a t9y bran*4 8,xs a tree ) ne$les1 n l1ves10 he sd1 fe>+ 6be any m specific4
  8,well10 sd ,osc>1 8at l1/ y didn't tell me x 0 a ,*ri/mas tree4 ,b feel x c>e;lly4 ,>e ! ne$les %ort or l;g80
  8,l;g--,i ?9k10 sd ,rudi4 8,!y feel k9d ( droopy10 he a4$4
  8,okay4 ,>e !y po9t$ or blunt at ! tip80
  8,po9t$10 sd ,rudi4 8,s9ce y're s obs}vant1 op5 yr eyes & look at ! bran* closely40
  ,rudi did s4
  8,t's a bran* f a ,d|glas fir tree10 ,osc> told hm4
  8,if x _h be5 a black spruce1 ! ne$les wd h be5 %ort4 ,if x _h be5 a r$ c$>1 !y wd h be5 small & scale-l4 ,"! >e all k9ds ( ne$le trees4 ,0! way10 he a4$1 8n{ t y "k ! "n ( at l1/ "o tree1 look >.d ag4 ,>e all ! trees ab y ,d|glas fir trees80
  8,no10 sd ,rudi %eepi%ly4
  8,well1 yr f/ lesson's -plete4 ,y've le>n$ h{ ll y "k40 ,osc> gave 8 usual smirk1 b !n he a4$1 m e>ne/ly1 8,n{ ,i'll 2 a# 6t1* y h{ 6re,y see1 he>1 feel1 & ev5 ta/e & smell l y n"e h 2f40
  ,osc> 0 true 6his ~w4 ,"u 8 9/ruc;n1 ,rudi exp}i;ed a :ole new _w op5+ 2f hm1 & z he 5t}$ 96x1 he felt hmf gr{+ 9 body & m9d4 ,8 improv$ =e/ diet made hm physic,y /r;g}1 & ,osc>'s m}ci.s drill+ =c$ hm 6be m5t,y al}t4
  ,8 s5ses 2came s acute t 2f l;g he cd id5tify _m (! trees & bu%es n j 0si<t b 0t|*4 ,he cd 4c}n 0ta/e or smell :e!r nuts & b}ries 7 safe 6eat1 & he cd he> ev5 ! smalle/ cr1tures scrambl+ "? a ?icket4
  ,he al 2came skill;l 9 adapt+ & improvis+4 ,he le>n$ n "o b s"eal ways 6trap1 prep>e1 & cook m1t4 ,& he 0 c>e;l1 z ,osc> _h 9/ruct$ hm1 69clude ! fat "ps (! ra2it 9 8 diet4 ,he al le>n$ h{ 6build l1n-to's1 3/ruct bu% la4}s1 & ev5 h{ 6w1ve a rope f re$s collect$ f ! riv} bank4
  ,! visits 6,anna's f>m 7 8 3tact )! |tside _w4 ,except = ,josef1 ! m5 7 frly4 ,o3a.n,y he a3ompani$ !m on _! 8mis.ns10 b ,osc> seldom all{$ ,rudi 6"picipate1 say+ 9 8 gruff way t he did n want any boy gett+ hmf %ot4 ,rudi 0 grate;l1 = he _h a feel+ t ,osc> 0 re,y try+ 6protect hm4 ,mo/ (t51 ! m5 w5t | )|t hm1 & he met ,osc> lat} at a r5dezv|s ,po9t deep 9 ! =e/4
  ,0late ,decemb}1 ,rudi 0 pr|d ( h{ 9dep5d5t he _h gr{n4 ,al? ,osc> n"e came "r | & sd s1 ,rudi felt sure t he 0 pr|d ( hm z well4
  8,y've le>n$ a lot ov} ! pa/ few weeks10 ,osc> admitt$ z he & ,rudi set | = _! usual ni<tly meet+ at ,anna's4 8,b ,i / h a few m tricks up my sleeve40
  ,rudi 0 curi|s4 8,l :at80 8,well1 n{10 ,osc> sd1 & he af=d$ hmf & ,rudi a g5u9e smile1 8if ,i told y1 !n ,i'd 2 talk+ myf | ( ajob40
  ,v2#a 8,aw1 y don't h any?+10 sd ,rudi4
  8,maybe1 maybe n10 sd ,osc>4 ,z !y approa*$ ,anna's1 !y saw t ! /raw ro( 6! "ugr.d cool} 0 propp$ op54 ,osc> h1d$ = x4
  8,anna80 he call$4
  8,yes80 %e answ}$4 8,j mak+ sure no "o 0 /1l+ yr food10 sd ,osc>1 pe}+ d{n at h}4 8,rudi wd 2 glad 6help y c>ry any?+ 9 if y ne$ x40
  8,i c manage10 %e repli$4 8,y two g on in4 ,i ?9k ! m5 h "s news = y40
  ,:5 !y 5t}$1 ,rudi notic$ t "! did n seem 6be ! usual hu2ub go+ on4 ,s"eal (! m5 7 3v}s+ 9 l{ t"os :ile ,josef mov$ ab ! ta#1 try+ 6ov}he> :at !y 7 say+4
  8,:at's ! news80 ask$ ,osc>1 settl+ hmf d{n 9 8 usual place at ! h1d (! ta#4
  ,j4 ,! m5 seem$ 6hesitate4 ,_! secretive mann} 0 unusual4 ,vi 8,-e on10 ,osc> snapp$4 8,| ) x4 ,we hav5't
  got all ni<t40 ,,9 ,n4 #a3aa ,i 8,n ) hm 9 ! room10 sd "o (! r|<- look+ soldi}s1 ge/ur+ t{>d ,josef4
  8,y've n"e m9d$ my 2+ "h 2f10 sd ,josef4 8,i m9d x n{10 ! soldi} repli$4 ,josef po9t$ at ,rudi4 8,y let hm /ay40
  ,,"m ,,gd-bye 8,t's 2c he doesn't make spee*es ab h{ flid} is go+ 6save ,pol&40
  8,don't worry10 sd ,josef4 8,i've giv5 up mak+ spee*es 6yr k9d40
  8,& ,i've giv5 up mak+ spee*es 9 front ( yr k9d10 repli$ ! soldi}4
  ,a h1t$ >gu;t seem$ 9evita#1 b j !n ,anna 5t}$4 ,%e 0 c>ry+ a l>ge sack ( potatoes4 ,! m5 quiet$1 b %e _h he>d 5 6"k t tr|# 0 brew+4
  8,g | & ga!r "s k9dl+10 %e sd 6h} nephew4
  8,t c wait10 sd ,josef4 8,no10 %e sd1 walk+ ov} 6hm4 8,x c't40 ,&! look 9 h} eye 4c|rag$ hm f fur!r >gu;t4
  ,reluctantly he put on 8 hat & coat & w5t | 6get m wood4
  ,z soon z ,josef _h clos$ ! door 2h hmf1 ,anna approa*$ ! ta# & laid ! sack d{n4 ,%e 2gan collect+ br1d & *eese = !m z well4
  8,:at's all ?80 ask$ ,osc>1 gr{+ annoy$ at _! secrecy4
  8,i ask$ h} if %e _h any food %e cd sp>e10 repli$ ! man :o _h j be5 >gu+ ) ,josef4 8,we'll 2 ne$+ x = |r trip40
  ,osc>1 impati5t at ! be/ ( "ts1 gl>$ at ! soldi}4 8,:at trip80 he %|t$4 8,w y get 6! po9t6
  8,we're plann+ 6move clos} 6! ,g}mans' /r;ghold10 ! soldi} sd4
  8,i've gott5 ~w f a relia# s|rce on ! loc,n ,(a major ,g}man supply l9e10 a second soldi} ann|nc$1 "s:at boa/;lly4
  8,) ! ammuni;n we h be5 a# 6get1 we cd d "s r1l damage10 ano!r expla9$4  ,rudi _h n"e se5 ! m5 s animat$4 ,!y spoke excit$ly1 cutt+ 9 "o ~u ano!r4
  8,by block+ (f _! food & ammuni;n1 we cd w1k5 _! :ole front l9e40
  ,ij 8,~! skirmi%es we've be5 9volv$ 9 >e b>ely noticea#40
  8,? is |r *.e 6d m40 8,b we h 6move qkly4 ,! ,g}mans >e 3/antly %ift+ ! supply l9e = protec;n40
  8,hold on1 "h10 ,osc> dem&$4
  ,"ey"o grew quiet4 8,h{ f> away is ?80 he ask$4 8,x wd take u ab two "ds 6get "!10 sd ! r|<-look+ man4
  ,osc> sat ?9k+ a mo;t1 runn+ 8 f+}s ov} 8 be>d4 ,!n he turn$ 6,rudi4 8,:at d y ?9k8 ,d y want 6g80
  8,h{ l;g wd we 2 g"o80 ask$ ,rudi4 8,we don't plan on -+ back until ? w>'s won10 sd "o soldi} )a ?ump ( 8 rifle butt on ! floor4 8,if we su3e$ on ? exp$i;n10 ano!r expla9$1 8,we move f>!r up ! l9e40
  ,rudi hesitat$4 ,! ?"| ( mov+ f>!r f ,w>saw 0 n at all app1l+4 ,/1 he did n want 6lose ,osc>1 ei4
  8,i don't ?9k ,i'd 2 m* help10 he sd4 ,!n he a4$1 m | ( duty ?an 3vic;n1 8,b ,i don't see :y y c't g1 ,osc>40
  8,i'm n l1v+ y10 ,osc> repli$4 ,rudi gl.ed up1 reliev$ &a ll pl1s$ 6he> hm say s4 ,emb>rass$1 ,osc> sc{l$ at 8 m5 z ?|< he _h n sd any?+ at all4
  8,li/51 ,osc>1 we ne$ y10 "o ( 8 m5 pl1d$4
  8,2ss1 = weeks n{ y've be5 bra7+ ab h{ sm>t ! boy is10 "s"o a4$4
  ,rudi look$ at ,osc> & notic$ t he 0 fidget+ 9 8 *air4 ,? "t ! gruff man cd n ignore :at _h be5 sd4
  8,well1 ,i h told !m t y're do+ pretty well10 ,osc> admitt$4 8,( c|rse1 !y "k x's 2c y've _h a gd t1*}40
  8,t's "r4 ,he's _h a gd t1*}4 ,n{ he c make x on 8 {n4 ,y c1 c't y80 ask$ ! r|<-look+ man1 turn+ t{>d ,rudi4
  8,y1h1 ,i guess s10 ,rudi sd un5?usia/ic,y4
  8,:y don't y want 6g80 ,osc> ask$ hm4
   8,:5 my "f -es back10 he sd1 8he'll -e back 6,w>saw4 ,i want 6be close by :5 he does40
  ,! m5 at ! ta# sd no?+1 b s"eal ( !m ex*ang$ gl.es1 & ,rudi cd see 0_! expres.ns t !y did n ?9k 8 "f wd "e re,y return4
  ,rudi 0 try+ h>d n 6let _! skepticism ov}take hm1 b he seem$ 6be los+ ! battle until ,anna 9t}rupt$4
  8,! boy's "r10 %e sd4 8,:5 8 "f returns1 he w -e f/ 6,w>saw look+ = hm40
  8,y ?9k he %d /ay80 ask$ ,osc>1 turn+ 6h}4
  8,i d10 %e sd4
  ,rudi felt hope;l once ag4 8,!n y %d /ay10 ,osc> 3clud$1 turn+ back 6,rudi4 ,!n he a4$ af "s hesit,n1 8,b ,i m/ g )! o!rs40
  ,rudi tri$ 6hide 8 4appo9t;t b cd n4 8,i m/ g10 ,osc> 3t9u$1 82c ,i want 6d my "p 65d ? w>4 ,i want 6make sure t m5 l yr "f c return z soon z possi#40
  ,rudi no4$ b / sd no?+4 ,osc> turn$ 6his m54 8,:5 d we l1ve80
  8,tn10 ! f/ soldi} sd4
  8,t way we c make ! attack on ,*ri/mas ,eve10 ano!r expla9$4 8,!y'll 2 sure 6be do+ "s celebrat+4 ,_! gu>d w 2 d{n40
  ,osc> look$ d|bt;l4 8,>e we r1dy80
  8,yes10 ! m5 repli$ 9 unison4 8,a c|ple ( u met e>li} ? afn 6collect ! ammuni;n we _h hi4510 ! r|<-look+ man told hm4 8,&1 ( c|rse1 ,anna has provid$ ~! supplies40
  8,!n ,i guess t settles x10 sd ,osc>4 ,he plac$ a h& on ,rudi's %|ld} 2f gett+ up 6l1ve4
  8,"h1 take ?10 he sd1 & he unwrapp$ 8 r$ wool5 sc>f f ab 8 neck & h&$ x 6,rudi4 8,y'll ne$ x m ?an ,i w4 ,2ss1 ,i c get x f y :5 ,i return10 he sd1 & !n he turn$ 6g4
  ,rudi took ! sc>f & l+}$ 2h1 wait+ =! rema9+ soldi}s 6take _! l1ve4
  8,y're welcome 6/ay "h until ,osc> returns1 ,rudi10 sd ,anna1 approa*+ hm z he /ood 9 ! doorway (! cottage4
  ,he 0 ab 6take h} (f} :5 he saw ,josef return+4 ,rememb}+ ,josef's bitt} spee*es1 ,rudi decid$ 6g back 6! =e/4 ,"! 0 no d5y+ ! fact t1 if he /ay$ ) ,anna1 ,josef wd provoke hm4 ,a fi<t wd 2 9evita#--& unwise4 8,?anks1 b ,i'll make x j f9e10 he sd4 8,osc>'s be5 a grt t1*}4 ,j ask hm--he'll tell y s hmf40
  8,i h no d|bt t y'll make x10 %e sd4 8,b rememb}10 %e 3t9u$1 z if %e s5s$ :at he 0 ?9k+1 8y ne$ n"e 2 afraid 6-e "h4 ,i'll 2 "h if y ne$ any?+--any?+10 &1 b5d+ d{n1 %e kiss$ hm on ! *eek4
  ,h} ~ws gave ,rudi bo? c|rage & -=t4 8,i'll rememb}10 he sd4 ,& z he turn$ 6g1 he det}m9$ t :5 ! w> 0 ov}1 he 0 go+ 6br+ h} ! bi7e/1 b"re/ b|quet ( fl{}s he cd f9d4
