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She feels calmed. She feels free.

The woman seems to take her measure for a moment. Then she turns and walks off the path a few feet into the woods, bends down and begins hacking away at the limb of a birch tree. A few strokes is all it takes. She’s amazed at this woman’s power. The long hard muscles moving along her back. She forgets the blood and sees the power. She feels a strange kind of seduction going on here — as though the woman were dancing for her and her alone.

Is this what she could be one day? This strong?

Perhaps it is. Is she wishing for this? A part of her is, perhaps. A part of her is almost sure she is.

The woman returns to the path and hands her the limb. It will make a perfect staff to ease her wounded ankle.

She takes Darlin’ by the hand and begins to walk away, leaving Peg alone there, her blind sister capering at the woman’s heels. The woman’s hips move side to side in a rhythm wholly unknown to her.

A few moments later, she follows.

~ * ~

The Woman has twice lost everything. Her parents’ family and then her own. Her goods, her weapons. She has been scarred by knives and guns. She is naked but she will find clothing to her own liking as she always has. She will find other goods and weapons. The earth is a dangerous place for her, but it is also open to her. She can live in sunlight or in darkness as she chooses. She can eat of the creatures of the sea or of the land. The earth has a fist but it also has an open hand.

This night sky now — it belongs to her. Its dark will mask her. Its stars will guide her to the shore. She will find a cave and perhaps build a fire. She can hear the dogs behind her barking not very far away. The dogs will like a fire.

She has twice lost everything but the earth is rich with food and family.

Table of Contents

THE WOMAN

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ALSO FROM JACK KETCHUM & CROSSROAD PRESS:

PART ONE

ONE

TWO

THREE

FOUR

FIVE

SIX

SEVEN

EIGHT

NINE

TEN

ELEVEN

TWELVE

PART TWO

THIRTEEN

FOURTEEN

FIFTEEN

SIXTEEN

SEVENTEEN

EIGHTEEN

NINETEEN

TWENTY

PART THREE

TWENTY-ONE

TWENTY-TWO

TWENTY-FOUR

TWENTY-FIVE

TWENTY-SIX

TWENTY-SEVEN

TWENTY-EIGHT

TWENTY-NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY ONE

THIRTY TWO

THIRTY THREE

THIRTY FOUR

THIRTY FIVE