Читать книгу Northwood - Maryse Meijer - Страница 10

KINDLING

I saw the light on in the woodcutter’s hut and walked

through the leaves and knocked on his door not knowing

he was there on the porch sitting in the dark a blanket

across his lap he said What. I said I’m alone I can’t start the

fire. My nose dripped. I had no gloves. I thought it would be

warm, my first month in the woods. I just stood there. He got

up and I followed him into the cabin, my cabin, and he took

the box of long matches from the mantel and showed me.

How dry the wood had to be. Stacked just so. Blow. Smoke

in my eyes. How it stung. Squatting side by side I sniffed the

cold coming off him how long did he sit outside like that in

the dark it was so dark. The fire swelled. After a moment he

left. Sparkle.

Snap.

And the burn