Cracking River ⁵ Revisit

Cracking River * storybook illustration (Haunting spirits of Prince Phillips War on Taunton River in Massachusetts: 1.5)

Sunday I walked into the woods, down to the river bank. Something about a river that is calming, wistful, soothing to my spirit. Not that I fully trust a river, mind you. *watercolor storybook illustration

It is a force, it has a will, it is not always predictable. (The river was mostly frozen, a smooth sheet across the 100 yards or so. Very unusual, but this is a wide-ish river, slow moving, not far from its destination: 1.5) *watercolor storybook illustration

I gazed over the span, quelling the childish urge to step onto the ice. Stiff joints, wrong boots, that ice isn't completely frozen... this is a river. *watercolor storybook illustration

As if to punctuate my self warnings, the ice groaned and popped. Though I knew I stood on dry land, I had a primal feeling of un-ease about my footing. *watercolor storybook illustration

In my heightened awareness that came from that moment, I noticed a percussive sound. Boom Boom echoing up and down the river. Often, repeatedly... *watercolor storybook illustration

I glanced up the river to the bridge not quite a mile away... No, that wasn't the source. I cross that bridge daily, it has no irregularities in the road surface. * watercolor storybook illustration

Boom Boom Boom Boom! Rapid fire succession. That's not a rifle. Shot gun? No.... Echoes all around me, all along the river. *watercolor storybook illustration"

Echoes all around me, all along the river. (Hauntings from the American Revolution, or King Phillip's War?: 1.5) Yes, that did sound more like a muzzle loader... *watercolor storybook illustration

Boom Boom ... Boom Boom Boom (Spirits stirred around me as I imagined a time centuries ago, Shadows dressed in homespun clothes, Voices calling out in battle's throes: 1.5) * watercolor storybook illustration

Boom Boom ... Boom Boom Boom BOOM ZZZZ BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM Boom Boom boom ... boom My focus came back down to the river. *watercolor storybook illustration

I smiled at my forgetfulness. I field dressed my cigarette, offered the unburnt tobacco to the winds. "Thank-you for the story." I spoke to the river. *watercolor storybook illustration

Groan POP... tick Satisfied, I nodded my farewell and strode on... *watercolor storybook illustration