They drove north to a secret fishing spot known only to Koskie and some Cree elders. They listened to Bluegrass on the long road up and told Punto long stories of camping trips past. Punto devoured their wisdom, eager to try his hand at pursuing the great Northern Pike.
The three companions head towards the secret fishin' spot.
They arrived and set up camp. They had packed light; they'd only eat what they caught, they drink from the pure spring that flowed nearby.
"This is gonna rule!"
But soon, the weather turned cold. Twins fans far south in the Twin Cities felt some of this chill themselves. And it began to snow. At first, the snow cast a delightful cloak over the landscape. It was beautiful, and surely it would pass soon.
"Man, this is pretty!"
But the North can be pernicious. It snowed. And snowed. And snowed. The secret fishing hole froze over. The bubbling spring froze solid. In retrospect, travelling light didn't seem so wise. The men grew hungry. So very very hungry. Punto began to hallucinate, seeing Dome Dogs peering at him from the forest. Damon grew faint. Koskie used a mystical technique taught to him by an Inuit elder to go into a trance and dull the pain of his empty belly, a trance he goes into often during the season. But the human body can only take so much. Finally, Damon, dizzy with hunger, took Koskie aside.
Desperate, Damon tells Corey his plan...
They had the most serious, desperate discussion people can have. They had to take a drastic step or surrender to starvation. The two of them came to an agreement and returned to seek out Punto....
And then there were two.
Finally, the weather broke, and Koskie and Damon were able to return to civilization in time for the upcoming three-game series--changed men. Certainly they were furrier.
Koskie and Damon, home, but forever changed.
Damon decided to keep his wilderness-survivor look as a monument to what had passed. As for Nick Punto, he's "on the D.L..."
Posted by Batgirl at June 24, 2004 06:34 PMSo THAT'S what happened to Nick Punto. ;-D
Curses to you Batgirl!!! For now I have the old 70's song "Timothy" running through my head.
Posted by: bubblemint at June 24, 2004 09:07 PM"But the North can be pernicious."
It's funny because it's true!
Posted by: biggie_robs at June 24, 2004 10:18 PMThey still sell my cereal in Canada.
Posted by: Boo at June 25, 2004 10:09 AMJohnny Running Bull Martinez Chang Damon, as he's known in some circles, is a canabalistic barbarian. I don't think anyone here would argue that fact. However, I'm not sure I believe your story is completely accurate. Maybe this is Mr. Damon's version of what transpired, but I simply can't believe our Canadian Twin would've joined Johnny at dinner with Punto pie on the menu. In fact, had he known The Animal was plotting against Nick, he would have protected him. It's the woodsman way.
I envision Punto and Johnny huddled by a fire. Koskie's a good distance away, angry at his inability to provide for his American guests. He looks over his shoulder at his two frail friends. They look tired and scared. Corey is neither of these. Knowing this, he decides he must act. He sharpens a short stick with a rock, and trudges into the white abiss. Within moments, he knows they are saved. Barely visible, mostly covered by blowing snow, he sees them: fresh grizzly tracks! He follows them and inside 30 minutes he has found the beast. He wrestles it the ground, and with a single thrust of his weapon, punctures the creatures heart. It takes him only minutes to construct a sled using a Swiss Army knife, a fallen tree, and a fair amount of sinew. Relieved, he loads his cargo and heads back to camp. But when he arrives he finds his old friend has already eaten his fill. "Dammit Johnny!" he thinks but doesn't speak, "what a horrible waste of life! I hope for the sake of your soul that it didn't have cubs."
Posted by: Florida at June 25, 2004 10:54 AMWhat the heck is a canook? Corey may be a canuck, but a canook? Certainly not!
[ed. note: thanks sgb!]
Posted by: sadgoatboy at June 25, 2004 12:56 PMDear Florida,
I think you are exactly right.
Sincerely,
Batgirl