Next chap up! Just to let everyone know, I've decided to alternate between Ren and Louis. So that way no one is left in suspence for to long. I'm not that cruel.
Chapter 8. Follow the Drinking Gourd
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"Wow Larry! I never new you could cook fish!" Ren said as they finished their supper. For the past few days they had been surviving off the few berries that grew and fish from the occasional thawed out lake. Even though it wasn't much, some times they would go an entire day without food, it was enough to keep them alive.
"Well, I've been going fishing with my grandpa since I was little. So I know a thing or two about fish." Larry said putting another log on the fire they had started.
"I guess you'll have to teach me then. Since we're going to be out here a while."
"Ren, are you positive you want to still go on with this. I mean, it's not to late to turn back now. We've only been gone for a couple of days."
"I'm sure. I can't let Louis down like that. And after all the things I said to them." Ren said making herself comfortable by the fire.
"Ok. If you say so." Larry said sitting down next to Ren. After that there was a long silence as each just drank in the quiet peace of the forest.
"Hey, you see that star right there." Larry finally said as he pointed to the sky.
"That bright one." Ren said also pointing to the sky.
"Yeah. That's the northern star. When we want to go home all we have to do is follow that star."
"How do you know that's the one?" Ren said sitting up a little.
"Well if you look around it you can see that other stars join up with it to make the drinking gourd.
"Don't you mean big dipper?"
"Yeah. It's called that to. But the African-Americans like to call it the drinking gourd. It's what we used to find our way to freedom. I remember my grandma used to sing to me one of the songs that they used to help remember the way." Larry said as he smiled in remembrance of his grandma.
"How does it go?" Ren said sitting up more.
"Let me see if I can remember."
"When the sun pulls back
and the first quail calls,
follow the drinking gourd.
For the old man is awaitin'
for to carry you to freedom.
If you follow the drinking gourd."
"That was nice." Ren said as she laid back down.
"Thanks. I'm glad you liked it." Larry said as he too laid down.
In just a matter of minuets they were fast asleep. After about an hour the fire finished dying down. Leaving them in complete darkness under the stars.