THE LOST VALLEY

BOOK TITLE:

FROM THE CLEAR WATERS

(Illustrated) 

by Mark Cudney

An excerpt from the story,

"The Lost Valley"

The rain finally stopped so Luke decided to forge ahead, trying his best to recapture some of the old magic. He thought maybe it was the weather or old wounds that dulled his spirits. 'But no,' he thought, 'things just aren't the same.'

At the boggy area with the tag alders Luke suddenly remembered Walt shooting at a rising woodcock with Heidi on point, right where he was standing now. It was their last hunt together, and they had been heading back to the truck after a long day. It was a scene to be captured in paint, and it was how Luke saw it now. Earlier he had found an old spent shell casing and had wondered if it could possibly be one of theirs from time gone by. 'Good old Walter,' he thought, 'gone all these years. MIA.'

He whistled to his pup and kneeled to scratch its ears. "You did good today, boy. I think it's time I gave you a real name. I think I'll call you Wally, if that's okay with you. He would have liked to be here today. He would have liked you."

Crossing the soft mud of the bog, Luke struggled for balance. He had to force each step forward out of the muck, which sucked at his boots. Once on firmer ground he stopped to unload his shotgun and clean his glasses. He called to his pup, dug in his pocket and fed him a handful of dry chow. There was a rustling noise behind him and he turned, expecting to see a squirrel or some other animal they had spooked. But all he saw were his boot prints becoming visible as they filled with water, as though a sylvan spirit was treading his very path. 

For more information about the book go to:  http://www.markcudney.com/