Free Will of Man - Part Three by William Scanlan Page A

snake and grabbed hold of what looked like a large baby bed. I swam under and up into it.
    I could see the people and their torches as I floated by them. I was able to guide the bed to the middle of the river - out of anyone’s reach. I watched as the people stretched their necks to see if the bed was anything worth trying to get. Some pointed at it, but most just looked away.
    I had to work hard to keep the bed from rolling over. It needed to stay upside down, so I could stay hidden.
    I floated down that chilly river for as long as I could, even when I couldn't see the torches anymore. It felt like a couple hours at least.
    My wetsuit kept me fairly warm. After a while, I let the baby bed go and continued floating down the flowing river. A board from the one of the boxcars floated by with some black grease on it. I took the slimy grease and smeared it anywhere I had exposed skin.
    Fortunately, I had the full moon to light my way. Otherwise, floating down that river, in complete darkness, would have been too much to attempt.
    I finally pulled myself to the grassy riverbank. The warm sun was beginning to come up and I knew I was going to have to find a dry place to hide and dry off. My exposed hands and feet were in the water so long that they turned tender and felt mushy.
    Not wanting to cut my tender feet on anything sharp, I put my shoes on. I know I have a challenging walk ahead of me. About four-hundred miles.
    Tyler's Journal Entry: 355
    Date: May 17
    Day: Sunday
    Weather: Cold and cloudy
    Days Since the LAST DAY: 2yrs, 10 months, 16 days
    After finding a small-shallow cave (about the size of a small walk-in closet), I decided to rest for the day. A nearby tree supplied branches for a mini clothes line, which I hung my clothes to dry upon.
    Using some brush, I hid the entrance to my cave. The cave itself was fairly hidden, but I've learned since the LAST DAY to go the extra mile when it comes to safety.
    Trust no one and take no unnecessary chances. Double check and then check again. That attitude will keep me alive and return me safely back to my family.
    Being in the cold river for so long drained me of my energy. I was tired and decided to try to sleep.
    A fire would have been nice, but I held off building one. I didn't want the smoke to attract anyone while I was sleeping. If I was going to take any chances, like building a fire, I was going to be packed, awake, and ready to flee at moment’s notice. Like I said, leave nothing to chance, always be ready to move.
    My nap didn’t last long, maybe an hour or two. I decided I was in a good spot to reorganize and gather my thoughts for the day.
    I set my two spring traps Dad packed in my bag, set out a fish line with some grubs as bait, and gathered some dry fire wood.
    With some scavenging, I was able to find some ripe berries and plump grubs to eat. I'd eaten grubs a few times under Dad's direction. They are a good source of nutrition, but can taste nasty if you chew them. The trick for me is to swallow them whole with a gulp of water.
    I don't know if it necessary or not, but I made sure to crush their head before I swallowed them. Visions of them biting the inside of my stomach or crawling around inside me, freaked me out.
    After starting a small fire, I boiled some water and purified it. I made sure to use dry kindling. Wet wood creates a lot smoke and can attract anyone nearby.
    I kept a look out and an open ear to listen for anyone coming. Mischievous squirrels and birds made a ruckus around me and made it hard for me to relax.
    I know this was my first day surviving on my own and I will hopefully relax over time. I thought of everything my Dad taught me. He made sure I was prepared for this day. Now it's up to me to make it on my own.
    I will check my traps and fish line just before dark. If there's food, I will cook it and eat it before I head out. I will need the energy. If there‘s no food, I will have to settle for the small amount of berries and grubs I