Mason
👤 SpeakerAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
Mason's voice stayed low.
Don't wave.
Don't do that.
It's just someone, I said, but I didn't believe it.
The person moved then, not toward us, away.
They stepped behind the trunk and disappeared into the trees on the far side like they'd never been there.
We stood there for a second longer than we should have.
The clearing felt suddenly exposed, like we were the ones on display.
Keep moving, Mason said.
We walked faster.
That night we didn't stop at the planned camp.
We pushed on until we found a spot that wasn't on the map.
A small rise off the trail with thick understory that would hide us from anyone walking past.
We set up in a hurry, keeping lights dim.
We didn't cook.
We ate dry food again.
We hung the food farther away than usual.
We tried to act like people who weren't afraid, even though our hands shook when we tied knots.
I told myself that the person in the clearing could have been a hiker who didn't want to interact.
Some people are strange.