where I could and digging my heels in. I went down out of summer and back into mid-spring, or so it felt. The cool rose gently off the water, and a green smell like moss. When I got to the edge of the water I only stood there for a little while, breathing deep of that mossy smell and watching the dragonflies circle and the skitterbugs skate. Then, farther down, I saw a trout leap at a butterfly—a good big brookie, maybe fourteen inches long—and remembered I hadn’t come here just to sightsee.
I walked along the bank, following the current, and wet my line for the first time with the bridge still in sight upstream. Something jerked the tip of my pole down a time or two and ate half my worm, but he was too sly for my nine-year-old hands—or maybe just not hungry enough to be careless—so I went on.
I stopped at two or three other places before I got to the place where Castle Stream forks, going southwest into Castle Rock and southeast into Kashwakamak Township, and at one of them I caught the biggest trout I have ever caught in my life, a beauty that measured nineteen inches from tip to tail on the little ruler I kept in my creel. That was a monster of a brook trout, even for those days.
If I had accepted this as gift enough for one day and gone back, I would not be writing now (and this is going to turn out longer than I thought it would, I see that already), but I didn’t. Instead I saw to my catch right then and there as my father had shown me—cleaning it, placing it on dry grass at the bottom of the creel, then laying damp grass on top of it—and went on. I did not, at age nine, think that catching a nineteen-inch brook trout was particularly remarkable, although I do remember being amazed that my line had not broken when I, netless as well as artless, had hauled it out and swung it toward me in a clumsy tail-flapping arc.
Ten minutes later, I came to the place where the stream split in those days (it is long gone now; there is a settlement of duplex homes where Castle Stream once went its course, and a district grammar school as well, and if there is a stream it goes in darkness), dividing around a huge gray rock nearly the size of our outhouse.
There was a pleasant flat space here, grassy and soft, overlooking what my Dad and I called South Branch. I squatted on my heels, dropped my line into the water, and almost immediately snagged a fine rainbow trout. He wasn’t the size of my brookie—only a foot or so—but a good fish, just the same. I had it cleaned out before the gills had stopped flexing, stored it in my creel, and dropped my line back into the water.
This time there was no immediate bite so I leaned back, looking up at the blue stripe of sky I could see along the stream’s course. Clouds floated by, west to east, and I tried to think what they looked like. I saw a unicorn, then a rooster, then a dog that looked a little like Candy Bill. I was looking for the next one when I drowsed off. Or maybe slept. I don’t know for sure. All I know is that a tug on my line so strong it almost pulled the bamboo pole out of my hand was what brought me back into the afternoon. I sat up, clutched the pole, and suddenly became aware that something was sitting on the tip of my nose. I crossed my eyes and saw a bee. My heart seemed to fall dead in my chest, and for a horrible second I was sure I was going to wet my pants.
The tug on my line came again, stronger this time, but although I maintained my grip on the end of the pole so it wouldn’t be pulled into the stream and perhaps carried away (I think I even had the presence of mind to snub the line with my forefinger), I made no effort to pull in my catch. All of my horrified attention was fixed on the fat black-and-yellow thing that was using my nose as a rest-stop.
I slowly poked out my lower lip and blew upward. The bee ruffled a little but kept its place. I blew again
<<Previous page Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 1 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 2 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 3 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 4 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 5 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 6 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 7 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 8 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 9 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 10 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 11 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 12 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 13 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 14 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 15 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 16 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 17 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 18 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 19 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 20 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 21 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 22 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 23 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 24 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 25 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 26 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 27 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 28 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 29 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 30 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 31 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 32 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 33 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 34 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 35 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 36 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 37 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 38 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 39 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 40 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 41 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 42 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 43 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 44 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 45 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 46 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 47 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 48 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 49 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 50 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 51 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 52 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 53 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 54 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 55 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 56 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 57 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 58 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 59 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 60 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 61 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 62 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 63 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 64 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 65 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 66 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 67 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 68 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 69 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 70 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 71 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 72 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 73 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 74 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 75 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 76 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 77 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 78 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 79 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 80 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 81 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 82 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 83 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 84 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 85 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 86 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 87 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 88 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 89 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 90 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 91 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 92 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 93 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 94 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 95 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 96 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 97 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 98 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 99 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 100 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 101 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 102 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 103 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 104 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 105 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 106 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 107 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 108 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 109 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 110 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 111 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 112 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 113 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 114 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 115 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 116 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 117 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 118 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 119 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 120 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 121 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 122 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 123 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 124 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 125 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 126 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 127 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 128 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 129 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 130 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 131 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 132 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 133 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 134 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 135 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 136 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 137 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 138 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 139 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 140 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 141 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 142 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 143 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 144 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 145 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 146 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 147 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 148 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 149 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 150 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 151 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 152 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 153 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 154 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 155 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 156 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 157 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 158 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 159 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 160 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 161 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 162 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 163 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 164 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 165 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 166 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 167 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 168 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 169 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 170 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 171 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 172 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 173 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 174 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 175 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 176 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 177 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 178 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 179 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 180 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 181 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 182 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 183 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 184 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 185 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 186 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 187 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 188 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 189 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 190 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 191 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 192 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 193 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 194 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 195 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 196 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 197 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 198 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 199 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 200 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 201 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 202 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 203 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 204 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 205 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 206 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 207 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 208 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 209 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 210 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 211 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 212 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 213 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 214 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 215 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 216 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 217 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 218 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 219 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 220 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 221 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 222 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 223 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 224 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 225 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 226 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 227 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 228 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 229 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 230 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 231 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 232 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 233 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 234 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 235 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 236 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 237 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 238 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 239 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 240 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 241 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 242 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 243 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 244 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 245 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 246 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 247 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 248 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 249 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 250 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 251 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 252 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 253 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 254 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 255 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 256 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 257 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 258 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 259 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 260 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 261 Sympathy for the Devil - By Tim Pratt - Page 262
Next page>>