Chapter 23 Appeals to Higher Authority

We reached the two-room cabin south of Yosemite the following morning. The "cabin" was a glorified camp shelter, a small log building used by hunters in past times as cover during bad weather. Nestled on the slope of a hill, it was well-isolated from its nearest neighbor. Water was hand-pumped, and cooking was carried out with dexterity over a two-burner propane stove. No hint of electricity or phone marred the pristine quiet. Its simplicity and inaccessibility made the retreat affordable, if sparse.

The next weeks took on a pattern of regularity. Smith arose first, fixing coffee for me and tea for himself. He retreated to the porch and rocked, watching the sun rise through the granite peaks. I took over ...

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