As I looked out over thefield and walked, I was joined by our dog Gus. Why dadnamed him that I’ll never know, but he was a good dog.A cross betw...en a black and tan hound and one of theneighbor’s German shepherds. I loked down at Gus andsaid “its gonna be hot with all that fur Gus.” His eyesseemed to understand and he just moved along with me asI walked. Near the edge of our property was a small grove oftrees through which a stream ran. The coolness of thewater often. The beam dropped to my privates."Who are you?" I demanded."Shh! Do you want to wake everyone?" The whisper was so quiet I could only tell it was a female voice."What are you going to do?" Make you comfortable. This may be your last opportunity." Last opportunity for what?" Stop talking or I'll go." By now the torch had been put down, I could make out only the dark figure of a woman with long hair — it could have been any colour — it could have been anyone. It could have been Josie, or. Aug 29Everyone was up early this morning, excited about what we were doing. The men quickly had the original six sluices and the rocker in the river. Others started panning for gold along the streambed. Still other men began building the new sluices and a second rocker. We worked both sides of the stream at the same time, as well as what we could reach in the middle.The carpenters selected a site well above the flood plain of the stream to build a sturdy log cabin. A couple of men began sawing. In my room I watch her dry herself off, and then she turns and dries me as well. With a smile she nods towards the bed. I follow her to it and she pulls back the covers urging me to get in and I do not hesitate.I reach for her wrist as she begins to walk away. Holding her I pull her to me. She pauses for a moment then crawls in beside me, letting my arms wrap around her, pulling her close.I barely get out, “Don’t go until I sleep.”“Okay,” I hear her say softly.A glance at the clock told me it.