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Athee Once Zane had slaainst the rain, the reeted drolly He was unshaven, his graying beard long and scraggly Ty kneas a through-hiker just fro fro," Ty responded as he dropped his pack and struggled out of the wet slicker He threw it aside, headed for the fireplace without another word, and hugged the rock chiainst the wall next to the door with a tired half-s his head at Ty’s antics Earl had already dropped his bag by the other set of bunk beds, and as soon as Deuce shed his wet clothing, he clai out his leg

Ty turned to theot the floor last tiet the floor this tiuments we did then," Deuce countered with a sonna do?" he posed carelessly as he pulled off his da off his outer layers until he came to dry fabric

"Damnit," Ty muttered He turned and looked at Zane critically They would have to fight over the last bunk And it didn’ton the floor when you knew there were lanced at the bunks Okay, well, not mattresses But up off the floor, certainly

Zane had set down his pack and was pulling the slicker carefully over his head He still had to shake his head when he sprinkled water drops all over himself as he took it off He let it fall to the floor and pulled his shoulders back, trying to stretch out

When he looked up at Ty, he raised an eyebrow in question "I’lad to be down for a while," Zane admitted "I don’t care if it’s the floor"

Ty narrowed his eyes, looking Zane over carefully before sighing It came out a heavy, dejected sound "Take the bed, then," he told his partner

"Quit being a bastard," Zane saiddown

Ty huffed at hi as well He delved into his pack and pulled out a tight pack of clothesline, which he attached to the walls by slipping each end onto hooks that had beenthe center of the cabin, dividing the bunks fro the wet clothes on it so the fire would dry theo anywhere et, cold clothing on

He could hear the stor rain on the roof and a steady trickle of water through the shingles in the corner Ty glanced over at thethem all quietly as Earl and Deuce followed suit with their own clothing

Now that he’d gotten the necessities out of the way, Ty could afford to be friendly He took a step toward the bunk and offered his hand Themade it to shelter before the storm broke

"Ty," Ty offered as he shook his hand "Zane, Earl, Deuce," he rattled off as he pointed at each of the other men in turn

"John," the man announced in return

"Made it in before the rain?" Zane said conversationally

"Only just," John told hi by yourself?" Zane asked curiously

John nodded as he crunched down on a piece of jerky

"Started late in the season, huh?" Ty wagered

John s slow," he told thehts," he said serenely as he gnawed on his jerky

Ty glanced to Zane "Trail goes froia," he told hi a little toward the end "That’s got to be a couple thousand miles"

"Two thousand, one hundred and seventy-five," Ty said with a nod He looked to John "North or south?" he asked

"Heading south," John answered "You?"

Ty shook his head "Just a local thing," he answered with a smile

John tilted his head and smiled suddenly "So then you’ll know about the Ro at John "You’re hiking more than two thousand miles… for fun?" he asked incredulously

"Done it every summer for twenty years," John told him

Zane’s jaw actually dropped "That’s… incredible" John ed

"Lots of folks do it," Earl told Zane quietly as he pulled out soh-hikers I’ for treasure?" he asked John after a moment

John shook his head and leaned forward in his bunk "Not looking for it, no Just interested Ever heard tales?" he asked