Brian's Hunt

Brian and Susan arrive back at the island at dawn, and Susan continues to sleep. He buries David and Anne’s bodies next to each other, then wakes Susan and tells her that her parents are both dead. Brian holds Susan for hours as she weeps and learns that Susan’s younger siblings are both away visiting relatives. Eventually, Susan enters the cabin and uses a shortwave radio to call the authorities. A plane soon arrives with a Canadian Mountie and Natural Resources Ranger. Brian talks to them privately to share what happened. Brian asks if they plan to kill the bear, but they respond that there are too many bears in the area for them to know which one to kill. Brian knows that by studying the bear’s sign and tracks they could easily know which bear to kill. He feels he already knows the bear well after following its prints around the island, and internally resolves to find and kill the bear himself. Susan hugs Brian goodbye and can sense his intentions. She warns him that it is a “devil bear” and to be careful (88). Susan leaves her contact information for Brian, and they plan to meet again in the future.