Tracker

The doe’s tracks show fear now—great bounding leaps that mean she’s running for her life. Based on her speed, she’ll have to rest soon, which should mean John will have an easy shot. Yet, John wonders if he’ll be able to kill her at all and instead resolves to follow and learn. As he walks, he eats one of the sandwiches his grandmother made for him, but, after a few bites, remembers it’s venison and “the meat seemed to take on a taint” (69).

Night falls, and John continues tracking in the light of the full moon. He starts to notice other parts of nature—rabbits and wolves—and his thoughts about hunting begin to change. He no longer wants to kill the deer, even to make sure there’s food for his grandparents. Instead, he just wants to catch up to her and touch her. He reasons that if he doesn’t kill her, “then death will be cheated” (72). He leaves his rifle behind in a tree and keeps walking, feeling lighter somehow.

John walks through the night until he is exhausted and collapses. Even though he knows he’ll freeze to death if he doesn’t get up, he can’t bring his body to move.