Wanted to continue about the three friends, so here goes 
Jeannette and Mac sat on the sofa with a bottle of wine and some cheese and biscuits on the table. Despite that the atmosphere was depressing. I dont understand why you have to go. Your work takes you away so often and you spend so much time at the Ardennes said Marc. I am tired of you whining about my work. I am a scientist; I have my work at the ministry. Besides I love my job, I love the nature and forest. Why cant you accept that? Jeannette was disgusted about the topic.
Look, I am a city boy, has been all my life. I cant understand what draws you there. You could have a job in the ministry in no time without any reason to travel. I dont want a desk job! If you came with me for a weekend you could understand said Jeannette hopefully. Marc said nothing.
When they went to bed Jeannette turned her back to Marc, which was unusual and annoyed Marc. He touched her shoulder, but Jeannette just said Good night. Marc lay awake for a long time, thinking.
Next morning they were drinking coffee silently. Finally Marc said: Look, I have been thinking. You said you want to spend a weekend in the woods. Fine, I will come along with you. I just have no equipment for that. Jeannettes expression brightened. I can get you everything you need, hiking boots, a coat and backpack from my colleagues. It was settled that they would go for a weekend in the Ardennes, where Jeannettes fieldwork was.
The weekend came. On Friday Marc and Jeannette loaded all that was needed in Jeannettes Peugeot. Food, clothes, hiking boots, backpacks. Jeannette had her Opinel and Marc had one of the Laguioles from his shop, both had been sharpened to razor edge by him. The city boy was less than enthusiastic of what to expect, but he wanted to see what was so important to Jeannette.
It was a long drive. Jeannette was talking about the nature in the area, Marc was listening and making some questions. Finally they stopped at a yard of a house that was used as a station for the scientists working in there. They got their gear together, put on their backpacks and got on the trail. Marc asked how long would it take to reach their goal, a cabin on the hills. Oh, a couple of hours said Jeannette, bubbling with enthusiasm. Marc had a feeling that this was going to be harder than he had thought.
The path went uphill. Marc was quite strong, he went to a gym regularly, but he was strong in an I-do-my-pushups-to-look-good way. Soon he was sweating like a pig. His pride prevented him of complaining. Jeannette on the other hand was used to this, her strong legs carried the load easily. Marc had to admit that he had a lot to learn of his girlfriend.
Still they had to stop regularly to allow Marc to catch his breath. Is it a long way still he asked, sounding a bit miserable. Oh, about half an hour said Jeannette cheerfully. She kissed Marc and they continued on the path. Finally they reached a clearing with a cabin. There was a narrow stream flowing past it. Marc had to admit that the place looked nice, with the hills in the background and the flowers on the meadow.
The water is quite good, we can boil it but I have drunk it many times without any effects said Jeannette. Marc took a handful of the water and drank. The water tasted fresh and cold. Birds were singing and Marc looked at Jeannette, who was red-cheeked and cheerful. She looked gorgeous in a natural way.
They got in to cabin and settled in for the night. Marc yawned; the hike had been a new experience to him. They made a meal together and after that it was bedtime. Marc passed out like a blown candle.
Morning came. Marc woke up and saw Jeannette looking at him smiling. Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well? she asked. Marc had to admit that he had slept without waking up once. Jeannette leaned over to kiss him and Marc hugged her tightly.
Later they made breakfast together. There was a gas cooker and they chopped up some paprika and bacon to make a good breakfast. After eating they took small backpacks, loaded with everything they might need during the day. Food, water, first aid kit, binoculars, raingear, their knives. Jeannette was giving advice to Marc who was surprisingly humble. He realized this was out of his experience. They got out of the meadow and in to the forest.
Jeannette was talking in a low voice. See this one? Endangered, one of my duties is to follow the rare plant species of this area. Look at that! There was a falcon circling above their heads. Marc and Jeannette got out of the forest and they were standing on a rocky ledge. There was a small drop, some 3 meters to another clearing. Flowers were blooming, songbirds singing and butterflies were hovering above the flowering plants.
Marc and Jeannette sat on the ledge. Look, there is way down from here. We can cross the clearing.. quiet! Look there! Jeannette lowered her voice. There was movement in the grass and bushes. A family of wild pigs was crossing the meadow. A sow and some piglets. Marc had to hold his laughter, the row of pigs looked like some boa snake was jumping in the grass. The striped piglets were running after the sow that led them to the forest.
Jeannette smiled at Marcs enthusiasm. Are there lots of those in this area Marc asked. Some families, yes. They dig roots and worms out of the ground. The males can be huge and I really would not like to meet them Jeannette explained.
Marc and Jeannette headed cross the meadow and back in to the forest. Jeannette was taking some samples of the plants into small plastic bags. At the same time she was explaining the details to Marc. Jeannette was using her Opinel to cut the plants at the root. Some of the more bushy plants were though. The knife sharpened by Marc still cut through even those well. Marc helped to cut some of the plants with his Laguiole. He was pleased he could be a small part of her job.
The sun was starting to set when they stopped at a crossroads on the path. We must head back to the cabin. Are you tired? Marc was, but did not admit it. I am fine. He looked at Jeannette with new eyes. He could see his girlfriend in a new light. She was a competent professional with a wealth of knowledge of the ecology of the forest. Her strength on the trail had left him humbled despite his apparent strength.
Marc and Jeannette turned on the path towards their cabin. Suddenly about 50 meters away from them there was movement in the bushes. An elk, a male, stepped on the trail. It had been unaware of the humans. To Marc the animal looked huge. It had a magnificent crown of antlers on its head. To Marc it looked royal, the king of the forest.
Marc held his breath, he was like hypnotized. For some seconds that felt like minutes the animal and the man looked at each other in the eyes. Then the elk bounced across the trail and vanished.
Marc was silent. Finally he said: Yes, now I can see why. He took his girlfriend by the hand and they stood there, looking where the elk had gone. Nothing else was said, there was no need.
Jeannette and Mac sat on the sofa with a bottle of wine and some cheese and biscuits on the table. Despite that the atmosphere was depressing. I dont understand why you have to go. Your work takes you away so often and you spend so much time at the Ardennes said Marc. I am tired of you whining about my work. I am a scientist; I have my work at the ministry. Besides I love my job, I love the nature and forest. Why cant you accept that? Jeannette was disgusted about the topic.
Look, I am a city boy, has been all my life. I cant understand what draws you there. You could have a job in the ministry in no time without any reason to travel. I dont want a desk job! If you came with me for a weekend you could understand said Jeannette hopefully. Marc said nothing.
When they went to bed Jeannette turned her back to Marc, which was unusual and annoyed Marc. He touched her shoulder, but Jeannette just said Good night. Marc lay awake for a long time, thinking.
Next morning they were drinking coffee silently. Finally Marc said: Look, I have been thinking. You said you want to spend a weekend in the woods. Fine, I will come along with you. I just have no equipment for that. Jeannettes expression brightened. I can get you everything you need, hiking boots, a coat and backpack from my colleagues. It was settled that they would go for a weekend in the Ardennes, where Jeannettes fieldwork was.
The weekend came. On Friday Marc and Jeannette loaded all that was needed in Jeannettes Peugeot. Food, clothes, hiking boots, backpacks. Jeannette had her Opinel and Marc had one of the Laguioles from his shop, both had been sharpened to razor edge by him. The city boy was less than enthusiastic of what to expect, but he wanted to see what was so important to Jeannette.
It was a long drive. Jeannette was talking about the nature in the area, Marc was listening and making some questions. Finally they stopped at a yard of a house that was used as a station for the scientists working in there. They got their gear together, put on their backpacks and got on the trail. Marc asked how long would it take to reach their goal, a cabin on the hills. Oh, a couple of hours said Jeannette, bubbling with enthusiasm. Marc had a feeling that this was going to be harder than he had thought.
The path went uphill. Marc was quite strong, he went to a gym regularly, but he was strong in an I-do-my-pushups-to-look-good way. Soon he was sweating like a pig. His pride prevented him of complaining. Jeannette on the other hand was used to this, her strong legs carried the load easily. Marc had to admit that he had a lot to learn of his girlfriend.
Still they had to stop regularly to allow Marc to catch his breath. Is it a long way still he asked, sounding a bit miserable. Oh, about half an hour said Jeannette cheerfully. She kissed Marc and they continued on the path. Finally they reached a clearing with a cabin. There was a narrow stream flowing past it. Marc had to admit that the place looked nice, with the hills in the background and the flowers on the meadow.
The water is quite good, we can boil it but I have drunk it many times without any effects said Jeannette. Marc took a handful of the water and drank. The water tasted fresh and cold. Birds were singing and Marc looked at Jeannette, who was red-cheeked and cheerful. She looked gorgeous in a natural way.
They got in to cabin and settled in for the night. Marc yawned; the hike had been a new experience to him. They made a meal together and after that it was bedtime. Marc passed out like a blown candle.
Morning came. Marc woke up and saw Jeannette looking at him smiling. Good morning, my love. Did you sleep well? she asked. Marc had to admit that he had slept without waking up once. Jeannette leaned over to kiss him and Marc hugged her tightly.
Later they made breakfast together. There was a gas cooker and they chopped up some paprika and bacon to make a good breakfast. After eating they took small backpacks, loaded with everything they might need during the day. Food, water, first aid kit, binoculars, raingear, their knives. Jeannette was giving advice to Marc who was surprisingly humble. He realized this was out of his experience. They got out of the meadow and in to the forest.
Jeannette was talking in a low voice. See this one? Endangered, one of my duties is to follow the rare plant species of this area. Look at that! There was a falcon circling above their heads. Marc and Jeannette got out of the forest and they were standing on a rocky ledge. There was a small drop, some 3 meters to another clearing. Flowers were blooming, songbirds singing and butterflies were hovering above the flowering plants.
Marc and Jeannette sat on the ledge. Look, there is way down from here. We can cross the clearing.. quiet! Look there! Jeannette lowered her voice. There was movement in the grass and bushes. A family of wild pigs was crossing the meadow. A sow and some piglets. Marc had to hold his laughter, the row of pigs looked like some boa snake was jumping in the grass. The striped piglets were running after the sow that led them to the forest.
Jeannette smiled at Marcs enthusiasm. Are there lots of those in this area Marc asked. Some families, yes. They dig roots and worms out of the ground. The males can be huge and I really would not like to meet them Jeannette explained.
Marc and Jeannette headed cross the meadow and back in to the forest. Jeannette was taking some samples of the plants into small plastic bags. At the same time she was explaining the details to Marc. Jeannette was using her Opinel to cut the plants at the root. Some of the more bushy plants were though. The knife sharpened by Marc still cut through even those well. Marc helped to cut some of the plants with his Laguiole. He was pleased he could be a small part of her job.
The sun was starting to set when they stopped at a crossroads on the path. We must head back to the cabin. Are you tired? Marc was, but did not admit it. I am fine. He looked at Jeannette with new eyes. He could see his girlfriend in a new light. She was a competent professional with a wealth of knowledge of the ecology of the forest. Her strength on the trail had left him humbled despite his apparent strength.
Marc and Jeannette turned on the path towards their cabin. Suddenly about 50 meters away from them there was movement in the bushes. An elk, a male, stepped on the trail. It had been unaware of the humans. To Marc the animal looked huge. It had a magnificent crown of antlers on its head. To Marc it looked royal, the king of the forest.
Marc held his breath, he was like hypnotized. For some seconds that felt like minutes the animal and the man looked at each other in the eyes. Then the elk bounced across the trail and vanished.
Marc was silent. Finally he said: Yes, now I can see why. He took his girlfriend by the hand and they stood there, looking where the elk had gone. Nothing else was said, there was no need.
