The Nightingale's Heart

by Mark Mrozinski

About the Author: Mark Mrozinski's recent story, The Suit, received second place in the 2022 Tennessee Williams Short Story Contest.

Excerpt

La forêt boréale, Terre de Rupert, British North America

Midwinter, 1777

Two young Cree men stand before Philippe. The cold and the wind have pinked their joyless faces and ice crystals cling to their brows. They have set a litter in front of him in the snow. The taller of the two signs: He was hurt by a bear.

Philippe signs back: But the bears sleep.

The Cree: The bears are hungry this winter, so they wake to hunt. Their food is disappearing because of the trappers.

Philippe: I can’t help him.

The body and face of the injured man are covered and he expels a single cough.

The Cree: He’s one of yours. Take him.

Philippe: He’s near death. His breath is weak.

The Cree: You have strong plant medicine.

Philippe: He’ll die.

The Cree: Take him.

The two men turn and walk away into the pine forest, their backs to the fading winter light. With the covering of new snow, the boughs are heavy and the Cree must stay close to the center of the trail so as not to disturb the branches.

Story Comments