walkedtothedockwherehiskayakwasstored.Helikedtolettheriverworkitsmagic,looseninguphismuscles,warminghisbody,clearinghismind.

    Theoldkayak,wellusedandriverstained,hungontworustyhooksattachedtohisdockjustabovethewaterliokeepoffthebarnacles.Helifteditfreefromthehooksaathisfeet,ieditquickly,thentookittothebank.Inacoupleofseasonedmoveslongsieredbyhabit,hehaditierwitsstreamwithhimselfasthepilotandengine.

    Theairwascoolonhisskin,almostcrisp,andtheskywasahazeofdifferentcolors:blackdirectlyabovehimlikeamountaihenbluesofinfiniterange,beinglighteruntilitmetthehorizon,wheregraytookitsplace.Hetookafewdeepbreaths,smellingpireesandbrackishwater,aoreflect.Thishadbeenpartofwhathedmissedmostwhenhehadlivedupnorth.Becauseofthelonghoursatwork,therehadbeenlittletimetospendoer.Camping,hiking,paddlingonrivers,dating,w...somethinghadhadtogo.ForthemostparthedbeeoexploreNewJerseystrysideonfootwheneverhedhadextratime,butinfourteenyearshehadntoedorkayakedohadbeehefirstthingsheddonewheurned.

    Theressomethingspecial,almostmystical,aboutspendingdawnoer,hethoughttohimself,andhediditalmosteverydaynow.

    Sunnyandclearorcoldandbitter,itteredashepaddledinrhythmtomusihishead,wabovewaterthecolorofiron.Hesawafamilyofturtlesrestingonapartiallysubmergedlogandwatchedasaheronbrokefht,skimmingjustabovethewaterbeforevanishingintothesilvertwilightthatprecededsunrise.

    Hepaddledouttothemiddleofthecreek,wherehewatchedtheeglowbegintostretchacrossthewater.Hestoppedpaddlinghard,givingjustenougheffo