It was peculiar. Jules’s mom was a stickler for healthy eating and mine wasn’t much better. They must have packed in a rush.

“We can go into town in a day or two and pick a few things. It’s only an hour or so from here. It’ll give us something to do.”

It was almost nightfall by the time we’d settled in. I’d managed to connect the fridge/freezer to one of the gas canisters outside and we were pretty sure we’d gotten both of the kerosene lamps in reasonable working order. We lit a fire in the fire pit, and when the coals were glowing orange and silver, Jules grilled our burgers. After we’d eaten, I sat on the bench and drank a beer, and Jules leapt from one log to another. The logs were spaced pretty far apart and each time he jumped, I was sure he wouldn’t make it, but each time, he did. He landed precariously, arms out for balance, but he didn’t fall.

“I like it here,” said Jules, sitting down beside me when he’d finally done all the jumping he needed to do for the day.

“Yeah, it’s perfect.”

And it was. It was quiet. There was not a sound to be heard that came from man. Not a car, not a plane, not an engine. Nothing. Not even the hum of electricity. Just soft animal sounds, the sounds of leaves rustling, and trees groaning softly.

“I think I’m gonna turn in,” said Jules.

“I’ll head in soon, too. I’m just going to take a little, uh, walk.”

Jules smiled. “Still patrolling, huh? Even out here?”

“Have to,” I said. “Or I won’t sleep.”

When I got back to the cabin, Jules was already in bed. He was lying on his back with the quilt pulled up to his chest.

“Do you want to take turns on the sofa, or what?” I asked after I’d cleaned my teeth and changed into boxers and a tee. I felt a bit stupid asking. Jules and I had shared a bed on sleepovers since before I could remember. It’s what we’d always done, but at the same time, it had been years since we’d had a sleepover and, at least for me, things had changed considerably since then.