‘Why do you think they come here?’
‘The forest?’
‘Yeah.’
‘Hell.’ The old man wiped the sweat off his brow. ‘Ill hazard a guess that it has something to do with them wanting to be as far away as possible.’
‘From the city?’
‘City, yeah. Home, sure. People. Whatever floats your boat. Or sinks it in this case. I suppose its sort of like a safe haven, somewhat of a purgatory this forest. Whether to go on living or not.’
His son, a young grizzled man, bent down on one knee and grabbed some soil and rubbed it between his forefinger and thumb. ‘Seems a shame to die alone out here. I mean, who’d find you?’ He stood up and exhaled as he pushed his hands into his lower back. ‘This place gives me the spooks.’

They headed upwards into the mountain.

‘Son. Look.’ The old man pointed ahead of them. A skeleton lay against a fallen log. They approached.

Staring in silence, the old man took his hat off. Then his son the same. ’Must’ve been here awhile. Leaving only bones in cloth like that.’