Joe, Mary and the twins drove up one winding mountain road after another, passing through ever smaller towns. They felt buried beneath the towering peaks. They drove past a small pond of melted snow. Beyond were blonde boulders. Higher up, in a shaded niche was a patch of last winter's still unmelted snow.
"Let's get out!" Mary exclaimed. "I want to see it." They left the twins asleep in the car and scrambled up the rough incline. It was farther away than it seemed from the road. After fifteen minutes of exertion, Mary paused and sat on a rock. She looked back apprehensively at the diminutive automobile.
"Don't worry," Joe said. "They'll be all right. Not much farther."
After a few more minutes they arrived at the small patch of snow. It was hard and somewhat discolored, but Mary scooped up a handful and made it into a ball. She wrinkled her nose and flung it at Joe. It missed and he laughed and threw one at her. It partly fell apart in midair, showering her with snow particles. After a few more volleys they both had snow in their hair and on their clothes.
Joe came to her, brushed the snow out of her hair, and fell in love with her. She slipped and fell on the hard snow, grabbing him as she went down. He fell on top of her, laughing.
Mary gave herself to Joe without reservation. Joe gave himself to Mary completely. He emptied himself into her.
..."Let's get out!" Mary exclaimed. "I want to see it." They left the twins asleep in the car and scrambled up the rough incline. It was farther away than it seemed from the road. After fifteen minutes of exertion, Mary paused and sat on a rock. She looked back apprehensively at the diminutive automobile.
"Don't worry," Joe said. "They'll be all right. Not much farther."
After a few more minutes they arrived at the small patch of snow. It was hard and somewhat discolored, but Mary scooped up a handful and made it into a ball. She wrinkled her nose and flung it at Joe. It missed and he laughed and threw one at her. It partly fell apart in midair, showering her with snow particles. After a few more volleys they both had snow in their hair and on their clothes.
Joe came to her, brushed the snow out of her hair, and fell in love with her. She slipped and fell on the hard snow, grabbing him as she went down. He fell on top of her, laughing.
Mary gave herself to Joe without reservation. Joe gave himself to Mary completely. He emptied himself into her.
Suddenly Mary knew, as only a mother can know, that something was wrong. Her head snapped around toward the car. There was a big brown object approaching the car, menacing. Mary leaped to her feet and screamed at the top of her voice. The grizzly started pounding on the window of the car, trying to get at the helpless infants. In the next instant the hungry bear stood up, puzzled at the sight of a completely naked Mary flying over patches of grass and moss-covered boulders, screaming and waving her arms, her feet barely seeming to touch the ground. The big mother bear roared in amazement and opened her jaws wide, her teeth gleaming. Mary roared even louder, rushing straight for the towering threat. Mother confronted mother for an interminable instant. Finally, the giant bear shrugged, turned and ambled away. Mary stood shaking, but not from cold. Joe, running as fast as he could, came in second. He arrived in time to see the bear withdraw.
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