driftless | a novel by david rhodes

7/29/2019 Driftless | A Novel by David Rhodes

1/17


2/17

Driftless

O R D E R N O W

Milkweed Editions

IndieBound

Powells

Barnes & Noble

Amazon

Drifless is distributed to the trade byPublishers Group West
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3/17

th chaac and vn n h book a

fcou. Any may o a pon, v-

ng o dad, concdna and no nndd

by h auho.

2008, tx by Davd rhod

A gh vd. excp o b quoa-on n cca ac o vw, no pa o

h book may b poducd n any mann

whou po wn pmon om h

pubh:

Mkwd edon,

1011 Wahngon Avnu souh, su 300,

Mnnapo, Mnnoa 55415.

(800) 520-6455

www.mkwd.og

Pubhd 2008 by Mkwd edon

Pnd n Canada

Cov dgn by Chan unhaun

Cov phoo by Cob

Auho phoo by XXX

ino dgn by Wndy Hodman

th x o h book n Dan.

08 09 10 11 12 5 4 3 2 1

First Edition

Mkwd edon, a nonpof pubh,

gauy acknowdg uanng up-

po om Anonymou; em and Hny

Buchwad; h Buh oundaon; h Pack

and Am Bu amy oundaon; CaVa

invo; h Doughy amy oundaon;

h ecoab oundaon; h Gna M

oundaon; h Ca Gannn und; John

and Joann Godon; Wam and Jann

Gandy; h Jom oundaon; Doohy

Kapan lgh and en lgh; Conanc B.

Kunn; Maha Bank Cop.; sand

and taha Mavn; h May Dpamn

so Company oundaon; h McKngh

oundaon; a gan om h Mnnoa

sa A Boad, hough an appopaon

by h Mnnoa sa lgau, a gan

om h Naona endowmn o h A,

and pva und; an awad om h

Naona endowmn o h A, whch b-

v ha a ga naon dv ga a;

h Nava Copoaon; Dbb rynod;

h sabuck oundaon; h s. Pautav oundaon; en and shdon

sug; h tag oundaon; h Gud

sxon thompon Chaab tu (Gog

r. A. Johnon, tu); h Jam r. thop

oundaon; h too oundaon; Moa

and John tun; Und Pac svc;

Joann and Ph Von Bon; Kahn and B

Wann; sn and Choph Wan;

h W. M. oundaon; and h Xc engy

oundaon.

lbay o Cong

Caaogng-n-Pubcaon Daa

rhod, Davd, 1946

D / Davd rhod.1 d.

p. cm.

isBN 978-1-57131-059-0 (ak. pap)

1. Wconncon. 2. Cy and

own con. i. t.Ps3568.H55D75 2008

813'.54dc22

2008020881

th book pnd on acd- pap.


4/17

3

Prologue

in southwestern wisconsin there is an area roughly onehndd and xy m n and vny m wd wh nqa. i d an d m h h a. th a

h Pcn ac dd n amp hh h aa, and h

aca dp ck, cay, and, and cad da m-

n. Hnc nam, h D rn. snay nnd,

ndd n hy, pmv m, nchd by h hapn hand

h cd an.

A h aca hd nchd and h D rn, bcam

an and ndd by a a cdn c. th, pan p

and pn, zn n hand ya, and h

aby w. M and h back ck. Bd and h

ca cad n d, whch pd, d, and ppd.

Hadwd and vn n h ky, wh wamh-vn

b n n hn hd and cd-vn b n

nhn p.

rv and amdann d h ac and may

pah anmapd n h Mpp rv vay. th

wa hd hck wh amn, d , and pk, whch n n

aacd py, hn, , mnk, and h wh vd by hn.

in m, a anma mvd n, ncdn ba, wy mammh,

an h, ab-hd , mnan n, and a w-hndd-

pnd pc bav. (th nam Wisconsin bvd by m

b a dvan h wd Wishkonsing, place of the beaver.)

Wh h wd cam hman, and hand ya

pp ab whm h can nw b ny pcan cndcd

cvzan m h ancn wd. th mm camp h

snn Pp wa nc cad n h D.

th epan av w app, hn, and by


5/17

4 david rhodespckmn wh vd mch a h pp wh w aady h,

n man and vn wh hm. in m, adn p pn p

an h a v, aacn m app and hn. ra

pd hh wh fad dwnam, n h ppy cah

anma wa nay xhad.

thn a a wav mman cam, dpacn h qny

mvn app, hn, and a. tadn p av way

, am, and va.

th nw ava, am wh xcpn, cam n ach

hmad. am a nm a chch mc d n wan

n wh wh wdn pk pd by xn and m, damn

Ppy. Whn hy avd, hy cmbd h wan,

hapnd h ax, and mvd n h D hav a p

and wan cp: mb. ln ad and mb m nvadd

h h, and whn a n nan h D k h

Wcnn vn ak, pn, and mapw c, fad

dwnam, and mad n aad and chaca.

A h c dwn h and d p a h ad and

d hy cd nd, many abandnd h D n ach fa-

, ch amn. th wh mand w nay h m

bbn ac, kn a vn m ma am pchd n

h d dd h. lk h Bad sa m ha bw n

h nd bh dnc and dn, hy d av.

b w, h an dp.

sma va bmd wh ch, p c, and mp-

mn da; day and an cpav; hadwa, abc, and

cy ; n an, bank, ba, and avn. And h

D am mvd n h va a h bd w

. od mn and wmn a n pch n wk ch add by

h n and nd by nnmab wahn mb pajama.

thy akd n whp, hn hazn n wdn bw, -

n , nd , ab n a.

th yn pp nd b w kpca. i ddn m p-

b mn and wmn d h hn dcbd n h :

pp ddn ac k ha.

thy dn now, h d pp cmpand.


6/17

driftless 5i wa mpb xpan hw n h day, n a m, n

h pa, h ay w anpp wh dd hn, d hn,

dd hn, ha h wd nv d. th an w a h ha

vyhn. Nhn cd hav bn h way wa wh hm,

b hw cd anyn xpan hm a hy w n?

ov h ya, m h D va w n wn and

c. oh va, hwv, w p k m h vn hn,

achd a can z and j ayd h. s h, k Wd,

Wcnna c bdn and hm n a havy wdd

vayncaby hank n z, and nd h wny- cn-

y ma han ya b.

t Wd y m nd wh Hhway 47 and Cny

tnk Q nc, a a hh, ny pac ndd by aaa, cn,

and yban d. th -way p a hb m mp-

anc, y h a n h ndcan wh y a. th ack

pd nman can b pay xpand by h cnann

bd h thwa Cny Hhway Cmmn and pay

by h ampn a mmb: pp aady knw wh

hy a. N pvn a mad h vn wh a pan.

s, h m myy why a -way p hd b pacd

h, mpdn h fw my nnxn ac. gan,

nanc, wh a ppan v hand by a h a wn

n h aa, ha a jab nd - way p and vn va

ph; b gan n m h a n 47.

rd Pan, h w, ha cy, d, and dm , a a

an, a an va, avn, and n p n n a hhway

ha cnnc a xy m h na.

Hadn h n Q d n ak y dcy anywh, b

h knwn h ad h vnay h h l.

eh m nh h ncn, h nncpad va

Wd ha n ac n a a. Cny tnk Q h ny way

n h ny wn, whch a h dad nd a p vay. w

pp h. sa map n n ncd Wd, and hh Q

n pcd, h cvn back n mpy nd k a nppd-

back had n a p mpy wh pac. evn n gan, m

pp dn knw wh Wd .


7/17

7

No reAsoN

the morning ripened slowly. ten oclock felt like noon.Jy Mnmy c pn a ack nd d and pd n h cmn h. H kd h ban wndw n h

hay d, wh a w-yn ny h nd, n

pac wh mky danc. Bynd h nc, h p map, ak,

and hcky md a mpy, mbdd d aan nny.

Jy had vd h m han wny ya, b bca

h damy qay h mnn, h andcap nw appad a-

m nama. th w nd ba haywhch hd pacd

na h ad ny wk bmd n and cmpy

mvd m any hy ha ncdd hm. th ad kd

dn, and whn a hawk ppd a y p, pnd wn,

and ad p h backp ad wad h naby va Wd,

dappad n h mn a hh nn anh wd.

Jy mavd a hw ay h chaac vn h mav, a-

nay hn ay cd b chand by a m n h

amph.

on h h d h ban h cd ha h ma day hd

hyn back m h pa. H had hm j an h b-

, and md dd ha hy wd b cmn back. Nmay,

hy pd az a day, kn-dp n a, vn n h m

ncmn wah.

sva cw anxy bd h had aan h wdn

d h bdn and h pnd h d, awn hm back

n h ban. Aad, hy bwd and cwdd aan ach

h, mn nvy m n aa h nx, wamn n w

mn.

smhn had hnd hm, and Jy d n h pnn

and achd an xpanana pack d, phap. B h


8/17

8 david rhodescd nhn, and ndd wan away pb dny h

an a hd aan. lk h a ha n z hman

cy, mm had n anb ca. gvn h ca na

anma, an an y yn da cd fa p n a n

mbc ym and pad n h ndn nhbhd, cm-

mncad wh h pd a ad fck bd. B n,

a cma a wa abhd, ppad hh h pych

nwk nnca m.

A mvmn cah h y. sva hndd yad away, a h

vy d wh h wawd bjc wha, a a

back anma jmpd h nc n h hay d, nd and n

an am a mann, and kd dcy a hm.

Nw h mhn, Jy hh, an back. i appad

b a vy b ca, a panh, a knwn a a ca, pma,

mnan n. Hd n hm w and p nh, b nv

h. thh hy had nc bn nav h aa, h had bn

n p hm, a a a h knw, nan. i wan vn

ncay acay n, c; a ay cn h ba

nhad by a n cwand h wh hd wd vba wh p-

mda anxy.

Mvn wy, h panh pacd wh ac a an h d

nc, cay man danc m h ban, kpn pa-

ay hddn n h , k a h n wn am cpa

m. A mvd, cnnd a a Jy, and Jy cnnd

k back.

H wndd why a panh wd n an aa anc

had n a abandnd. th a an, c, ncdd

h ncachmn hman cvzan and dpn naa

haba; b Jy wndd wha h m hav k

m h nd cmp av ama han. i wa

a ma, h p a ma mh n h nknwn; a

ma, n h h hand, mh vn n ach d

h pcv cn ndd a yn. Jy a mand

ha bh ma and ma mh, k m pp, mpy n

an nknwn aa h ak dcvn hw cmpad wh

wha hy aady knw.


9/17

driftless 9A h wachd h panh dn wy, any n h d

h wd, Jy a aw n an dny h ca h p-

by acn wh a cmpn mvan. Phap ndd

p n h hay d wh knwn why had cm.

Jy mmbd h wn jny h D rn, m

han wny ya a.

H cad ha nhn had h. Hd wkn p n a

pny cmab dch an an ncnzab ad n

h mdd h nh, na h nd spmb, mwh n

Wymn. th a md pcay hck and chac abv hm,

ban b mxd p, a hh hy had bn d wh a v

a. H had n mmy hw hd cm b hwhv

here waand h m pa h bdy w phap

bkn, bdn, mn. B nhn md pac, and

nhn h.

A m chckn, h dcvd ha h wa wa mn.

And h d ba, yn nx hm n h n a and wd,

had bn anackd. M h pna bnnp, v,

ckn n, hach, kn, cmpa, ann, bbn, dd

d, candy ba, mach, ap, map, and a cp bkw

n. A ha mand w a cp m chn, h pn

ba, and h wa b.

B nhn h and ha md k a d mn. thn

cd b mch w. Whv had hm h had n nd h

fa canva mny b d ny and h abdmn. H hn

back p and wk p an h a a h nd an ap-

pachn vhc.

A pckp mvd a an h hhway. i wa cy wd

by a ny n- ax a, pd by a bmp hch. A hh

xndn a cap h b paha cap nv acay

d nh ck cam a an p a h naby ncn.

th dv cmbd and wakd back chck n h a.

Campd m n and ahc wh a, h mvd fy.

Jy dd h ch, wakd h dch, and jnd h

d man a h a.

evyhn a h? h akd.


10/17

10 david rhodesth d man md ad a n bn an and way n-

pcd Jy and h d ba xndn m h am.

s a, d, h ad, and md hnn h fahh

hh h pn a n h d h a. th dn cc

yw h mvd v a mav An b. th anma wam

m had a w y acd qay and whn hd wh

m n anh, h a and pcy.

Jy wakd h h d h ad and nad n h

av hd.

i wa a ca, mmk nh, and h ky wd wh na

n mnanc.

th pn nd mndd h d man h wn badd

and h a pd n h d h ad. a n h danc a d

bakd.

Y nd a d, yn man?

ind h ck, h dv adjd h bd ha and a ca-

. Jy hvd h d ba nd h a and a bd hm.

Wh y n? h akd.

Wcnn. ev bn h?

Np, ad Jy.

A hy d hh Wymn, h d man xpand ha h

and h bh kp a hd Hd n hwn Wcnn.

thy wand bd p m back bady cav, and h d man

had dvn h ckyad n Chynn, kn a n

yan wh y appa. A a a acn, hd bh n.

Jy kd h way h d man akdh accn and chc

pha. on h ba h dcdd cnn wh hm.

Hw n y bn n Wymn? h d man akd.

eh nn mnh, wkn n a anch.

Y m and h?

Np.

Wh y m?

evywh, ad Jy. Nv bn Wcnn, hh.

Wh w y b y w n Wymn? akd h d

man, pny xhbn h n mn wh cny vd

n h am h h had wn p n.

unadn hp n h dck n Cana.


11/17

driftless 11And b ha?

Han wha n Canada, Jy ad. H wndw wa pn and

h wam nh a bw aan h d h ac. i pn am

a ya n h pa pvnc, dvn ck. Wh i wa h i m

a man, a wh a pac wh cd n a han anyn

id v n. And a nh hd ak h and cn h mny

hddn nd . oh pp w away bn hm h cdn

n hm.

Hwd h h ?

C by mak wh a chan aw, abv h kn.

i wa h knd ak pp mak n b an and h

pac whn hy d n xpc h pn hy akn

aan ab h pp, mayb and mayb n. i wa

d-nad ak, w d h hn, fn cm had by

an. gh ak.

thy add dvn n sh Daka and cnnd a h way

n Wcnn, wh h d man ban ancpa nn

h bh and h am m ay.

i n ha a nw, h ad. ony ab wny m pa h

nx wn. My bh hd b wan p . th cp

w n and w can hav a a ma.

th a ad dy a nnn v a a ph n

h pavmn, and h d man ppd a h dd ncn

and wn back chck n h yn b. i wa dak, and a

kn a h , h npcd h n h a wh h

fahh.

Jy and chd.

Whn h d man cmbd back bhnd h wh, Jy d n

h ad and dw h a canva d ba m nd h a.

H pd h ap v h hd.

thank aan h d.

My pac j a way ahad. lk, my a pac

p d.

thank, b, w, n hank.

A a m dv y n gan. i dn h avn

y h n h mdd h nh.

th yn man kd away. H wa ncmab wh n


12/17

12 david rhodescmpyn wh h d man wh y mand dmnd

b n h wn. Wh d ha ad ? h akd, nddn

nh.

t Wdnhn p h b a hand h. lk, my

bh w b wan m. o pac ny a way m

h. Y can pnd h nh, and n h mnn

i wnd why hy p many p n h? akd h yn

man, nh xpcn n wan an anw. i ay appca

h d.

smn, h cd h d.

Wa, ad h d man. th andwchh a a cp

. Y pad hm. And h handd a ay, mpy pap ack

hh h pn wndw.

Jy ckd nd h am. W, hank aan, and dnh.

H d n h mdd h ad and wachd h wn

ah mv bynd h h. th cankn and bann nd

h a add and dappad. A nnn yw mn d-

vd a h a and and hw a nh-b w v h

cnyd.

Jy h pack dwn and k a dnm jack, pacn

wh h pap ack.

okay, h ad, whch way nw? H hadn hh h

ahad han h nknwn ncn.

H d n h mdd h ad wndn whch way ,

wan m npana bcknn n. A cvn

nn, h dcdd a wn cad Wd wa d nh.

H b mad cmpn nd aan h ad had ac,

whch cnnd nh n a mandn mann p and dwn h.

Mn d andn cn, hay, and yban md wh v-

n and hadwd, mahand and am. Cck, , w,

and h ncna ca cad hm a h pad. o

paca nc w h ndnab ch aw nd

na ha d b my acad wh mamma, w,

nc.

s m h ad, an ccana yad h bnd na a ban.

th h hmv mand dak, h ccpan pn.


13/17

driftless 13i had bn m m nc hd bn n h Mdw, and Jy

ampd pc hm n h cna pa h und sa

nc aan. Hd bn bn j hw Wcnn, n iwa,

h md k a hmcmn , a mch n a h

haba hmn cd man.

in h danc a fy h appad, dappad, and -

appad a a dn can. onc wa h h, ad-

vancd m any, hn dappad a n m, ny

fa p n vw a m away. th n h ndd a cn

and dvdd n w pa, accmpand by a hah, hn nd.

thn h hadh w bh, b, and d, k an nnc

mn n cncn.

Jy ppd h ad, bhnd a and hnyck. Hd

bcm accmd h wn cmpany aan and dd n wh

ha wh anyn xpan wh h wa n whn h ddn

knw hm.

A h had bn wakn anh ha-h, h an y-

w w a wn n h na danc cand hm wa

mnn b n h. H ban kn a pac pa

h nh.

Bynd h Wd Cmy a ccn d-wh

an dwnh away m h ad. H wakd bwn va dzn

avn, cmbd h wvn w nc, pckd h way hh

mby and hazn bh, and nd a ma hw and cv-

d wh n a, hd by an vhann map. in pac,

h mnh hh h banch and pd h nd.

th hck ndbh h hpd wd annnc h mvmn

any a nd, and h n p h cmy bckd

h vw m h ad. A h danc h dwn h h, h

hyhmc bb a am cd b had.

Jy nd h pn ba. H dd h dnm jack

a a pw and a n h andwch m h pap ack. thn

h dank m h wa b, k h b, p h ck

nd hm, ay dwn, and zppd hm nd. H nd h

mny b ha cnand h avn m h pa v x ya.

smwh n h danc a bad w d mckn cy,


14/17

14 david rhodesWh-ck--y, wh-ck--y-aaaaa. th h m

an ccana a nd way hh h abv hm, bnkn

n and wh h hd mvmn av n h wnd.

Cn h y, h d pac h xpnc h pa v-

a day n a anab ppcv: h dv m Wymn, h

wandn cnvan wh h d man, h wak dwn h my

dd ad. th dak a abv hm md daw na

and a p a nvadd h n, dpn h vw

cn vn. Bckn , h cd h ann and d

va n mn kp h ma n h mnd m dn

hh h ca d nnnca , and ap.

H a, h wk p wh ddn, bn nay. H knw

why p n had bn pacd n a m ncn: h

had bn an accdn. sm m a, pp had dd a h cn

and w xa p n had bn p h. thy w cd a

mma.

And wa: h dad v chan h vn. evn h n-

knwn h dad a qd p.

th ky wa my dak, b mnn d bnah h

hzn and bd d ab n h n h and bh,

cnvn hh mmd chpn.

Cmbn m h pn ba, h p n h ck and b,

ndd h jack, and phnd h am hh h v.

Why had h cm h, h wndd, and wakd dwn h h.

A h am, h a n h bank and ad n h dak wa.

th awam and hckd wh n, and mnd wh

bbn wa, n bd, and h dy ck q cam

h dan nd hman. D ammd, vhc ad, and

an ccana, ndcphab, bakn vc cd b had. A havy

ck mvd an h ad bynd h cmy.

Why had h cm h?

N vyhn ha a an, h d hm. H ava amnd

a whm ccmanc, a vn accdn. in h am andm man-

n h had avd n Chca, sx a, Chynn, san ancc,

M Jaw, and many h pac. th wa n an.

A a h wha hd bn n hm ya, b h


15/17

driftless 15cd n n q bv . H nw pcd ha mwh

bwn h acn and wha h knw ab hm n ha va

cham bnn ncw a nam nd, phn hm

m n pac h nx.

smhn hny na h wa d cah h ann and

h nvad.

A y fahh, ha cvd n dad a and dd md. M

h chm had bn chppd wn , h cynd dnd n

va pac.

H wndd whm bnd. Had bn nnnay

dcadd mpy ? B h aac d dv any n-

man ab wn. Y someone had bvy ccpd h

am pac ha Jy cny nhabd, and h cncdnc bd

xpanan.

H abny bbd h d m h a n wh h hmb

and phd h cdd wch wad. t h anhmn, a

bam h apd .

i md mpb, a a hhy mpbab, and h xp-

ncd an nxpcdy d n v havn a vaab bjc

n h hand. th dad had cm av. A pna cnncn w

p bwn h pv wn and hm: I have something of yours,

something worth having.

B a n a h ch happnanc had bn annncd,

h h dmmd an an. i fckd a hh yn

cmmnca, wd by, and wn .

H hk h fahh and wkd h wch wad and back

va m m. Nhn.

H d n h bank bd hm, hn pckd p and d

aan. Np.

lnn n vd hm, and hh h had and chh

h wn pva nn, h paca n had a m nv-

a chaac. th pv wn h fahh mhw

pacpad n . I have something of yours, and it is worthless.

Jy kd back a h dak wa and ndd ha h had

n a a a h cd. H had wn hn, and h wa na-

n h nd hm. H wa vn b ddn av. H knw


16/17

16 david rhodesn n n h n ndandn hm m h ndn

h cn h and n n knw hm.

H had cm h, h knw hn, a a a and h b-

cm n m way cnncd h pp d. H cd n

n v a a hny h.

H vd h d ba, cmbd h wvn w nc, cd

hh h cmy, and ban wakn n Wd. Whav

pp h nd h wd ccpy hm n n way anh

h h . b w, h pac wd bcm h

hm.

A h mm vd Jy a h wachd h panh pacn

an h nc n h . t hw h anma ha h knw hw

pay h am, h ppd h ban and wakd wad .

th anma ppd pacn, apd y v h nc,

and dappad.


17/17

Driftless

O R D E R N O W

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Drifless is distributed to the trade byPublishers Group West

by David Rhodes
http://milkweed.org/shop/product/27/driftless/http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781571310682/david-rhodes/driftlesshttp://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781571310682-0http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/driftless-david-rhodes/1100393507http://www.amazon.com/Driftless-David-Rhodes/dp/1571310681http://www.amazon.com/Driftless-David-Rhodes/dp/1571310681http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/driftless-david-rhodes/1100393507http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781571310682-0http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781571310682/david-rhodes/driftlesshttp://milkweed.org/shop/product/27/driftless/

driftless | a novel by david rhodes

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