Through Black Spruce

Will has a plan: He fills his plane with supplies for months and tells his friends and family he is going out into the bush to hunt. Will is actually planning to murder Marius; “I knew his routine, where he went, when he was with others and when he was alone” (164). He will hide in the bushes, shoot him from a rifle that nobody knows he had while Marius drives past, then drive to his plane and fly away. He knows he’ll be the prime suspect, but he’s committed. He plans on getting rid of the rifle by throwing it out the plane window.

When the night comes, he’s nervous. Marius’s car window is rolled up, making it a harder shot. Will shoots anyway. He flies out on his plane, leaving Marius slumped over his steering wheel (but still alive). Will’s flying skills are shaky but he lands safely by an island with good fishing. He sits in his plane and drinks.

Gordon is becoming a solid trapper, and he and Annie have 15 animals they skinned to sell. When they head to the Northern Store to sell them, Annie is quoted a low price.