Wilderness 2: LURE OF THE WILD


In 1828, although the United States had only been in existence for fifty years, some cities were already bustling, overcrowded metropolises. Beyond the Mississippi River, however, lay a vast region unexplored by white men. There, nineteen-year-old Nathaniel King and a rugged mountain man named Shakespeare McNair head for a rendezvous of trappers and fur traders in the Rocky Mountains.

The story opens only a few days after the conclusion of the previous volume. Shakespeare is leading Nate to the annual mountain man rendezvous. Along the way, David Robbins infuses the tale with an opening battle against Ute warriors. It's a harrowing experience as the two white men fight off the savages. Following this, Nate is nearly killed by a giant rattlesnake. Surviving that encounter, the two men next have to help a band of Shoshone braves fend off a horde of dreaded Blackfoot Indians. The author keeps the action flowing, leading up to the crux of the story.

It's here that we're introduced to Winona, a young Shoshone maiden who has set her sights on Nate. At first scoffing at the idea that he could be with an Indian woman, Nate soon learns to acknowledge that he has feelings for her. Never forgetful of his fiance, Adeline, back in New York, he still succumbs to Winona's tender and virginal ways. It all leads up to a meeting between the two which is punctuated by one of the shortest, yet most powerful, sentences in the whole book: "They kissed."

The customs of the Indians also need to be mentioned. David Robbins gives a vivid history lesson when it comes to the traits of the Shoshones. After their victorious battle with the Blackfoot warriors, the dead enemies are desecrated. Their innards are removed and their corpses decapitated. It's a way of showing that their foes should not be honored in the afterlife. Nate also watches as the Shoshone wives grieve their fallen loved ones by slicing off the tips of their fingers. It's all very enlightening as the reader is witness to these gruesome acts.

The finale of the story revolves around Nate marrying Winona and the Shoshone struggle to defeat the attacking Blackfoot warriors. Not everybody survives this encounter, and it's a testament to the writing of David Robbins that he can draw so much sympathy from the reader during this time. The last chapter reveals that our stalwart characters Nate, Shakespeare, and the Shoshone survivors, are only a few hours from reaching the rendezvous. It's this conclusion which will lead to the beginning of the next title in the series.

Do yourself a favor and trek into the Wilderness. You won't be disappointed.




 

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