"Naught and Grief" Summary

Stobrod walks with Pangle close on his heels while another man trails behind. Eating a doe whose cause of death is uncertain has given them diarrhea. They reach an icy rock ledge and ascend to flat ground, a "Y" in the trail, and an old fire ring beneath an immense poplar. Stobrod dimly remembers the spot. Neither knows their companion's name; he is a Georgia boy of 17, smooth-cheeked, a deserter along with his cousin, who has died of a lung disease. Found wandering, he is taken in and accompanies Stobrod and Pangle as they set out to found a new community at Shining Rocks. Stobrod has never been to his state but reminds the boy constantly of its bad reputation. They have told the Georgia boy how Ada has convinced Ruby to provision them secretly at a...