How quiet can it be?
A dark experience near Tomahawk
Mary "Casey" Martin
The breakfast table was round. Six writers and two howlers (from the wolf group) were enjoying french toast, raisin bread, oatmeal, fresh fruit, coffee and glazed sweet rolls. Exchanging information, the two TREEHAVEN study groups usually mixed and mingled during meals.
The writers discussed favorite books and authors, their own writings, and the fireside readings from last night.
That same night before the wolf group had boarded a bus and went out "howling" till 11:00 p.m. The area had been scouted that afternoon. Wolves typically mark their territories with urine and scat. Tracks were seen. The possibility of hearing the wolves howl in the dark northwoods of Wisconsin looked very promising. So of course, the curious writers continued their morning interview.
One woman, very disappointed, said flatly, "No." But the woman next to her went into more detail. "They took us out in small groups and we had to stand very still for hours. It was a wonderful silence. You couldn't even hear the rustling of clothing. It was very dark—very silent. But then, all of a sudden, the woman standing next to me thought she heard a "peeing" sound.
The writers had heard about how the wolves mark their territory and asked, almost in unison, "A wolf?"
Very straight, the woman howler responded, "Oh no...when the woman next to me looked down by her shoe, she saw a MOLE!" Then she added, "It was so quiet you could hear a mole peeing."
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