Kino's Short Story: The Tracker

Kino edged like a slow lizard down the smooth rock shoulder. He could see the faint outline of the trackers that were dark shapes against the moonlit sky. He was careful to remain silent and unnoticed with every step, every breath that he took, and every movement he made. Against his bare back, Kino felt the coolness of the knife that hung from a string around his neck. The tracker on watch took another smoke from his cigarette, and Kino could see him clearer now. As he edged closer, he removed the big knife from its string, and crouched even closer to the ground. Getting nearer to the lookout, his body became one with the land. His movements were slow and precise, like the ones of a snake, and he remained deathly silent.
Before Kino realized, a rock beneath his foot slipped and clattered down the mountain, bringing a few pebbles down along with it. The tracker’s eyes were suddenly alert and wide, and met Kino’s in less than a second. Before Kino could realize his downfall, the tracker’s rifle was raised, and with one quick movement, it went off, the bullet hitting Kino in the chest. He fell to the ground with a cry, watching the blood pool from his wound. If there was pain, he was numb to it, but Kino knew that this was it, his life was going to end. The
For a loss of a family member in such a close community was a loss to all. Everyone in this area knew Kino and respected him, just like they respected everyone else in the neighborhood. It took only a short amount of time for them to decide that Juana and Coyotito would stay with Juan Tomas and Apolonia until they could rebuild their house. Some men volunteered to help with the rebuilding, mostly other pearl divers that were close to Kino, and Juana was grateful. She and Coyotito were back home safely, and even though they were both suffering from a great loss, their community and a sense of protection was all that Juana needed at the