The Revenant

by Michael Punke

His decision to go west was not rash or forced, but as fully deliberate as any choice in his life. At the same time, he could not explain or articulate his reasons. It was something that he felt more than understood.

He vowed to survive, if for no other reason than to visit vengeance on the men who betrayed him.

Fitzgerald and Bridger had acted deliberately, robbed him of the few possessions he might have used to save himself. And in stealing from him this opportunity, they had killed him. Murdered him, as surely as a knife in the heart or a bullet in the brain. Murdered him, except he would not die. Would not die, he vowed, because he would live to kill his killers.

Yet for Glass the fort did not mark a finish line to cross with elation, but rather a starting line to cross with resolve.

How do you escape something that comes from inside? The revenant, he knew, searched for him. Several instants passed before Black Harris finally said, “Jesus Christ. It’s Hugh Glass.”