Encounters with Forest Dwellers

Every morning on the forest road I met other workers hurrying to work. They were elderly women already of pension age who earned a little extra to add to their very meagre pensions. Every morning one of them would tell what animal she had seen beside the road, especially moose. I had never seen one myself.

But one morning, as we again walked towards work, I got my chance. In the brush beside the road stood a young moose. Tiina, however, pretended to shoulder a gun — resting her fist on her knee — and went 'bang', and the animal was gone. I would have liked to watch it longer, but what is gone is gone.

There were other animals to see as well. Signs of wild boar rooting were everywhere, though I only managed to see one of the animals. I also saw large bear paw prints, though never the bear itself. The hares, on the other hand, gave me some amusement. The little fellows would come towards me, sit down and wash their faces, not noticing me until I was only a few steps away. Then suddenly they would make a great leap, jump across the ditch and race away out of sight.