5 July 2001 - 1

I awoke a little before 0500, the morning light just starting to filter through the tent flaps. I lay on my cot waiting, savoring the ten to 15 minutes of extra rest I could grab before hiking off to the showers.

The peace was interrupted by a panicky "squeak" (really, just like that), and then the slow, muffled "whoosh...whoosh" of an owl's wingbeats.

Right outside my tent.

Someone's last, final scream.

Someone else's breakfast.