tale by Jim Green | illustration by Alison McCreesh
(for Jimmy McLean)
Jimmy Jesus was running
he was running just as hard
as he could Goddamn well run
slamming out of the Gold Range
wheeling down the dark alley
humping up over the black rock
stumbling through Willow Flats
across Franklin Avenue by Johnson’s
keeping to the back roads
shying from the streetlights
hammering down the night trails
burning feet slapping the gravel
won’t get me
won’t get me
won’t get me
you bastards
Jimmy saw them come in
two uniformed Cops
together in the bar
He knew all day
it had to happen
after not showing up
blowing the subpoena
He sauntered from the table
like it was just another duty call
headed for the can
bolted out the side door
busted into the October night
made a bee-line for Rainbow Valley
and his battered green canoe
So Jimmy was running
just as hard as he could run
Thirty days or thirty dollars
ain’t no choice at all
when you haven’t got a dime
no Goddamn way
won’t get me
won’t get me
you bastards
It was freezing some already
and if he could just make it
to open water and the river
to the log cabin on the island
he’d be safe for days
the ice too thin for walking
So Jimmy’s going for it
he’s running like hell
fists cross punching
the night air
gaping mouth gasping
throat rasping
lungs blasting
stomach heaving
blood exploding
in his head
But he makes it by God
yanks canoe from green shadows
shoves out onto the lake
starts bashing ice with his paddle
smashing a trail across Back Bay
a quarter mile and he’ll be free
clear of the ice
clear of the town
clear of the Cops
clear of the whole Goddamn works
Jimmy’s headed for open water
The river is still ice free
so if he can just keep going
crashing through the ice in the dark
stabbing and smashing
and pushing ahead
he’ll reach that open water
And he doggone near made it
but he’d been on the sauce for two weeks
hadn’t eaten since he couldn’t remember when
the ice seemed to go on forever
and he was so tired
so damn dog tired
He caves in
he gives up
lays back in the canoe
gives in to the cold
hasn’t the strength to go on
gives up in the black night
finished too tired
to go on
and nowhere to go
A few folks in the Old Town
heard some hollering and carrying on
thought the voice might be familiar
but things quieted down after a while
and they were able to get back to sleep
When Jimmy jerks awake it’s first light
the canoe is stuck fast in the ice
and he’s just a jumping
my God has he got the shakes
He breaks his paddle on the ice
and when he’s through cursing
he starts in hollering for help
A Giant gold miner
taking in some crisp air
before a bunkhouse breakfast
and going down for another day
heard shouts across the bay
spotted Jimmy way out there
made a Good Samaritan phone call
And oh that coffee felt so good
Jimmy gulping it down
burning hell out of his tongue
crouching against the vibrating wall
way back from the yawning door
of the Armed Forces helicopter
Guzzling coffee from a Styrofoam cup
as the chopper rises over Latham Island
above the dozing planes at the float base
the smoking chimney on Jolliffe
above Franklin Avenue where it climbs the hill
over the Post Office the school and the hospital
out over Tommy Forrest ball park
the still spruce and gray granite
and Jimmy is just about to ask
for another coffee
when notices they’re touching down
in the familiar parking lot
of the YELLOWKNIFE
CORRECTIONAL
INSTITUTE
you bastards
