The Deer

© Regina Franziska Rau
Summer 2000
Lalling - Bavarian Forest
Since some time I had noticed, that the animals of the forest often let me approach amazingly close before they took off. Or that they rose leisurely and went away in slow motion, when I already stood in front of them.

This circumstance caused me to think. I thought about whether this was coincidence - or if it could probably have something to do with my own.

At this time I lived at the small mountain named Rusel near Deggendorf, in the Bavarian forest. I had decided for a pilgrimage to a pilgrimage place named - Maria Bründl - in a distance of 32 miles. After some hours of wandering I passed a brook, where two anglers went devotedly about their fishing joys. I asked them for the way and both explained to me, that I was walking the wrong way.

I followed their way description and not soon after I came to a forest clearing. From the far I saw a dog standing there in the grass. I approached to it more slowly because I simply respect big dogs very much. Especially, when they appear freely in wild track. I got closer, the dog stopped at its place. I came even closer and the "dog" inclined its head down to the grass to graze. I could hardly believe it. "Well - are you a dog now - or not?!" I asked still from a short distance. As I had approached even a little more, I saw that a deer grazed calmly in front of me. "Tell me, that is not everyday either - is it? Are you always doing like this?" I asked the animal. It then shortly lifted its head, looked at me - and then continued branching, as if nobody would have been there. I went further quite slowly - and came about 13 feet. The deer lifted its head and looked right into my eyes.
For moments our gazes rested into one another. The deer got started again, to graze further unflusteredly. And I stood there - as if I had taken root and watched it.

Suddenly I heard the sound of a small moped in the distance. The distance to the street was approximately 27 feet. When I could see exactly the first sight of the biker behind the trees, the deer lifted its head, looked at me, and then into the direction of the street where the man drove with the moped - and it made off to the close forest with giant jumps...


 
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