Michael McGrath, Postmaster

The narrator’s weary trek through the rugged coastal wilderness of British Columbia ends in a striking valley where a lone Union Jack flutters above a small cluster of cabins. There he meets “Ould Michael,” a spry sixty‑year‑old former Highlander who now serves as the postmaster, greeting newcomers with a hearty “God save the Queen.” Their first exchange, set against a garden of neat beds and colorful blossoms, hints at a man whose life is still guided by military discipline and a love of order.

Michael’s weathered stature and easy charm quickly draw the traveler into the rhythm of frontier life, from tending to the post to sharing a drink on his porch. Between tending his meticulously arranged garden, he begins to recount vivid memories of battles in India, his voice softening only after a few glasses. Though the tales are hinted at rather than fully unveiled, they promise a blend of rugged adventure, lingering war echoes, and the quiet dignity of a man who has made a remote valley his home.