Summary:
In Tim O'Brien's "On the Rainy River", he tells a story about being drafted but running away. O'Brien flees his home and heads toward Canada, where everyone went at the time to escape the war after leaving a simple note to his parents informing them of his decision. His reasoning he tells us is that he does not believe in the war, therefore refuses to fight. During his journey, he stops at this place where an older man lives, who doesn't question him whatsoever and simply allows O'Brien to stay a few nights. After staying there and doing work for the older man, the man ended up paying him instead of the other way around. He refuses the money but ends up being given it once more. Soon after, the older man takes him fishing right up to the shore of Canada, where if he crossed, he would have successfully escaped being drafted. However, O'Brien ends up breaking down into tears and the journey is rewound. After giving the man back his money once more, O'Brien returns home and becomes a part of the war. He notes that he is a coward for not being able to escape and going into the war instead.

Response:
When someone is drafted and they want to run away or escape from a war, typically they are the ones who are referred to as a coward, not the ones who actually participate in it, Aside from that, though, I'm curious as to why the older man had no questions to ask. I mean, I'm sure he was thinking about questions to ask and used his better judgement (or was it better?) not to ask. But human nature makes us humans curious about most things, even if the matter at hand would bring us no beneficial gain. If I were in the older man's position, I would have let curiosity overtake me and I would have asked questions. If not all, at least one. Going my life with unanswered questions would frustrate me, and the only way to rid the future frustration would be to ask a simple question or two, such as "Why have you come here?" or "Would you feel comfortable answering some of my questions?"