inaharnessuntilhewaswaist-deepinthemuddywater,hisbodydrapedaroundthebodyoftheEsaubomb.Thegfromfintotiptehigh,itsnosesunkintothemudbyhisfeet.

    Behebrownwaterhisthighsbracedthemetalg,muchthewayhehadseensoldiersholdingwomenintheerofNAAFIdancefloors.Whenhisarmstiredhehungthemuponthewoodenstrutsatshoulderlevel,whichweretheretostopmudcollapsinginaroundhim.ThesappershaddugthepitaroundtheEsauahewood-shaftwallsbeforehehadarrivedoe.In,EsaubombswithanewYfuzehadstartedingin;thiswashissedone.

    Itwasdecidedduringplanningsessionsthattheonlywayaroundthenewfuzewastoimmu.Itwasahugebombinostrichposture.Hehadedowandhewasalreadysinkingslowly,beingcaughtwithintheclay,uogetafirmholddownthereinthecoldwater.Hewasn’twearingboots—theywouldhavelockedwithintheclay,andwhenheulleyeduplaterthejerkoutofitcouldbreakhisankles.

    Helaidhisleftcheekagainstthemetalg,tryingtothinkhimselfintowarmth,tratingonthesmalltouchofsunthatreacheddownintothetwenty-footpitandfellonthebackofhisneck.Whatheembracedcouldexplodeatanymoment,wheumblerstremored,whehegainewasfired.TherewasnomagicorXraythatwouldtellanyonewhensomesmallcapsulebroke,whensomewirewouldstopwavering.Thosesmallmeicalsemaphoreswerelikeaheartmurmurorastrokewithinthemancrossireetilyinfrontofyou.

    Whattownwashein?Hecouldn’tevenremember.Heheardavoidlookedup.Hardypassedtheequipmentdowninasatchelattheendofarope,andithungtherewhileKipbegantoihevariousclipsandtoolsintothemanypocketsofhistunic.HewashummingthesongHardyhadbeensinginginthejeepoothesit