s,approagthedeerfromtheshadows.Thewomanstoodinthemiddleofthatlonesomeroad,singinbothdiresforanothercar.ShedidnotnoticemeuntilIwasalreadythere,crougovertheanimal,myhanduponitswarmflank,itspulseragalongsidemyown.Icuppedthedeersmuzzleinmyhandahedintoitshotmouth.Almostimmediately,thebeastlifteditshead,shoulderedmeoutoftheway,androckeditselfupintoastand-ingposition.Foraninstant,itstaredatme;then,likeawhiteensign,itstailshotupawarning,andthedeerbouothenight.Tosaythatwe—theanimal,thewoman,myself—weresurprisedbythisturswouldbethemostsevereuatement.Shelookedbewildered,soIsmiledather.Atthatmoment,myradesstartedcallingtomeinloudwhispers.

    "Whoareyou?"Sheedherselftighterinthatredcoat.OratleastIthoughtthosewereherwords,buthervoicesoundedalien,asifshewerespeakingthroughwater.Istaredattheground,realizingthatIdidnotknowthetrueanswer.Herfacedrewcloseenoughformetodetectthebeginningofasmileonherlipsandthepalebluegreenofheririsesbehindherglasses.Hereyesweresplendid.

    "Wemustgo."Fromthedarkness,ahandgraspedmyshoulder,andSmaolachdraggedmeawayintothebushes,leaviowonderifithadallbeenadream.Wehidinatanglewhileshesearchedforus,andatlastshegaveup,gotinherddroveoff.Ididnotknowitatthetime,butshewasthelasthumanpersonIwastoenterformorethanadozenyears.Thetail-lightszigzaggedoverthehillsandthroughthetreesuntiltherewasnomoretosee.

    Weretreatedbapinacrosssilence.Halfwayhome,Luchógadvised,"Youmustnttellanyoneaboutpeonight.Stayawayfrompeopleaentwithwhoyouare."Onthe