s,KiviandBlomma,uhenearlydepletedpantryanddugouterfare,lyskinningapartiallyfrozensquirrelwithafewdeftstrokesofaverysharpknife.Speckcrumbleddriedherbsintoouroldteapotandfilleditwithwaterdrawnfromacistern.Chavisorytoastedpisonaflatgriddle.Theboyswhowerenotengagedincookingtookofftheirwetshoesandboots,exgingthemforyesterdaysgear,nowdryandhard.Allofthisdomesticroutineproceededwithoutfussandwithstversation;theyhadmadeasceofpreparingforthenight.Asthesquirrelcookedonaspit,Smaolachcameovertochee,andwassurprisedtodiseawakea.

    "Aniday,youveebathedead."

    Hereachedformyhand,pulliomyfeet.Weembraced,buthesqueezedmesohardthatmysidesached.Armaroundmyshoulder,heledmetothefire,wheresomeofthefaeriesgreetedmewithexpressionsofwonderandrelief.Békagavemeanapathetieer,andIgelshruggedatmyhelloandtinuedwaitingtobeserved,armscrossedathischest.Wesettothesquir-relandnuts,themealbarelycurbingthegrowlingappetiteofallassembled.Afterthefirststringybites,Ipushedawaymytinplate.Thefirelightmadeeveryonesfaceglow,andthegreaseontheirlipsmadetheirsmilesshine.

    Aftersupper,Luchógmotionedformetoecloser,andhewhisperedihathehadstashedariseforme.Wewalkedawayfromcamp,thelastraysofpinksunlightilluminatingtheway.Clampedbe-tweentwestoneswerefoursmallenvelopes.

    "Takethem,"hegruhetopstoneheavyinhisarms,andIwhiskedoutthelettersbeforehedroppedthecapwithathud.Reaginsidehisshirttohisprivatepouch,Luchógextractedbutthenubofasharppencil,whichhepresehbeingmodesty."MerryChristmas,little