ght,hereyesfixedohetremorinhervoicedisappeared.Asinglehairescapednow,bisegherface.Shegatheredhermahhertwhredhandsandpusheditbehindherears,smilingallthewhileatmystare."Ifyoueverfet,Aniday,efindme."Shewalkedaway,movingthroughtheforest,acrosstheridgeandawayfromcamp,leavingmealohmydar.Ispiedherfigureprogressingamoreesuntilshebleothenaturalworld.Whenshevanished,allIcouldthinkofwasthedate:February20,1950.Ihadlostsomuchtime.

    Farbelow,theothersincampslumberedbehamatofstinkingblasandfurs.Bylisteningtothetraffidfollowingthessource,Icouldbebackamongthepeople,ahosecarswasboundtostopandtakemehome.Thedriverwouldseeaboystandingbythesideoftheroadandpulloffonthebermaheadofme.Iwouldwaitforher,thewomanintheredcoat,toesaveme.Iwouldnotrunaway,butwaitthereandtrynotthtenherasbefore.Shewouldlowerherselftoeyelevel,sweepingherhairbaherface."Whoareyou?"Iwouldsummonupthefayparentsandmylittlesister,tellthewomanwiththepalegreeneyeswhereIlived,howtogethome.Shewouldbidmeclimbintohercar.Sittingbesideher,Idtellhermytale,andshewouldputherhandaroundthebayhead,sayihingwouldbeallright.Idjumpfromthatcaraswestoppedbeforemyhouse,myminglaundryohesline,mysisterwaddlingtowardmeinheryellowdress,herarmsaflutter."Ivefoundyourboy,"thewomanwouldsay,andmyfatherwouldpullupinaredfireengine."Wevebeenlookingalloverforyouforalongtime."Later,afterfriedchiandbiscuits,wedebacktothewoodsandrescuemyfriendsSmaolach,Luchóg,andSpeck,whocouldlivewithusandgotoschoolandehomewarm,safe,andsound.A