ingoutinthewoods."

    "Likehecouldbewatusrightnow?"Hejumpedoffthedwhisperedintothedarkness."Henry?Isthatyou?"

    "Shutup,man.Itspossible.Buttheyreafraidofpeople,thatmuow."

    "Thewhosits?"

    "Thegelings.Thatswhyyouneverseethem."

    "Whytheysoafraidofus?Seemslikeweshouldbeafraidofthem."

    "Usedtobethatway,man,butpeoplestoppedbelievinginmythsandfairytales."

    "ButwhatifHenrysoutthere,watgusrightnow,wantingtogethisbodybadhescreepingup,man,togetyou?"Andhereachedoutquicklyandsnatchedmyankle.

    Iscreamed,embarrassedtobefooledbysuchasimplejoke.Oscarsprawledonthehoodofthecar,laughingatme."Youvebeenwatgtoomanyhorrormovies,man."

    "No,thetruthis..."Isockedhimonthearm.

    "Andtherespodsinyourcellar,right?"

    Iwaopunchhimagain,butthenIrealizedhowridiystorysounded,andIstartedlaughing,too.Ifherememberedthatnightatall,Oseveragainbroughtupthematter,andmaybehethoughtIwashalluating.Hedroveoff,cagtohimself,aemptyafterthetruthhadbeentold.MyimpersonationofHenryDayhadsucceededsowellthatnoonesuspectedtherealstory.Evenmyfather,anaturalskeptic,believedinme,oratleastkepthisdoubtshiddendeepinhissoul.

    Thegroundfloorofourhousewasasdarkandsilentasacave.Upstairseveryosoundly.Iturhekitlightandpouredadrinkofwater.Attractedtothebrightness,mothscrashedandflappedupagainstthewindows.Theyscritchedupanddown,asoundmenagandforeboding.Iturnedoffthe