ThefullmooedahalobehindIgelsheadandevokedthememoryofsaintsandisinthechurchIcouldbarelyremember.ByhissidestoodLuchóg.Bothweredressedfortravelinjacketsandshoestowardoffthefrost.

    "Aniday,getupadressed.Youreingwithusthism."

    "M?"Irubbedthesleepfrommyeyes."Itsthemiddleofthenight."

    "Thesunllbeupinnotime.Youdbestbequick,"Luchógadvised.

    Westolealongthehiddentrailsthroughtheforest,leapinglikerabbits,scramblingthroughbrambles,croundwithgreatspeedandnopause.Cloudspassedbehemoon,firsthidingandthenrevealingthelandscape.Thetrailledaptyroads,ourfeetsoundingonthepavemeedthroughopenspaces,throughafieldofstalksthatrustledandhummedaswerolledbetweenrows,pastabarnbigagainstthedarkskyandafarmhouseyellowitishmoonlight.Iall,acowlowedatourfleetingpresence.Adogbarkedonce.Pastthefarm,achoftrees,anotherroad,andthenwewerecrossingastreamfromthedizzyie.Onthefarside,Igelledusintoaditchthatparalleledtheroad,andwecrouchedlowinitscover.Theskybegantolightentoadeepviolet.Anenginecoughedandsoonamilktruckpassedbyontheroadabove.

    "Westartedtoolate,"Igelsaid."Hellhavetobemorecarefulnow.Aniday,thismwewilltesthowfaryouveetobeingoneofus."

    Lookingdowntheroad,Ispiedthemilktruckstoppingatadrearybungalowoskirtsoftowdoorstoodasmallgeneralstorewithasinglegasolinepumpoutfront.Themilkman,allinwhite,desdedfromhisperdcarriedhisbaskettothesidedoor,returningbrisklywithtwoglassemptiesthatkedagainstthewire.Caughtupinthese,Inearlyf