library?"

    "Ihadfottenallaboutit."Butaswetalked,Icouldrecallthestacksofwell-wornbooks,thehushinglibrarian,quietmenandiwomenbowingforward,reading.Mymotherhadtakehere.Mymother."Iusedtogothere,Speck.TheyletmetakehomebooksandbringthembackwhenIwasfinished.Igotapapercardandsignedmynameonaslipatthebackofthebook."

    "Youremember."

    "ButIdontrememberwhatIwrote.IdidntwriteAniday."

    Shepickedupthepearandieditforsoftspots."Getmeaknife,Aniday,andIllcutthisinhalf.Andifyood,Illtakeyoutothelibrarytoseethebooks."

    Ratherthanleavinginthemiddleofthenightasbefore,wewalkedoutofcampatnoononacrispOctoberdaywithoutsomuchasafare-thee-well.Luchóg,SpedIfollowedthesametrailintotown,butwetookourtime,asifstrollingthroughthepark,notwantingtoreachthestreetsuntildusk.Abroadhighwayseveredthewoods,aowaitforalongbreakiraffic.Isedthecarsonthecethattheladyintheredightdriveby,butourvantagepointwastoofarfromtheroadtomakeoutanyofthedrivers.

    Atthegasstationontheedgeoftown,twoboyscircledthepumpontheirbicycles,traglazyarjoyingtheirlastfunintheremnantsunlight.Theirmothercalledthemfordinner,butbeforeIcouldseeherface,shevanishedbehindaclosingdoor.Luchógleading,wemovedacrosstheroadinsinglefile.Halfwayacrosstheasphalt,hefrozeandprickedhisearstothewest.Iheardnothing,butinmybonesseheelectricapproachofdangermovingquicklyasasummerstorm.Amomentsindecision,aouradvantage.SpringingfromthedarkhedogswerenearlyuponusbeforeSpeckgrabbedmyhandandsh