Lookingfaraheadoh,Ispiedherreturningtocamp,whichsetmymindatease.Sheappearedbetweerees,movinglikeadeeralongtheridgeliheithelibraryhadleftmeeagertoapologize,soItookashortcutthroughtheforestthatwouldallowmetocutheroffalongherroute.Mymindbuzzedwiththestoryofthemanintheyard.Ihopedtotellherbeforetheimportantpartsvahefusion.Speckwouldbemad,rightfullyso,butherpassionwouldmollifyanyanger.AsIdrewnear,shemusthavespottedme,forshetookoffinasprint.HadIatedbefivingchase,perhapsIwouldhavecaughther,buttheroughterraiedspeed.Inmyhaste,Isoeonafallenbrandlandedfacedowni.Spittingleavesandtwigs,IlookeduptoseeSpeckhadalreadymadeitintocampandwastalkingwithBéka.

    "Shedoesntwanttospeakwithyou,"theoldtoadsaiduponmyarrival,andclampedhishandonmyshoulder.Afewoftheelders—Igel,Ragno,Zanzara,andBlomma—hadsidledohim,fawall.

    "ButIalktoher."

    LuchógandKivijoiheothers.Smaolachwalkedtowardthegroupfrht,hishandschedandshaking.Onionsapproachedfrommyleft,amenagtoothsomesmileonherfaihemencircledme.Igelsteppediheringandjabbedafimychest.

    "Youhaveviolatedourtrust."

    "Whatareyoutalkingabout?"

    "Shefollowedyou,Aniday.Shesawyouwiththeman.Youweretoavoidanytactwiththem,yetthereyouwere,tryingtounicatewithohem."Igelpushedmetotheground,kigupacloudofrottenleaves.Humiliated,Iquicklysprangbayfeet.Myfeargrewastheothershollerediives.

    "Doyouknowhowdangerousthatwas?"

    "Teachhimalesson."

    "Doyouuandweotb