edoing?"

    "Igelthinkshemayhavefoundone."

    Wemovedoingagaihequarrypaused.

    "O?"Iasked.

    "Achild."

    Theyledusonacircuitousroutealoypathways.Nopreyappeared,theyneverfiredtheirons,andtheyhadntsaidmorethanafewwords.Overlunch,theymaintainedanunfortablesilendIcouldnotuandhowthesetwowereofanyiall.Thesullenpairheadedbacktoagreenpickupparkedontheslopebesidetheroad,andtheboysteppedintothepassengersside.Ashecrossedthefrontofthetruck,thefathermuttered,"Thatwasafugmistake."Igelscrutihepairwithsavageiy,andasthetruckpulledaway,hereadouttheliseplatenumbers,ittiomemory.SmaoladIlaggedbehindIgelashemarchedhome,ionhisprivateruminations.

    "Whydidwetrackthemallday?Whatdoyoumean,hefoundachild?"

    "Themcloudsarereadytoburst."Smaolachstudiedthedarkeningsky.

    "Yousmelliting."

    "Whatishegoingtodo?"Iyelled.Upahead,Igelstoppedinhistradwaitedforustocatchup.

    "Howlonghaveyoubeenwithus,Aniday?"Igelasked."Whatdoesyourstonedarsay?"

    Eversidaywheurnedonme,IhadbeenwaryofIgel,andhadlearobedeferential."Idontknow.December?November?1966?"

    Herolledhiseyes,bithislip,andtinued."Ivebeenlookingandwaitingsinceyouarrived,anditsmyturnnowandthatboymaybetheone.WhenyouandSpeckareintownwithyourbooks,keepaforthatgreentruck.Ifyouseeitagain,ortheboyorthefather,letmeknow.Ifyouhavethecetofollowthemandfindwherehelivesoestoschool,orwherethefather