Welostourhomeandneverwentback.Trackersanddogsarrivedfirst,pokingaboutthecamp,uncwhatwehadleftbehindinourevacuation.Thenmeninblacksuitscametotakephotographsoftheholesandourfootprii.Ahelicopterhoveredoverthesite,filmingtheovalperimeterarodpathwaysintothewoods.Dozensofsoldiersingreenuniformscollectedeverydiscardedpossessionandcartedthemoffinboxesandbags.Afewsoulsshinniedunderground,crawledthroughtheworkofburrowsandemergedblinkingattheskyasiftheyhadbeehesea.Weekslater,anothercrewarrived,theirheavymaeryrumblingupthehill,cuttingaswaththroughtheoldtreestocollapsethetunnels,digthemup,andburythemagain,turnihoverailthetopranewiththickwetclay.Thentheydousedtheringwithgasolineahefieldafire.Bytheendofthatsummer,nothingremaiashesandtheblaedskeletonsofafewtrees.

    Suchdestrudidnottempertheurgetoreturnhome.Icouldnotsleepwithoutthefamiliarpatternofstarsandskyframedbybranchesoverhead.Everynight-sound—aswigorawoodratscrabblingthroughthebrush—disturbedmyrest,andinthemsmyheadandneckached.Iheard,too,theothersmoaningintheirdreamsorstrainingbehindthebushestorelievethegrowingpressureintheirguts.Smaolachlookedoverhisshoulderadozentimeseachhour.Onionschewedhernailsandbraidedintricatesofgrass.Eachswellofrestlessnesswasfollowedbyaswaleoflistlessness.Knowingourhomewasgolookingforitstill,asifhopealonecouldrestoreourlives.Whenhopefaded,amorbidcuriositysetin.Wewouldgobacktimeandagaintoworryoverthebones.

    Hiddeniopoftalloaksorscatteredinpocketsalongtheridge,wedwitnessandwhisperamongourselves,de