tier,"Speckargued."Isaynortha,sticktothecreekorfollowtherivertillitbendsup."Shetookthestihishandanddrewwheretherivercurvedtothenorth.

    "Howdoyouknowitbends?"Chavisoryasked.

    "Ivebeenthatfar."

    WelookedatSpeckwithawe,asifshehadseentheedgeoftheworld.Shestaredback,defyinganyoneschallengeordisbelief."Twodaysfromhere.Orweshouldfindaplaearthecreek.ItdriesupinAugustaembersomeyears,butwecouldbuildacistern."

    Thinkingofourhideawaybehelibrary,Ispokeup."Ivoteforthecreek.Wefollowitfromthehillsintotownwheneverweneedsuppliesoranything.Ifwegotoofaraway—"

    "Hesright,youknow,"saidLuchóg,pattinghischesta?dtheemptypoueathhisshirt."WehingsfromtowellBékawewanttostaybythecreek.Agreed?"

    Helaytheresn,slack-jawed,hisarmflungoverOnionsathisside.Sheheardourapproach,poppedopenhereyes,smiled,andputafioherlipstowhisperhush.Hadwetakenheradvice,perhapswewouldhavecaughthimatabettertime,inamenerousmood,butSpeck,forone,neverhadanypatience.Shekickedhisfootandrousedhimfromhisslumber.

    "Whatdoyouwantnow?"heroaredthroughayawn.Sincehisassiontoleadership,Békaattemptedtoappearbiggerthanhewas.Hewastryingtoimplyathreatbyrisingtohisfeet.

    "Wearetiredofthislife,"saidSpeck.

    "Ofneverhavingtwonightsinonebed,"saidChavisory.

    Luchógadded,"Ihaventhadasmokesimannearlyshotoffmyhead."

    Békarakedhisfacewithhispalm,sideringourdemandsinthehazeofhalf-sle