ereourcamphadbeen,fivenewhousesfaopencircle.Anothersixsatohersideofawideroadcutthroughthetrees.Brangofffromthattrail,morestreetsandhousesfloweddowntheslopinghilltothemainroadintotown.

    "Beiteversohumble,"Luchógsaid.

    Ilookedfaraheadandsawbustlingactivity.Fromthebackofastationwagon,awomanunloadedpackagestiedupwithbows.Twoboystossedafootball.Ayellowcar,shapedlikeabug,chuggedupawindingroad.WecouldheararadiotalkingabouttheArmy-Navygame,andamanmutteringcursesasheringoflightsbeheeavesofhisroof.MesmerizedbyallIsaw,Ifailedtonoticeasdaygavewaytonight.Lightswentoninthehomes,asifonsuddensignal.

    "Shallweseewholivesonthering?"Luchógasked.

    Wecreptdowntothecircleofasphalt.Twoofthehomesappearedempty.Theotherthreeshowedsignsoflife:carsinthedriveways,lamplitfigurescrossingbehindthewindowsasifrushingoffonvitaltasks.Glangineadothesamestoryunfolding.Awomaninakitstirredsomethinginapot.Anotherliftedahugebirdfromtheoven,whileinanadjoiningroomamanstaredatminusculefiguresplayinggamesinaglowingbox,hisfaceflushediementer.His-dhborsleptinaneasychair,oblivioustothenoiseandflickeringimages.

    "Helooksfamiliar,"Iwhispered.

    Coveredtohistoesierrycloth,ayoungchildsatinasmallcageintheeroftheroom.Heplayeddistractedlywithbrightlycoloredplastictoys.Foramoment,Ithoughtthesleepingmanresembledmyfather,butIcouldnotuandhowhecouldhaveanotherson.Awomanwalkedfromoneroomintotheother,andherlongblondehairtrailedbehindlikeatail.Shescheduphermouthintoabowbefor