hingunseen.Hecouldnothavebeehahetimethepicturewastaken,andhadthesnapshotnotbeeninbladwhite,Iwouldhavesonizedhisface.Foritwasmine,andme,inajacketandcap,eyesawaiting—what?asnowfall,atossedfootball,aVofgeese,handsfromabove?Whatastrahingtohappentoalittleboy,toenduponthewallofthisunfamiliarhouse.Themanandwomanintheweddingpictureofferednoclues.Itwasmyfatherwithadifferentbride.

    "Aniday,whatareyoudoing?"Luchóghissed."Hushthoselights."

    Amattresscreakedoverheadassomeooutofbed.Isnappedoffthelightsandscrammed.Thefloorboardsmoaned.Awomansvoicemutteredinahigh,impatienttone.

    "Allright,"themanreplied."Illgocheck,butIdidhing."Heheadedfortheupperstairway,tookthestepsslowlyonebyoriedthebackdooroutofthekitbutcouldnotfigureoutthelock.

    "Thedamhingwontbudge,"Smaolachsaid.

    Theapproagfigurereachedthebottomlanding,switchedonthelight.Hewentintothelivingroom,whichIhaddepartedsedsearlier.Luchógfussedwitharotatingbarandunlockedthedeadboltwithasoftclick.Wefrozeatthesound.

    "Hey,whosthere?"themansaidfromtheotherroom.Hepaddedourwayinhisbarefeet.

    "Fuckall,"saidSmaoladheturheknobandpushed.Thedooropenedsixihungfastbyasmallmetalaboveourheads."Letsgo,"hesaid,andwegedtosqueezethroughthegaponebyone,scatteringsugarandflourbehindus.Iamsurehesawthelastofus,forthemancalledout"Hey"again,butweweregone,ragacrossthefrostylawn.Thefloodlightpoppedonlikeaflashbulb,butasseditscircleofillumin