town,noseargoutthelonesome,ed,otten.Noface-pulling,notortions,s.Asifresigned,wewentaboutoureternalbusiness,sanguianotherdisasterorabandoawaited.

    Ididnotcare.Acertainfearlessnessfilledme,andIwouldatetorunintotownalone,ifonlytoswipeacartonofcigarettesforLuchógofsweetsforChavisory.Istoleunnecessarythings:aflashlightandbatteries,adrawingpadandcharcoals,abaseballandsixfishinghooks,andoChristmas,adeliciouscakeintheshapeofafirelog.Inthefiheforest,Ifiddledwithidletasks—whittlingafiercebatatopahickoryCUMlayingastaroundthecircumferenceofourcamp,seargforoldturtleshellsandcraftingtheshardsintoanecklace.Iwentupaloheslaghillsideandtheabandonedmine,whichlayundisturbed,aswehadleftit,andplacedthetortoiseshellnecklacewhereRagnoandZanzaralayburied.Mydreamsdidnotwakemeupinthemiddleofthenight,butonlybecauselifehadbeeasomnambulantnightmare.AhandfulofseasonshadpassedwhenaterfinallymademerealizethatSpeckwasbeyondfetting.

    Weweretendingtodelicateseedlingsplantedonasun-drenchedslopeafewhundredyardsfromcamp.Onionshadstolennewseeds,andwithinweeksupcamethefirsttendershoots—snappeas,carrots,scallions,awatermelonvine,andarowofbeans.Chavisory,Onions,Luchóg,andIwereweedinginthegardenonthatspringm,whenthesoundofapproagfeetcausedustoriselikewhitetail,tosniffthewiofleeorhide.Theintruderswerelosthikers,offthetrailandheadedinourdire.Sihehousingdevelopmenthadrisen,wehadararetravelerpassourway,butourcultivatedpatchmightlookabitpeculiartothesestrangersoutinthemiddleofnowhere.Wedisguisedthegardenunderpin