rcagerevealednothingbuttwoicatsstretchedoutasleepinthelanguidsunshihewildernessofmyimagination,thegelingsappeared.IlookedbackatTessandfearedthatIwasabouttobreakherheart.

    "Hesgone,"Itoldher,movingapart."Edward."

    Shespunaroundandmovedtothespotwehadseenhimlast."Eddie,"shecried."Whereintheworldareyou?"

    Wewentdowhtowardthelionsandbears,callingouthisname,hervoicerisinganoctavewitheachrepetition,alarmiherparents.Tessstoppedanelderlycoupleheadingintheoppositedire."Haveyouseenalittleboyallalohreeyearsold.Cottondy."

    "Theresnothingbutchildrenhere,"theoldmansaid,pointingathinfihedistancebehindus.Alineofchildren,laughingandhurrying,chasedsomethingdownashadypathway.Atthefrontofthepack,azoo-keeperhustledalong,attemptingtoholdbackthechildrenwhilefollowinghisquarry.Aheadofthemob,Edwardrahisearandclumsyjog,chasingablackfootedpenguinthathadescapedhispenandnowwaddledfreeandoblivious,headingbacktotheo,perhaps,orinsearchoffreshfish.ThekeepersprintedpastEdwardandcaughtuptothebird,whichbrayedlikeajackass.Holdingitsbillwithonehandandcradlingthebirdagainsthischest,thekeeperhurriedpastusaswereachedourson."Sucharuckus,"hetoldus."Thisoneslipsoutoftheexhibitandoffhegoes,whereverhepleases.Somethingshavesuchawill."

    TakingEdwardshandsinouroeredetermiogo.

    Edwardwasakiteonastring,alwaysthreateningtobreakfree.Beforehestartedschooling,Eddiewassafeathome.Tesstookgoodinthems,andIwashometowatchh