ess。

〃What　happened？〃　Charlie　demanded。

Again；　I　decided　that　the　truth；　or　part　of　it　anyway；　was　the　best　option。　I

was　too　shaken　to　pretend

that　I'd　spent　an　uneventful　day　with　the　flora　and　fauna。

〃I　saw　the　bear。〃　I　tried　to　say　it　calmly；　but　my　voice　was　high　and　shaky。

〃It's　not　a　bear；　though—it's

some　kind　of　wolf。　And　there　are　five　of　them。　A　big　black　one；　and　gray；　and

reddish…brown〃

Charlie's　eyes　grew　round　with　horror。　He　strode　quickly　to　me　and　grabbed　the

tops　of　my　arms。

〃Are　you　okay？〃

My　head　bobbed　in　a　weak　nod。

〃Tell　me　what　happened。〃

〃They　didn't　pay　any　attention　to　me。　But　aftet　they　were　gone；　I　ran　away　and

I　fell　down　a　lot。〃

He　let　go　of　my　shoulders　and　wrapped　his　arms　around　me。　For　a　long　moment；

he　didn't　say　anything。

〃Wolves；〃　he　murmured。

〃What？〃

〃The　rangers　said　the　tracks　were　wrong　for　a　bear—but　wolves　just　don't　get

that　big〃

〃These　were　huge。〃

〃How　many　did　you　say　you　saw？〃

〃Five。〃

Charlie　shook　his　head；　frowning　with　anxiety；　He　finally　spoke　in　a　tone　that

allowed　no　argument。　〃No

morehiking。〃

〃No　problem；〃　I　promised　fervently。

Charlie　called　the　station　to　report　what　I'd　seen。　I　fudged　a　little　bit

about　where　exactly　I'd　seen　the

wolves—claiming　I'd　been　on　the　trail　that　led　to　the　north。　I　didn't　want　my

dad　to　know　how　deep　I'd

gone　into　the　forest　against　his　wishes；　and；　more　importantly；　I　didn't　want

anyone　wandering　near　where

Laurent　might　be　searching　for　me。　The　thought　of　it　made　me　feel　sick。

〃Are　you　hungry？〃　he　asked　me　when　he　hung　up　the　phone。