〃Yeah？〃

〃What's　really　bothering　you？　About　the　Sam　thing；　I　mean？　Is　there　something

else？〃　I　watched　his　face。

He　grimaced；　but　he　didn't　seem　angry。　He　looked　at　the　dirt　and　kicked　his

shoe　against　the　front　tire　of

his　bike　again　and　again；　like　he　was　keeping　time。

He　sighed。　〃It's　just　the　way　they　treat　me。　It　creeps　me　out。〃　The　words

started　to　rush　out　now。　〃You

know；　the　council　is　supposed　to　be　made　up　of　equals；　but　if　there　was　a

leader；　it　would　be　my　dad。

I've　never　been　able　to　figure　out　why　people　treat　him　the　way　they　do。　Why

his　opinion　counts　the

most。　It's　got　something　to　do　with　his　father　and　his　father's　father。　My

great…grandpa；　Ephraim　Black；

was　sort　of　the　last　chief　we　had；　and　they　still　listen　to　Billy；　maybe

because　of　that。

〃But　I'm　just　like　everyone　else。　Nobody　treats　me　special　until　now。〃

That　caught　me　off　guard。　〃Sam　treats　you　special？〃

〃Yeah；〃　he　agreed；　looking　up　at　me　with　troubled　eyes。　〃He　looks　at　me　like

he's　waiting　for

something　like　I'm　going　to　join　his　stupid　gang　someday。　He　pays　more

attention　to　me　than　any　of　the

other　guys。　I　hate　it。〃

〃You　don't　have　to　join　anything。〃　My　voice　was　angry。　This　was　really

upsetting　Jacob；　and　that

infuriated　me。　Who　did　these　〃protectors〃　think　they　were？

〃Yeah。〃　His　foot　kept　up　its　rhythm　against　the　tire。

〃What？〃　I　could　tell　there　was　more。

He　frowned；　his　eyebrows　pulling　up　in　a　way　that　looked　sad　and　worried

rather　than　angry。　〃It's

Embry。　He's　been　avoiding　me　lately。〃

The　thoughts　didn't　seem　connected；　but　I　wondered　if　I　was　to　blame　for　the