true　enough　for　what　he'd　asked。

His　warm　hand　touched　my　forehead；　and　his　fingers　pressed　against　the　inside

of　my　wrist。　I　watched　his

lips　as　he　counted　to　himself；　his　eyes　on　his　watch。

〃What　happened　to　you？〃　he　asked　casually。

I　froze　under　his　hand；　tasting　panic　in　the　back　of　my　throat。

〃Did　you　get　lost　in　the　woods？〃　he　prodded。　I　was　aware　of　several　other

people　listening。　Three　tall

men　with　dark　faces—from　La　Push；　the　Quileute　Indian　reservation　down　on　the

coastline；　I

guessed—Sam　Uley　among　them；　were　standing　very　close　together　and　staring　at

me。　Mr。　Newton　was

there　with　Mike　and　Mr。　Weber；　Angela's　father；　they　all　were　watching　me　more

surreptitiously　than　the

strangers。　Other　deep　voices　rumbled　from　the　kitchen　and　outside　the　front

door。　Half　the　town　must

have　been　looking　for　me。

Charlie　was　the　closest。　He　leaned　in　to　hear　my　answer。

〃Yes；〃　I　whispered。　〃I　got　lost。〃

The　doctor　nodded；　thoughtful；　his　fingers　probing　gently　against　the　glands

under　my　jaw。　Charlie's　face

hardened。

〃Do　you　feel　tired？〃　Dr。　Gerandy　asked。

I　nodded　and　closed　my　eyes　obediently。

〃I　don't　think　there's　anything　wrong　with　her；〃　I　heard　the　doctor　mutter　to

Charlie　after　a　moment。　〃Just

exhaustion。　Let　her　sleep　it　off；　and　I'll　e　check　on　her　tomorrow；〃　he

paused。　He　must　have　looked

at　his　watch；　because　he　added；　〃Well；　later　today　actually。〃

There　was　a　creaking　sound　as　they　both　pushed　off　from　the　couch　to　get　to

their　feet。

〃Is　it　true？〃　Charlie　whispered。　Their　voices　were　farther　away　now。　I

strained　to　hear。　〃Did　they　leave？〃