〃Dr。　Cullen　asked　us　not　to　say　anything；〃　Dr。　Gerandy　answered。　〃The　offer

was　very　sudden；　they　had

to　choose　immediately。　Carlisle　didn't　want　to　make　a　big　production　out　of

leaving。〃

〃A　little　warning　might　have　been　nice；〃　Charlie　grumbled。

Dr。　Gerandy　sounded　unfortable　when　he　replied。　〃Yes；　well；　in　this

situation；　some　warning　might

have　been　called　for。〃

I　didn't　want　to　listen　anymore。　I　felt　around　for　the　edge　of　the　quilt

someone　had　laid　on　top　of　me；　and

pulled　it　over　my　ear。

I　drifted　in　and　out　of　alertness。　I　heard　Charlie　whisper　thanks　to　the

volunteers　as；　one　by　one；　they　left。

I　felt　his　fingers　on　my　forehead；　and　then　the　weight　of　another　blanket。　The

phone　rang　a　few　times；　and

he　hurried　to　catch　it　before　it　could　wake　me。　He　muttered　reassurances　in　a

low　voice　to　the　callers。

〃Yeah；　we　found　her。　She's　okay。　She　got　lost。　She's　fine　now；〃　he　said　again

and　again。

I　heard　the　springs　in　the　armchair　groan　when　he　settled　himself　in　for　the

night。

A　few　minutes　later；　the　phone　rang　again。

Charlie　moaned　as　he　struggled　to　his　feet；　and　then　he　rushed；　stumbling；　to

the　kitchen　I　pulled　my　head

deeper　under　the　blankets；　not　wanting　to　listen　to　the　same　conversation

again。

〃Yeah；〃　Charlie　said；　and　yawned。

His　voice　changed；　it　was　much　more　alert　when　he　spoke　again。　〃Where？'〃　There

was　a　pause。　〃You're

sure　it's　outside　the　reservation？〃　Another　short　pause。　〃But　what　could　be

burning　out　there？〃　He

sounded　both　worried　and　mystified。　〃Look；　I'll