I whispered to Maria, "We've been lucky. Let's wait until there is a change of guard before we go further. We can use the day to map a long route back... to our road."She nodded and we went back to the truck and napped. Then, I unloaded the bicycles and we rode out of town on our little road. It was pretty level and we rode a few miles before even looking for a way to return to our chosen road.We found a beautiful little primitive farm with a small house. It had an artisan well for water but. Or anyone else, really.”I smiled, “Why, Clarissa, I didn’t know you cared!”“Not THAT way!” she laughed. “But I do. I know you have to look out for yourself, but I need you. So do Sandy and Angie. The guys, too, but they’d never admit it.”“I’d still be at the study group,” I protested.“And always looking at your watch because you needed to run home to your, well, wife, I guess. You’d only be here for class and studying. Who would I have to talk to?”“I don’t know what to say,” I said.“Sorry. That. She just grunted a no, went to change her clothes, returned to the living room, flopped down on the couch and turned on the T V. There was no greeting to Ray or me, she just ignored us. I played with Ray for another hour or so and then gave him a bath and put on his pajamas for bed. Before he went to bed, he went to say good night to Bobbie. She just patted him on the head and said good night. No hug, no kiss, no attention for the boy. I put Ray to bed and waited for a half an hour; then I. Edern paused as the path broke out into field at the forest edge. The falsedawn had only fooled a few of the day birds into a sleepy chirp, but the nightbirds, the owls in particular, had ceased their noise. He had traveled through the night because the time was right: he had castthe bones of an owl, and the bones had not lied. The air was ripe with possibility.The hair lifted on Edern's neck. Now , he thought, it'sgoing to be now. I can feel her. And I will have her finally. Heshifted his.