BurnJamesPatrickKelly

Published:2005Categorie(s):Fiction,ScienceFictionSource:http://www.jimkelly.net

AboutKelly:James Patrick Kelly (born 1951 in Mineola, New York) is a Hugo- and Nebula-award winning

Americansciencefictionauthorwhobeganpublishinginthe1970sandremainstothisdayanimportantfigureintheSFfield.Kellymadehisfirstfictionsalein1975,andhassincebeenamajorforceinthesciencefictionfield.HegraduatedmagnacumlaudefromtheUniversityofNotreDamein1972,withaB.A.inEnglishLiterature.Aftergraduatingcollege,heworkedasafull-timeproposalwriteruntil1977.Heattendedthesciencefictionworkshop,Clarion,twice;oncein1974andagainin1976.Throughoutthe1980s,heandfriendJohnKesselbecameinvolvedinthehumanist/cyberpunkdebate.WhileKesselandKellywere both humanists,Kelly alsowrote several cyberpunk-like stories, such as "ThePrisoner ofChillon"(1985)and"Rat"(1986).Hisstory"Solstice"(1985)waspublishedinBruceSterling'sseminalanthologyMirrorShades:TheCyberpunkAnthology.Kellyhasbeenawardedseveralofsciencefiction'shighesthonors.HewontheHugoAwardforhisnovelette"ThinkLikeaDinosaur"(1995)andagainforhisnovelette"10^16to1"(1999).His2005novella,"Burn,"wonthe2006NebulaAward.OtherstoriesbyhimhavewontheAsimov'sReader'sPollandtheSFChronicleAward.Heisfrequentlyonthefinalballot for theNebulaAward, the Locus PollAward and the Theodore SturgeonMemorialAward.Hefrequentlyteachesandparticipatesinsciencefictionworkshops,suchasClarionandTheSycamoreHillWriter'sWorkshop. He has served on the NewHampshire State Council on the Arts since 1998 andchaired thecouncil in2004.He isa frequentcontributor toAsimov'sScienceFiction,and for thepastseveralyearshascontributedanon-fictioncolumntoAsimov's,"OntheNet."HehashadastoryintheJuneissueofAsimov'sforthepasttwentyyears.Mostrecently,hisstand-alonenovella,Burn,publishedbyTachyonPublications,wonthe2006NebulaAwardforBestNovella.Source:Wikipedia

AlsoavailableonFeedbooksKelly:

ThePyramidofAmirah(2002)ItsyBitsySpider(1997)Monsters(1992)Faith(1989)BarryWestphallCrashesTheSingularity(2002)Luck(2002)MenAreTrouble(2004)

Copyright:Pleasereadthelegalnoticeincludedinthise-bookand/orcheckthecopyrightstatusinyourcountry.

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Wemighttryourlivesbyathousandsimpletests;as,forinstance,thatthesamesunwhichripensmybeansilluminesatonceasystemofearthslikeours.IfIhadrememberedthisitwouldhavepreventedsomemistakes.ThiswasnotthelightinwhichIhoedthem.Thestarsaretheapexesofwhatwonder-fultriangles!Whatdistantanddifferentbeingsinthevariousmansionsoftheuniversearecontemplatingthesameoneatthesamemoment!Natureandhumanlifeareasvariousasourseveralconstitutions.Whoshallsaywhatprospectlifeofferstoanother?–Walden

1Chapter

Fortheheroiscommonlythesimplestandobscurestofmen.–Walden

Spurwas in thenightmareagain. It alwaysbegan in theburn.The frontof theburn tookona liquidqualityandoozedlikelavatowardhim.Itlickedatbouldersandscorchedthetreesintheforesthehadsworntoprotect.Therewasnothinghecoulddotofightit;inthenightmare,hewasn'twearinghissplashpack.Orhisfireprooffieldjacket.Fearpinnedhimagainstanoakuntilhecouldfeeltheskinonhisfacestarttocook.Thenhetorehimselfawayandran.Butnowtheburnleaptafterhim,followinglikeafieryshadow. It chasedhim througha standofpine; trees exploded like firecrackers.Sparksbit throughhiscivviesandstunghim.Hecouldsmellburninghair.Hishair.Inapanichedodgedintoastreamchokedwithdeadfishandpoachedfrogs.Butthewaterscaldedhislegs.Hescrambledupthebankofthestream,weeping.Heknewheshouldn'tbeafraid;hewasaveteranof thefirefight.Stillhefeltas ifsomethingwassqueezinghim.Awhimperinggosdogboltedacrosshispath,itsfeatherssinged,eyeswide.Hecouldfeel the burn dive under the forest and burrow ahead of him in every direction. The ground was hotbeneathhisfeetandthedarkhumussmokedandstank.Inthenightmaretherewasjustonewayout,buthisbrother-in-lawVicwasblocking it.Only in thenightmareVicwasapukpuk,oneof thehuman torcheswhohadstartedtheburn.Vichadnotyetsethimselfonfire,althoughhisbaseballjerseywassmokingintheheat.HebeckonedandforamomentSpurthoughtitmightnotbeVicafterallastheanguishedfaceshimmeredintheheatoftheburn.Vicwouldn'tbetraythem,wouldhe?ButbythenSpurhadtodancetokeephisshoesfromcatchingfire,andhehadnoescape,nochoice,notime.ThetorchspreadhisarmswideandSpurstumbledintohisembraceandwithanangrywhooshtheyexplodedtogetherintoflame.Spurfelthisskincrackle…."That's enough for now."A sharp voice cut through the nightmare. Spur gaspedwith reliefwhenhe

realizedthattherewasnoburn.Nothereanyway.Hefeltacoldhandbrushagainsthisforeheadlikeablessingandknewthathewasinthehospital.Hehadjustbeeninthesimthattheupsiderswereusingtohealhissoul."You'vegottostopthrashingaroundlikethat,"saidthedocbot."Unlessyouwantmetonailtheleadsto

yourhead."Spuropenedhiseyesbutallhecouldseewasmistandshimmer.Hetriedtoanswerthedocbotbuthe

couldbarelyfindhistongueinhisownmouth.Abrightnesstohisleftgraduallyresolvedintothesunnywindowofthehospitalroom.Spurcouldfeelthefirmandnotunpleasantpressureoftherestraints,whichbound him to the bed: broad straps across his ankles, thighs,wrists and torso.The docbot peeled theleadsoffhistemplesandthenliftedSpur'sheadtogettheoneatthebaseofhisskull."Sodoyourememberyourname?"itsaid.Spurstretchedhisheadagainstthepillow,tryingtoloosenthestiffnessinhisneck."I'moverhere,son.Thisway."Heturnedandstaredintoaglowingblueeye,whichstrobedbriefly."Pupildilatationnormal,"thedocbotmuttered,probablynottoSpur.Itpausedforamomentandthen

spokeagain."Soaboutthatname?"

"Spur."ThedocbotstrokedSpur'spalmwithitsmedfinger,collectingsomeofhissweat.Itstuckthesample

intoitsmouth."Thatmaybewhatyourfriendscallyou,"itsaid,"butwhatI'maskingisthenameonyourid."Thewordschasedeachotheracrosstheceilingforamomentbeforetheysankin.Spurwouldn'thave

hadsuchaproblemunderstandingifthedocbotwereaperson,withlipsandarealmouthinsteadoftheoblongintake.Thedoctorcontrollingthisbotwassomewhereelse.Dr.NisswasanupsiderwhomSpurhadneveractuallymet."ProsperGregoryLeung,"hesaid."AfineWaldenname,"saidthedocbot,andthenmuttered,"Selfid27.4secondsfrominitialrequest.""Isthatgood?"Ithummedtoitself,ignoringhisquestion."Theelectrolytesinyoursweathavesettleddownnicely,"it

saidatlast."Sotellmeaboutthesim.""Iwas in theburn and the firewas afterme.All around,Dr.Niss.Therewas apukpuk, oneof the

torches,hegrabbedme.Icouldn'tgetaway.""Yourememberedmyname,son."Thedocbot'stopplateglowedwithanapprovingamberlight."So

didyoudie?"Spurshookhishead."ButIwasonfire.""Experiencefearvectorsunrelatedtotheburn?Monsters,forinstance?Yourmom?Dad?""No.""Lostloves?Deadfriends?Childhoodpets?""No."HehadafleetingimageofthetwistedgrimaceonVic'sfaceatthatlastmoment,buthowcould

hetell thisupsider thathiswife'sbrotherhadbeena traitor to theTranscendentState?"Nothing."SpurwasgettingusedtolyingtoDr.Niss,althoughheworriedwhatitwasdoingtohissoul."Checkanddoublecheck.It'salmostasifIknewwhatIwasdoing,eh?"Thedocbotbeganreleasing

thestrapsthatheldSpurdown."I'dsayyoursoulisonthemend,CitizenLeung.You'llhavesomepsychicscarring,but ifyousteerclearofcomplexmoraldilemmasandwomen,youshouldbefine."Itpaused,thensnappeditsfingers."Justfortherecord,son,thatwasajoke.""Yes, sir." Spur forced a smile. "Sorry, sir."Was getting the jokes part of the cure? The way this

upsidertalkedatoncebaffledandfascinatedSpur."Solet'shavealookatthoseburns,"saidthedocbot.Spurrolledontohisstomachandfoldedhisarmsunderhischin.Thedocbotpulledthehospitalgown

up.Spurcouldfeelitsmedfingerprickingthedermalgraftsthatcoveredmostofhisbackandhisbuttocks."Dr.Niss?"saidSpur."Speakup,"saidthedocbot."Thatdoesn'thurtdoesit?""No,sir."Spurliftedhisheadandtriedtolookbackoverthisshoulder."Butit'sreallyitchy.""Dermalregeneration83percent,"itmuttered."Itchyisalive,son.Itchyisgrowing.""Sir,Iwasjustwondering,whereareyouexactly?""Righthere."Thedocbotbegantoflowwarmdermslix to thegraftsfromitsmedfinger."Whereelse

wouldIbe?"Spurchuckled,hopingthatwasajoke.Hecouldrememberatimewhenheusedtotell jokes."No,I

meanyourbody.""The shell? Why?" The docbot paused. "You don't really want to be asking about qics and the

cognisphere,doyou?Thelessyouknowabouttheupside,thebetter,son."Spurfeltaprickleofresentment.WhatstorieswereupsiderstellingeachotheraboutWalden?Thatthe

citizensoftheTranscendentStatewerebackwardfanaticswhohadsimplifiedthemselvesintosavagery?"Iwasn'taskingabouttheupside,exactly.Iwasaskingaboutyou.Imean…yousavedme,Dr.Niss."Itwasn'tatallwhatSpurhadexpectedtosay,althoughitwascertainlytrue."Ifitwasn'tforyou,it…Iwas

burntallover,probablygoingcrazy.And I thought… ."His throatwas suddenly so tight thathecouldhardlyspeak."Iwantedto…youknow,thankyou.""Quiteunnecessary,"saidthedocbot."Afterall,theChairmanispayingmetotakecareofallofyou,

blesshispockets."IttuggedatSpur'shospitalgownwithitsgripperarm."IpreferthekindofthanksIcanbank,son.Everythingelseisjustusedair.""Yes,but….""Yes,but?"Itfinishedpullingthegownbackintoplace."'Yesbut'aredangerouswords.Don'tforget

thatyoupeopleleadaprivilegedlifehere—courtesyofJackWinter'sbountyandyourparents'luck."SpurhadneverheardanyonecalltheChairmanJack."Itwasmygrandparentswhowonthelottery,sir,"

hesaid."Butyes,IknowI'mluckytoliveonWalden.""Sowhydoyouwant toknowwhatkindofcreaturewouldpureehismind intoasmearofquantum

foamandentangleitwithabotbrainahundredandthirty-somelight-yearsaway?Situp,son."Spurdidn'tknowwhattosay.HehadimaginedthatDr.Nissmustbepostednearby,somewherehereat

theupsiders'compoundatConcord,orperhapsinorbit."Youdorealizethatthestarsareveryfaraway?""We're not simple here, Dr. Niss." He could feel the blood rushing in his cheeks. "We practice

simplicity.""Whichcomplicatesthings."Thedocbottwistedoffitsmedfingerandpoppeditintothesterilizer."Say

yougreetyourgirlfriendonthetell.Youhaveagirlfriend?""I'mmarried,"saidSpur,althoughheandComforthadseparatedmonthsbeforeheleftforthefirefight

and,nowthatVicwasdead,hecouldn'timaginehowtheywouldevergetbacktogether."Soyou'reawaywithyoursquadandyourwifeishomeinyourvillagemowingthegoatsorwhatever

shedoeswithhertime.Butwhenyoutalkonthetellit'slikeyou'resittingnexttoeachother.Whereareyouthen?Athomewithher?Insidethetell?""Ofcoursenot.""Foryou,ofcoursenot.That'swhyyouliveonWalden,protectedfromlifeontheupside.ButwhereI

come from, it's amatter of perspective. I believe I'm right here, even though the shell I'm saved in iselsewhere."Thesterilizertwittered."I'minhabitingthisbotinthisroomwithyou."Thedocbotopenedthelidofthesterilizer,retrievedthemedfingerwithitsgripperandpresseditintoplaceonthebulkheadwiththeotherinstruments."We'redonehere,"itsaidabruptly."Busy,busy,othersoulstoheal,don'tyouknow?Which reminds me:We need your bed, son, so we're moving your release date up. You'll beleavingusthedayaftertomorrow.I'mauthorizingaweekofrehabilitationbeforeyouhavetogobacktoyoursquad.What'srehabcalledonthisworldagain?""Civicrefreshment.""Right." The docbot parked itself at its station beside the door to the examining room. "Refresh

yourself."Itsheadplatedimmedandwentdark.Spurslidofftheexaminationtable,wriggledoutofthehospitalgownandpulledhisuniformpantsoff

thehangerinthecloset.Ashewasbuttoninghisshirt,thedocbotlititseye."You'rewelcome,son."Itslaughwaslikeadoorslamming."Tookmeamomenttounderstandwhatyouweretryingtosay.Ikeepforgettingwhatit'sliketobeanchored.""Anchored?"saidSpur."Don'tbeaskingsomanyquestions."Thedocbottappeditsdome."Notgoodforthesoul."Theblue

lightinitseyewinkedout.

2Chapter

Mostoftheluxuriesandmanyoftheso-calledcomfortsoflifearenotonlynotindispensable,butpositivehindrancestotheelevationofmankind.–Walden

Spurwasinnohurrytobedischargedfromthehospital,evenifitwastogohomeforaweek.Heknewall toowell what waswaiting for him. He'd find his father trying to do the work of twomen in hisabsence.GandyJoywouldbringhimcommunionandthendraghimintoeveryparlorinLittleton.He'dbewinedanddinedandhonoredandpossiblyseducedandbeacclaimedbyallahero.Hedidn'tfeellikeaheroandhesurelydidn'twanttobetrappedintotellingthegrandmasandten-year-oldboysstoriesaboutthehorrorsofthefirefight.Butwhathedreadedmostwasseeinghisestrangedwife.Itwasbadenoughthathehadletherlittle

brotherdieaftershehadmadeSpurpromisetotakecareofhim.WorseyetwasthatVichaddiedatorch.Nodoubthehadbeeninsecretcontactwiththepukpuks,hadprobablypassedalonginformationabouttheCorpsofFirefighters—andSpurhadn'tsuspectedathing.Itdidn'tmatterthatVichadpushedhimawayduring their time serving together inGoldSquad—atone time theyhadbeenbest friends.He shouldhaveknown;hemighthavebeenabletosaveVic.SpurhadalreadydecidedthathewouldhavetolietoComfortandhisneighborsinLittletonaboutwhathadhappened,justashehadliedtoDr.Niss.Whatwasthepointinsmearinghisdeadfriendnow?AndSpurcouldn'thelptheCooperativerootoutotherpukpuksympathizersintheCorps;hehadnoideawhoVic'scontactshadbeen.However, Spur had other reasons for wanting to stay right where he was. Even though he could

scarcelydrawbreathwithoutviolatingsimplicity,helovedthecomfortsofthehospital.Forexample,thetemperaturenevervariedfromascandaloustwenty-threedegreesCelsius.Nomatterthatoutdoorsthesunwasblisteringtherooftopsoftheupsiders'BenevolenceParkNumber5,indoorswasaparadisewhereneithersweatnorsweatersheldsway.Andthentherewasthefood.EventhoughSpur'sfather,CapabilityRogerLeung,was the richestman inLittleton,hehadpracticed stricter simplicity thanmost.Spurhadgrownuponmeat, bread, squash and scruff,washeddownwith cider and applejackpressed from theLeungs'ownapplesandtheoccasionalrootbeer.Morerecently,heandRosiewouldindulgethemselveswhentheyhadthemoney,buthewasstillusedtogorgingonthefruitsofthefamilyorchardduringharvestandsufferingthroughpreservesandrootcellarproducetherestoftheyear.ButherethepatientsenjoyedtheabundanceoftheThousandWorlds,preparedinextravagantstyle.Dependingonhisappetite,hecouldorderlablabis,dumplings,goulash,salmagundi,soufflés,quiche,phillaje,curry,paella,pasta,mousses,meringuesortarts.Andthatwasjustthelunchmenu.Butofallthehospital'sguiltypleasures,thetellwashisfavorite.AthomeSpurcouldaccessthelatest

bazzat bands and town-tunes from all overWalden plus six hundred years of opera. And on a slowTuesdaynight,heandComfortmightplayoneofthesimplifiedchroniclesonthetinyscreeninDiligenceCottageorwatchaspiritualproducedbytheInstituteofDidacticArtsorjustreadtoeachother.Butthescreensofthehospitaltellssprawledacrossentirewallsand,despitetheCooperative'scensors,openedlike windows onto the universe. What mattered to people on other worlds astonished Spur. Theirchronicles made him feel ignorant for the first time in his life and their spirituals were so wickedly

materialisticthathefeltcompelledtoclosethedoortohishospitalroomwhenhewatchedthem.ThesearchengineinparticularexcitedSpur.Athome,hecouldgreetanyoneintheTranscendentState

—aslongasheknewtheirnumber.Butthehospitaltellcouldseeminglyfindanyone,notonlyonWaldenbut anywhereon all theThousandWorldsof theupside.Heput the tell inhis room to immediateuse,beginning by greeting his father and Gandy Joy, who was the village virtuator. Gandy had alwaysunderstoodhimsomuchbetter thanComforteverhad.HeshouldhavegreetedComfortaswell,buthedidn't.HedidgreethispalsintheGoldSquad,whoweresurprisedthathehadbeenabletotrackthemdown

whiletheywereonactiveduty.TheytoldhimthattheentireNinthRegimenthadbeenpulledbackfromtheMotuRiverburnfortwoweeksofCRinProspect.WordwasthattheywerebeingreassignedtotheCloyce Memorial Forest for some easy fire watch duty. No doubt the Cooperative was yanking theregimentoffthefrontlinebecauseGoldSquadhadtakenalmost40percentcasualtieswhentheburnhadflankedtheirpositionatMotu.IronandBronzeSquadshadtakenahitaswell,fightingtheirwaythroughtheburntorescueGold.TokeepfrombroodingaboutVicandtheMotuburnandthefirefight,Spurlookedupfriendswhohad

fallen out of his life. He surprised his cousin Land, who was living in Slide Knot in Southeast andworkingasatitheassessor.HeconnectedwithhischildhoodfriendHandy,whomhehadn'tseensincetheAlcazarshadmovedtoFreeport,whereHandy'smomwasgoingtoteachpastoralphilosophy.ShewasstillattheuniversityandHandywasanelectrician.Hetrackeddownhisself-relianceschoolsweetheart,LeafBenkleman, only to discover that she had emigrated fromWalden toKolo in theAlumar system.Their attempt to catch upwas frustrating, however, because theCooperative's censors seemed to buzzeveryfifthwordLeafsaid.Also, thelookonherfacewheneverhespokerattledSpur.Wasitpity?Hewasactuallyrelievedwhenshecuttheirconversationshort.Despite the censors, talking toLeafwhetted Spur's appetite formaking contactwith the upside.He

certainly wouldn't get the chance once he left the hospital. He didn't care that everyone was sopreposterously far away that he would never meet them in person. Dr. Niss had been wrong: Spurunderstoodperfectly theastonishingdistancesbetweenstars.Whathedidnotcomprehendwasexactlyhowhecouldchatwithsomeonewho livedhundredsof trillionsofkilometersaway,orhowsomeonecould beam themselves fromMoy toWalden in a heartbeat. Of course, he had learned the simplifiedexplanation of qics — quantum information channels — in school. qics worked because manyinfinitesimallysmallnothingswerepartofasomething,whichcouldexistintwoplacesatthesametime.Thisofcoursemadenosense,butthensomuchofupsiderphysicsmadenosenseafterthecensorsweredonewithit.Spurpausedinthedoorwayofhisroomandlookedupanddownthehall.Noneofthepatientsathis

end of the ward were stirring; a lone maintenance bot dusted along the floor at the far end by theexaminingrooms.Itwashislastfulldayatthehospital.Nowornever.Heeasedthedoorshutandturnedthetellon.Hebeganbycheckingforrelativesontheupside.ButwhenhesearchedonthesurnameLeung,hegot

2.3 x 106 hits. Which, if any, of them might be his people? Spur had no way of knowing. Spur'sgrandparentshadexpungedallrecordsoftheirformerliveswhentheyhadcometoWalden,arequirementfor immigrants to theTranscendentState.Likeeveryoneelse inhis family,hehadknown the sternoldfolksonlyasGiGoandGiGa.ThenamesontheirdeathcertificateswereJadeFeyLeungandChapMan-Leung,butSpurthoughtthattheyhadprobablybeenchangedwhentheyhadfirstarrivedatFreeport.Hewas tempted to greet his father and ask if he knewGiGo's upside name, but then hewould ask

questions.Toomanyquestions;hisfatherwasusedtogettingtheanswershewanted.Spurwentbacktothetell.ArefinedsearchshowedthatmillionsofLeungslivedonBlimminey,EridaniFoxtrot,FortunateChild,Moy,andNoTurningBack,but therealsoappeared tobeascatteringofLeungsonmanyof the

ThousandWorlds.Therewasnohelpforit;Spurbegantosendgreetingsatrandom.Hewasn'tsureexactlywhoheexpectedtoanswer,butitcertainlywasn'tbots.WhenChairmanWinter

had boughtWalden from ComExplore IC, he decreed that neither machine intelligences nor enhancedupsiderswouldbeallowedintherefugehewasfounding.TheTranscendentStatewastobethelastandbest homeof the true humans.While the pukpuks used bots tomanufacture goods that they sold to theTranscendentState,Spurhadneveractuallyseenoneuntilhehadarrivedatthehospital.Now he discovered that the upside swarmed with them. Everyone he tried to greet had bot

receptionists,secretaries,housekeepersorcompanionsscreeningtheirmessages.Somewerevirtualandpresented themselves in outlandish sims; others were corporeal and stared at him from the homes orworkplacesoftheirowners.Spurrelishedthesevoyeuristicglimpsesoflifeontheupside,butglimpseswereallhegot.Noneof thebotswanted to talk tohim,nodoubtbecauseof the cautionhecould seescrollingacrosshisscreen.Itwarnedthathisgreetingoriginatedfrom"theTranscendentStateofWalden,ajurisdictionunderaconsensualculturalquarantine."Mostofbotswerepolitebutfirm.No,theycouldn'tconnecthimtotheirowners;yes,theywouldpass

along his greeting; and no, they couldn't say when he might expect a greeting in return. Some wereannoyed.TheyinvitedhimtoreadhisownCovenantandthensnappedtheconnection.Acoupleofvirtualbotswereactuallyrudetohim.Amongotherthings,theycalledhimamudhugger,aleechandapatheticwasteofconsciousness.Oneparticularlyabusivebot started screaming thathewas"a stinkinguselessfossil."Spur wasn't quite sure what a fossil was, so he queried the tell. It returned two definitions: 1. an

artifactofanorganism,typicallyextinct,thatexistedinapreviousgeologicera;2.somethingoutdatedorsuperseded.Theideathat,asatruehuman,hemightbeoutdated,supersededorpossiblyevenboundforextinctionsodisturbedSpurthathegotupandpacedtheroom.Hetoldhimselfthatthiswasthepriceofcuriosity. There were sound reasons why the Covenant of Simplicity placed limits on the use oftechnology.Complexitybredanxiety.Thesimplelifewasthegoodlife.Yetevenashewrestledwithhisconscience,hesettledbackinfrontofthetell.Onawhimheentered

hisownname.Hegotjusttworesults:ComfortRoseJoerlyandProsperGregoryLeungOrchardistsDiligenceCottageJanePowderStreetLittleton,HamiltonCounty,NortheastTerritory,TSWaldenandProsperGregoryLeungc/oNiss(remotely—seenote)SalvationHospitalBenevolencePark#5Concord,JeffersonCounty,SouthwestTerritory,TSWaldenSpurtriedtoaccessthenoteattachedtoDr.Niss'sname,but itwasblocked.Thatwasn'tasurprise.

WhatwasoddwasthathehadreceivedresultsjustfromWalden.WashereallytheonlyProsperGregoryLeungintheknownuniverse?Whilehewastryingtodecidewhetherbeinguniquewasgoodorbad,thetellinquiredifhemighthave

meant to search for ProperGregory Leung or PhosphorGregory L'ung or ProcterGregoire Lyon?He

hadn'tbuttherewasnoreasonnottolookthemup.ProperLeung,itturnedout,raisedgosdogsformeatona ranch out inHopedale,whichwas in the Southwest Territory. Spur thought that eating gosdogswasbarbaricandhehadnointerestinchattingwiththerancher.GregoryL'unglivedonKenningintheThetaPerseisystem.Onanimpulse,Spursenthisgreeting.Asheexpected, itwasimmediatelydivertedtoabot.L'ung'svirtualcompanionwasashininggreenturtlerestingonarockinamuddyriver."TheHighGregoryofKenningregretsthatheisotherwiseoccupiedatthemoment,"itsaid,raisingits

shellupofftherock.Itstoodonfourhumanfeet."Inotewithinterestthatyourgreetingoriginatesfromajurisdictionunderaconsensual…."Theturtledidn'tgetthechancetofinish.Thescreenshimmeredandwentdark.Amomentlater,itlitup

againwiththeimageofaboy,perchedattheedgeofanelaboratechair.Hewaswearingapurplefabricwrapthatcoveredthelowerpartofhisbodyfromwaisttoankles.He

was bare-chested except for the skin of some elongated, dun-colored animal draped around his thinshoulders. Spur couldn't have said for sure how old the boywas, but despite an assured bearing andintelligentyelloweyes,heseemednotyetaman.ThechaircaughtSpur'seyeagain: it looked tobeofsomedarkwood,althoughmuchof itwasgilded.Eachof the legsendedinastylizedhumanfoot.Thebackpanelrosehighabovetheboy'sheadandwascarvedwithleavesandbranchesthatboretranslucentpurplefruit.Thatsparkledlikejewels.Spurremindedhimselftobreathe.Itlookedverymuchlikeathrone.

3Chapter

Ittakestwotospeakthetruth—onetospeakandanothertohear.–AWeekontheConcordandMerrimackrivers

"Hello,hello,"saidtheboy."Whoisdoinghistalk,please?"Spurstruggledtokeephisvoicefromsqueaking."MynameisProsperGregoryLeung."Theboyfrownedandpointedatthebottomofthescreen."Walden,ittells?Ihavelessthananyideaof

Walden.""It'saplanet.""Andtellsthatit'swrongfultothinktoohardonplanetWalden?Why?Isyourbraindry?""I think."Spurwas takenaback. "Weall think."Even thoughhe thoughthewasbeing insulted,Spur

didn'twanttosnaptheconnection—notyetanyway."I'msorry,Ididn'tgetyourname."Thewordscomingoutofthespeakersdidnotseemtomatchwhattheboywassaying.Hislipsbarely

moved,yetwhatSpurheardwas,"I'mtheHighGregory,PhosphorescenceofKenning,energizedbytheTortoiseofEternalRadiation."Spur realized that theboywasprobablyspeakinganother languageandthatwhathewashearingwasatranslation.Spurhadbeenexpectingthecensorsbuiltintothetelltobuzzthis conversation like they had buzzed so much of his chat with Leaf Benkleman, but maybe badtranslationwasjustaseffective."That'sinteresting,"saidSpurcautiously."AndwhatisitthatyoudothereonKenning?""Do?"TheHighGregoryrubbedhisnoseabsently."Oh,do!Imakeluck.""Really?Peoplecandothatontheupside?""Whatistheupside?""Space,youknow."Spurwavedanarmoverhisheadandglancedupward.TheHighGregoryfrowned."ProsperGregoryLeungbreathesspace?""No, I breathe air."He realized that the tellmight easily begarblinghis endof the conversation as

well. "Only air."He spoke slowly andwith exaggerated precision. "We call theThousandWorlds theupside.Here.Onmyworld."TheHighGregorystillappearedtobeconfused."Onthisplanet."Hegesturedatthehospitalroom."PlanetWalden.Welookupatthestars."Heraised

hishandtohisbrow,asifsightingonsomedistantlandmark."Atnight."Listeningtohimselfbabble,SpurwascertainthattheHighGregorymustthinkhimanidiot.Hehadtochangethesubject,sohetappedhischest."MyfriendscallmeSpur."TheHighGregoryshookhisheadwitharuefulsmile."Yougivemewarmth,Spur,butIturnawaywith

regretfromthekindoffertoenjoysexwithyou.MemsenwatchestoseethatIdon'tticklelifeuntilIhaveenoughofage."Aghast,Spur sputtered that hehadmadeno suchoffer, but theHighGregory, appearingnot tohear,

continuedtospeak."Youhaveafullnessofage,friendSpur.HaveyoufoundajobofworkonplanetWalden?""You'reaskingwhatIdoforaliving?""AllonplanetWaldenareliving,Ihope.Notsaved?"

"Yes,weare."Spurgrimaced.Herosefromthetellandretrievedhiswalletfromthenightstandbesidethebed.Maybepixwouldhelp.He flipped throughahandful inhiswalletuntilhecame to theoneofComfortonaladderpickingapples."NormallyItendmyorchards."HeheldthepixuptothetelltoshowtheHighGregory."Igrowmanykindsoffruitonmyfarm.Apples,peaches,apricots,pears,cherries.DoyouhavethesekindsoffruitonKenning?""Grape trees, yes."TheHighGregory leaned forward inhis throne and smiled. "Andall of apples:

applepieandapplesqueezeandmeltapples."Heseemedpleasedthat theyhadfinallyunderstoodoneanother."Butyouarenotnormal?""No.Imeanyes,I'mfine."Heclosedthewalletandpocketedit."But…howdoIsaythis?Thereis

fightingonmyworld."Spurhadnoideahowtoexplainthecomplicatedgrievancesofthepukpuksandthefanaticism that led some of them to burn themselves alive to stop the spread of the forest and theTranscendentState."ThereareotherpeopleonWaldenwhoareveryangry.Theydon'twantmypeopletolivehere.Theywishthelandcouldbereturnedtohowitwasbeforewecame.Sotheysetfirestohurtus.Manyofushavebeencalledtostopthem.Nowinsteadofgrowingmytrees,Ihelptoputfiresout.""Veryangry?"TheHighGregoryrosefromhisthrone,hisfaceflushed."Fighting?"Hepunchedatthe

air."Hit-hit-hit?""Notexactlyfightingwithfists,"saidSpur."Morelikeawar."TheHighGregorytookthreequicksteps towardthe tellathisend.Hisface loomedlargeonSpur's

screen. "War fighting?"Hewas clearly agitated; his cheeks flushed and the yellow eyeswere fierce."Makingdeath to theother?"Spurhadno ideawhy theHighGregorywas reacting thisway.Hedidn'tthink the boywas angry exactly, but then neither of them had proved particularly adept at reading theother.Hecertainlydidn'twanttocausesomeinterstellarincident."I've said somethingwrong. I'm sorry." Spur bent his head in apology. "I'm speaking to you from a

hospital.Iwaswounded…fightingafire.Haven'tquitebeenmyselflately."HegavetheHighGregoryaself-deprecatingsmile."IhopeIhaven'tgivenoffense."TheHighGregorymadenoreply.Insteadhesweptfromhis throne,downashortflightofstepsinto

whatSpurcouldnowseewasavasthall.Theboystrodepastrowsofcarvedwoodenchairs,eachofthemauniquemarvel, althoughnonewasquite as exquisite as the throne that they faced.The intricatebeadedmosaiconthefloordepictedturtlesinjadeandchartreuseandolive.Phosphorescentsculpturesstretched like spider webs from the upper reaches of the walls to the barrel-vaulted ceiling, castingghostly silver-green traceries of light on empty chairs beneath.TheHighGregorywasmuttering as hepasseddownthecentralaislebutwhateverhewassayingclearlyoverwhelmedthetell'slimitedcapacity.AllSpurheardwas,"WarMemsenwitnessthereourluckcalltheL'ung…."Atthat,Spurfoundhimselflookingonceagainatashininggreenturtlerestingonarockonamuddy

river."TheHighGregoryofKenningregretsthatheisotherwiseoccupiedatthemoment,"itsaid."Inotewithinterestthatyourgreetingoriginatesfromajurisdictionunderaconsensualculturalquarantine.YoushouldunderstandthatitisunlikelythattheHighGregory,asluckmakeroftheL'ung,wouldriskviolatingyourcovenantsbyhavinganycommunicationwithyou.""ExceptIjustgotdonetalkingtohim,"saidSpur."Idoubt thatverymuch."The turtledrew itselfupon fourhuman feet and stared coldly through the

screenathim."Thisconversationisconcluded,"itsaid."Iwouldaskthatyounotannoyusagain.""Wait,I—"saidSpur,buthewastalkingtoadeadscreen.

4Chapter

Butifwestayathomeandmindourbusiness,whowillwantrailroads?Wedonotrideontherailroad;itridesuponus.–Walden

Spurspenttherestofthatdayexpectingtrouble.Hehadnodoubtthathe'dbesummonedintoDr.Niss'sexamining roomfora lectureabouthowhisbodycouldn'theal ifhis soulwassick.Orsomevirtuatorfrom Concord would be brought in to light communion and deliver a reproachful sermon on the truemeaningofsimplicity.OrCaryMillisap,hissquadleader,wouldcallfromProspectandscorchhimforshirkinghisdutytoGold,whichwas,afterall,togetbetterasfasthecouldandrejointheunit.Hehadnotbeensent tohospital tobother theHighGregoryofKenning, luckmakerof theL'ung—whoever theywere.Buttroubleneverarrived.Hestayedasfarawayfromhisroomandthetellashecouldget.Heplayed

cardswithValMontillyandSleepyThorn fromtheSixthEngineers,whowere recoveringfromsmokeinhalationtheyhadsufferedintheColdstepburn.Theywereundergoingalveolarreconstructiontorestorefull lung function. Their voiceswere like ripsaws but theywere otherwise in good spirits. SpurwonenoughfromSleepyonasingleroundofFoolAlltopayforthenewapplepresshe'dbeenwantingfortheorchard.Ofcourse,hewouldneverbeabletotellhisfatherorComfortwherethemoneyhadcomefrom.Spursavoredamemorablelastsupper:anoniontartwithabalsamicreduction,steamedducklegwith

afigdressingonsilverthreadnoodlesandavanillapannacotta.Afterdinnerhewentwithseveralotherpatients to hear a professor from Alcott University explain why citizens who sympathized with thepukpuksweremisguided.Whenhefinallyreturnedtohisroom,therewasalonegreetinginhisqueue.AboreddispatcherfromtheCooperativeinformedhimthatheneededtopickuphistrainticketatCelenaStationbefore11a.m.Novideoofthiscitizenappearedonthescreen;allhe'dleftwasascratchyaudiomessage like one Spurmight get on his home tell. Spur took this as a reminder that his holiday fromsimplicitywouldendthemomentheleftthehospital.The breeze that blew through the openwindows of the trainwas hot, providing little relief for the

passengersinthefirst-classcompartment.Spurshifteduncomfortablyonhisseat,hisuniformshirtstucktohisback.Heglancedawayfromthebluroftreesracingpasthiswindow.Hehatedsittinginseatsthatfacedbackward;theyeithergavehimmotionsicknessorastiffneck.Andifhethoughtaboutit—whichhecouldn'thelpbutdoing,leastforamoment—themetaphoralwaysdepressedhim.Hedidn'twanttobelookingbackathislifejustnow.Abackward seat—but itwas in first class.TheCooperative'sdispatcherprobably thoughthewas

doing him a favor.Give him some extra legroom, a softer seat.Andwhy not?Hadn't he survived theinfamousMotuRiverburn?Hadn'thebeenbadlyscorchedinthelineofduty?Ofcourseheshouldrideinfirstclass.Ifonlythewindowsopenedwider.Ithadbeeneasynottoworryabouthisproblemswhilehewasloungingaroundthehospital.Nowthat

hewas headed back home, life had begun to push him again.He knewhe should try to stop thinking,maybetakeanap.Heclosedhiseyes,butdidn'tsleep.Withoutwarninghewasbackinthenightmaresimagain…andcouldsmellburninghair.Hishair.Inapanichedodgedintoastreamchokedwithdeadfish

and poached frogs. But the water was practically boiling and scalded his legs … only Spur wasn'tcompletely in thenightmarebecauseheknewhewasalso sittingonacomfortable seat ina first-classcompartmentinatrainthatwastakinghim…theonlywayoutwasblockedbyatorch,whostoodwaitingforSpur.Vichadnotyetsethimselfonfire,althoughhisbaseballjerseywassmokingintheheat…I'mnotafraid,Spurtoldhimself,Idon'tbelieveanyofthis…theanguishedfaceshimmeredintheheatoftheburnandthenSpurwasdancingtokeephisshoesfromcatchingfire,andhehadnoescape,nochoice,notime…withhiseyesshut,Spurheardtheclatterofthesteelwheelsonthetrackas:notimenotimenotimenotime.Heknew then forcertainwhathehadonly feared:Dr.Nisshadnothealedhis soul.Howcouldhe,

whenSpurhadconsistentlyliedaboutwhathadhappenedintheburn?Spurdidn'tmeantogroan,buthedid.Whenheopenedhiseyes,thegandyintheblueflowereddresswasstaringathim."Areyouallright?"Shelookedtobeinherlatesixtiesormaybeseventy,withsilverhairsothinthat

hecouldseethefrecklesonherscalp."Yes,fine,"Spursaid."Ijustthoughtofsomething.""Somethingyouforgot?"Shenodded."Oh,I'malwaysrememberingthingsjustlikethat.Especiallyon

trains."Shehadaburblinglaugh,likestreamrunningoversmoothstones."IwassupposedtohavelunchwithmyfriendConniedayaftertomorrow,buthereIamonmywaytoLittleBendforaweek.Ihaveanewgrandson.""That'snice,"Spursaidabsently.Therewasoneotherpassenger in thecompartment.Hewasavery

fat,moistmanlookingatacomicbookaboutgosdogsplayingbaseball;wheneverhe turnedapage,hetookasnufflingbreath."Iseebyyouruniformthatyou'reoneofourfirefighters,"saidthegandy."Doyouknowmynephew

FrankKaspar?IthinkheiswiththeThirdEngineers."SpurexplainedthattherewereovereleventhousandvolunteersintheCorpsofFirefightersandthatif

hernephewwasanengineerhewasmostprobablyaregularwiththeHomeGuard.Spurcouldn'tkeeptrackofallthebrigadesandplatoonsinthevolunteerCorps,muchlessintheprofessionalGuard.HesaidthathewasjustalowlysmokechaserinGoldSquad,NinthRegiment.HissquadworkedwiththeEighthEngineers,whosuppliedtransportationandfieldconstructionsupport.Hetoldherthatthesefinemenandwomenweretheverymodelsofspiritualsimplicityandcivicrectitude,nodoubtlikehernephew.Spurwashopingthatthiswaswhatshewantedtohearandthatshewouldleavehimalone.ButthensheaskediftherumorsofpukpukcollaboratorsinfiltratingtheCorpsweretrueandstartednatteringabouthowshecouldn't understand how a citizen of the Transcendent State could betray the Covenant by helpingterrorists. All the pukpuks wanted was to torch Chairman Winter's forests, wasn't that awful? Spurrealizedthathewouldhavetoplaytohersympathy.Hecoughedandsaidhehadbeenwoundedinaburnandwasjustoutofhospitalandthencoughedagain."Ifyoudon'tmind,"hesaid,crinklinghisbrowasifhewerefightingpain,"I'mfeelingalittlewoozy.

I'mjustgoingtoshutmyeyesagainandtrytorest."Althoughhedidn'tsleep,neitherwashefullyawake.Butthenightmaredidnotreturn.Insteadhedrifted

through clouds of dreamy remembrance and unfocussed regret. So he didn't notice that the train wasslowingdownuntilthehissoftheairbrakesstartledhimtofullalertness.Heglancedathiswatch.TheywerestillanhouroutofHeart'sWall,whereSpurwouldchangeforthe

localtoLittleton."Arewestopping?"Spurasked."Wheelwrightfireground."Thefatmanpulledalimphandkerchiefoutofhisshirtpocketanddabbedat

hishairline."Fiveminutesofmandatoryrespect."Now Spur noticed that the underbrush had been cleared along the track and that therewere scorch

marksonmostofthetrees.SpurhadstudiedtheWheelwrightintraining.Theforestnorthofthevillageof

Wheelwrighthadbeenoneofthefirsttobeattackedbythetorches.Itwasestimatedthattheremusthavebeenatleasttwentyofthem,giventhescopeofthedamage.TheWheelwrightburnwasalsothefirstinwhich a firefighter died, although the torches never targeted citizens, only trees.The fires they startedwere always well away from villages and towns; that's why they were so hard to fight. But theWheelwrighthadbeenwhippedbystrongwindsuntilitcutthetrunklinebetweenConcordandHeart'sWallforalmosttwoweeks.TheCooperativehadbegunrecruitingfortheCorpsshortlyafter.Asthesquealingbrakesslowedthetraintoacrawl,theviewoutofSpur'swindowchangedradically.

Heretheforesthadyettorevivefromtheravagesoffire.Blackenedskeletonsoftreespointedattheskyandthecharredflooroftheforestbakedunderthesun.Thesunseemedcruellybrightwithoutthecanopyofleavestoprovideshade.Ineverydirection,allSpurcouldseewasthenightmarishdevastationhehadseenalltoooften.Noplantgrew,nobirdsang.Therewerenoantsorneedlebugsorwildgosdogs.Thenhenoticedsomethingodd:thebitterburnt-coffeescentoffreshfireground.Andhecouldtastetheash,likeshreddedpaperonhistongue.Thatmadenosense;theWheelwrightwasoverthreeyearsold.Whenthe trainfinallystopped,Spurwasfacingoneof themanymonumentsbuiltalong the tracks to

honorfallenfirefighters.Agroupingofthreehugestatuessetonapadofstonecasttheirbronzegazesonhim.Twoofthefirefighterswerestanding;oneleanedheavilyontheother.Athirdhaddroppedtooneknee,fromexhaustionperhaps.Allstillcarriedtheirgear,butthekneelingfigurewasabouttoshedhersplashpackandoneofthestandingfigureswasusinghisjacksmithasacrutch.Althoughthesculptorhadchosentodepicttheminthehouroftheirdoom,theirimplacablemetalfacesrevealedneitherdistressnorregret. The fearsome simplicity of their courage chilled Spur. He was certain that he wasn't of theirquality.Theengineblewitswhistleintributetothedead:threelongblastsandthreeshort.Thegandystirred

andstretched."Wheelwright?"shemuttered."Yeah,"saidthefatman.She started to yawn but caught herself and peered out the open window. "Who's that?" she said,

pointing.Amaninablueflairsuitwaswalkingalongthetracks,peeringupat thepassengercars.Helooked

veryhotandnotveryhappy.Hisfacewasasflushedasapeachandhisblondhairwasplasteredtohisforehead. Every few meters he paused, cupped his hands to his mouth and called, "Leung? ProsperGregoryLeung?"

5Chapter

Fireiswithoutdoubtanadvantageonthewhole.Itsweepsandventilatestheforestfloorandmakesitclearandclean.Ihaveoftenremarkedwithhowmuchmorecomfort&pleasureIcouldwalkinwoodthroughwhichafirehadbeenrunthepreviousyear.Itisinspiritingtowalkamidthefreshgreensproutsofgrassandshrubberypushingupwardthroughthecharredsurfacewithmorevigorousgrowth.–Journal,1850

ThemanwaitedimpatientlyasSpurdescendedfromthetrain,kitslungoverhisshoulder.Althoughhedidnotturnbacktolook,Spurkneweverypassengeronthetrainwaswatchingthem.Washeintrouble?The man's expression gave away nothing more than annoyance. He looked to be younger than Spur,possiblyinhislatetwenties.Hehadapinchedfaceandanoseasstubbyasaradish.Hewaswearingaprissywhiteshirtbuttonedtotheneck.Thereweredarkcirclesunderthearmpitsofhisflairjacket."ProsperGregoryLeung of Littleton,HamiltonCounty,Northeast?" Theman pulled a slip of paper

fromhispocketandreadfromit."YouarecurrentlyonmedicalleavefromtheNinthRegiment,CorpsofFirefighters,andwereissuedafirst-classticketonthisday—""IknowwhoIam."Spurfeltasifaneedlebugwerecaughtinhisthroat."Whatisthisabout?Whoare

you?"He introduced himself as Constant Ngonda, a deputy with the Cooperative's Office of Diplomacy.

Whentheyshookhands,henoticedthatNgonda'spalmwassoftandsweaty.Spurcouldguesswhyhehadbeenpulledoffthetrain,buthedecidedtoactsurprised."WhatdoestheOfficeofDiplomacywantwithme?"Justthentheengineerblewthreeshortblastsandcouplingsofthetrainclatteredandjerkedas,oneby

one,theytooktheweightofthepassengercars.Withthegroanofmetalonmetal,thetrainpulledawayfromtheWheelwrightMemorial.Spur'sgriponthestrapofhiskittightened."Don'twewanttogetbackon?"ConstantNgondashrugged."Iwasneveraboard."TheanswermadenosensetoSpur,whotensedashecalculatedhischancesofsprintingtocatchthe

train.Ngondarestedahandonhisarm."Wegothisway,Prosper."Henoddedwest,awayfromthetracks."Idon'tunderstand."Spur'schancesofmakingthetrainwerefadingasitgainedmomentum."What'sout

there?""Aclearing.Ahoverfullofupsiders."Hesighed."Someimportantpeoplehavecomealongwayto

seeyou."Hepushedalockofdamphairoffhisforehead."Thesoonerwestart,thesoonerwegetoutofthisheat."HeletgoofSpurandstartedpickinghiswayacrossthefireground.Spurglancedoverhisshoulderonelasttimeatthedepartingtrain.Hefeltasifhislifewerepulling

away."Upsiders?Fromwhere?"Ngondaheldupanopenhandtocalmhim."Somequestionswillbeansweredsoonenough.Othersit's

betternottoask."

"Whatdoyoumean,better?"Ngondawalkedwithanawkwardgait,as ifheexpected thegroundtogivewaybeneathhim."Ibeg

yourpardon."Hewaswearingthewrongshoesforcrossingroughterrain."Imisspoke."Theywerethin-soled,low-cutandhadnolaces—littlemorethanslippers."Imeantsimpler,notbetter."Just then Spur got a particularly intensewhiff of something that was acrid and sooty, but not quite

smoke.ItwaswhathehadfirstsmelledasthetrainhadpulledintotheMemorial.Heturnedinacompletecircle,allsensesheightened,tryingtopinpointthesource.Afterfireranthroughthelitterofleavesandtwigsthatcoveredtheforestfloor,itoftensankintotheduff,thelayerofdecomposingorganicmatterthatlayjustabovethesoillevel.Sinceduffwaslikeasponge,mostoftheyearitwastoowettoburn.Butintheheatofsummeritcoulddryoutandbecametinder.Spurhadseenasmolderingfireburrowthroughthelayerofduffandemergedozensofmetersaway.Hesniffed,followinghisnosetoacharredstump."Prosper!"saidNgonda."Whatareyoudoing?"Spurheardasofthissashecrouchedbesidethestump.Itwasn'tanyfiresoundthatheknew,buthe

instinctively ranhisbarehandacross the stump, feeling forhotspots.Somethingcool andwet sprayedontohis fingersandhe jerked thembackas ifhehadbeenburned.Herubbedasmutty liquidbetweenthumbandforefingerandthensmelledit.It had an evil,manmade odor of extinguished fire. Spur sat back on his heels, puzzled.Whywould

anyonewanttomimicthatparticularstink?Thenherealizedthathishandwascleanwhenitoughttohavebeensmudgedwithsootfromthestump.Herubbedhardagainsttheburnedwood,buttheblackrefusedtocomeoff.Hecouldseenowthatthestumphadaclearfinish,asifithadbeencoatedwithapreservative.SpurcouldsenseNgonda'sshadowloomoverhimbutthenheheardthehissingagainandwasableto

pickoutthetinynozzleembeddedinthestump.Hepressedhisfingertoitandthenoisestopped.Thenonanimpulse,hesankhishandinto theburnedforest litter, lifteditandlet thecoarsemixturesiftslowlythroughhisfingers."It'shotout,Prosper,"Ngondasaid."Doyoureallyneedtobeplayinginthedirt?"The litter looked real enough: charred and broken twigs, clumps of leafmold,wood cinders and a

delicateruinedhemlockcone.Butitdidn'tfeelright.Hesqueezedascrapofburntbark,expectingittocrumble.Insteaditcompactedintoanirregularpellet,likeday-oldbread.Whenhereleasedit,thepelletslowlyresumeditsoriginalshape."It'snotreal,"saidSpur."Noneofit.""It'samemorial,Prosper."ThedeputyofferedSpurahandandpulledhimtohisfeet."Peopleneedto

remember."HebentovertobrushatthefakepineneedlesstucktoSpur'sknees."Weneedtogo."Spurhadneverseenahoversoclose.Beforetheburns,hovershadbeenbannedaltogetherfromthe

TranscendentState.Butafter thepukpukshadbeguntheir terroristcampaigntohalt thespreadofforestinto their barrens, ChairmanWinter had given theCooperative permission to relax the ban.GenerouspeoplefromtheupsidehaddonatedmoneytobuildthebenevolenceparksandprovidedhoverstoassisttheCorpsinfightingfires.However,ChairmanWinterhadinsistedthatonlybotsweretoflythehoversandthatcitizenaccesstothemwouldbecloselymonitored.WhileinthefieldwithGoldSquad,Spurhadwatchedhoversswoopoverhead,sprayingloadsoffire-

retardant splash onto burns. And he had studied them for hours through the windows of the hospital,parkedinfrontoftheirhangarsatBenevolenceParkNumber5.ButeventhoughthisonewasalmostasbigasDiligenceCottageandhoveredacoupleofmetersabovetheground,itwasn'tquiteasimpressiveasSpurhadimaginedit.Hedecidedthatthismustbebecauseitwassothoroughlycamouflaged.Thehover'ssmoothskinhad

takenonthediscolorationofthefireground,anuglymottleofgrayandbrownandblack.Itlookedliketheshellofanenormousclam.Thehoverwaselliptical,aboutfivemeterstallinfrontsweepingbackwardtoataperededge,butotherwisefeatureless.Ifithadwindowsordoors,Spurcouldn'tmakethemout.

Astheyapproached,thehoverroseseveralmeters.TheypassedintoitsshadowandNgondalookedupexpectantly.Ahatchopenedontheunderside.Arampextendedtothegroundbelowwithahigh-pitchedwarblelikebirdsong,andamanappearedatthehatch.Hewashardtoseeagainstthelightoftheinteriorofthehover;allSpurcouldtellforsurewasthathewasverytallandveryskinny.NotsomeonehewouldexpecttobumpintoonJanePowderStreetinLittleton.Themanturnedtospeaktosomeonejustinsidethehatch.That'swhenSpurrealizedhismistake."No,"shesaid,hervoiceairyandsweet."Weneedtospeaktohimfirst."Assheteetereddowntheramp,SpurcouldtellimmediatelythatshewasnotfromWalden.Itwasthe

calculationwithwhichshecarriedherself,asifeachstepwerearisk,althoughoneshewasdisposedtotake.Sheworeloose-fittingpantsofasheerfabricthatmighthavebeenspunfromclouds.Overthemwasa blue sleeveless dress that hung to mid-thigh. Her upper arms were decorated with flourishes ofphosphorescentbodypaintandsheworesilverandcopperringsoneachofherfingers."You'retheProsperGregoryofWalden?"Shehadfulllipsandmidnighthairandherskinwassmoothanddarkasaplum.Shewasaheadtaller

thanhewasandhalfhisweight.HewasspeechlessuntilNgondanudgedhim."Yes.""We'reMemsen."

6Chapter

Itrequiresnothinglessthanachivalricfeelingtosustainaconversationwithalady.–Journal,1851

Although itwas cooler in the shade of the hover, Spurwas far from comfortable.He couldn't helpthinkingofwhatwouldhappeniftheenginefailed.Hewouldhavefeltmoreconfidentifthehoverhadbeen making some kind of noise; the silent, preternatural effortlessness of the ship unnerved him.Meanwhile,hewasfastrealizingthatMemsenhadnotwantedtomeethiminordertomakefriends."Let'sunderstandoneanother,"shesaid."We'rehereverymuchagainstourwill.Youshouldknow,that

bysummoningustothisplace,you'veputthepoliticalstabilityofdozensofworldsatrisk.WeverymuchregretthattheHighGregoryhasdecidedtofollowhislucktothisplace."ShewasanupsidersoSpurhadnoideahowtoreadher.Thesetofhershouldersflusteredhim,asdid

thewayherkneesbentasshestoopedtohislevel.Sheshowedhimtoomanyteethanditwasclearthatshewasn'tsmiling.Andwhydidshepinchtheair?WithagreateffortSpurtorehisgazeawayfromherandlookedtoNgondatoseeifheknewwhatshewastalkingabout.Thedeputygavehimnothing."I'mnotsurethatIsummonedtheHighGregory,exactly,"Spursaid."Ididtalktohim.""Aboutyourwar."Constant Ngonda looked nervous. "Allworthy Memsen, I'm sure that Prosper didn't understand the

implicationsofcontactingyou.TheTranscendentStateisunderacultural—""Wegrant thatyouhaveyour shabbydeniability."She redirectedherdispleasure toward thedeputy.

"Nevertheless, we suspect that your government instructed this person to contact the High Gregory,knowingthathe'dcome.There'smoregoingonherethanyoucaretosay,isn'tthere?""Excuseme,"saidSpur,"butthisreallywasanaccident."BothMemsenandNgondastaredathimasif

he had corncobs stuck in his ears. "What happenedwas that I searched onmy name but couldn't findanyonebutmeandthenthetellatthehospitalsuggestedtheHighGregoryasanalternativebecauseournamesaresosimilar."Hespokerapidly,worriedthat they'dstart talkingagainbeforehecouldexplaineverything."SoIsenthimagreeting.Itwastotallyrandom—Ididn'tknowwhohewas,Iswearit.AndIwasn'treallyexpectingtomakecontact,sinceI'dbeentalkingtobotsallmorningandnotonewaswillingtoconnectme.Infact,yourbotwasabouttocutmeoffwhenhecameonthetell.TheHighGregory,Imean.""So."Memsenclickedtheringsonherfingerstogether."Hementionednoneofthistous.""Heprobablydidn'tknow."Spuredgedjustacentimeterawayfromhertowardthesunlight.Themore

hethoughtaboutit,themorehereallywantedtogetoutfromunderthehover.Ngonda spoke with calm assurance. "There, you see that Prosper's so-called request is based on

nothing more than coincidence and misunderstanding." He batted at a fat orange needlebug that wasbuzzinghishead."TheCooperativeregretsthatyouhavecomeallthiswaytonogoodpurpose."Memsen reared suddenly to her full height and gazed down on the two of them. "There are no

coincidences,"shesaid,"onlydestiny.TheHighGregorymakestheluckhewasmeanttohave.He'shere,and he has brought the L'ung to serve aswitnesses.Our reason for being on thisworld has yet to bediscovered."She closedher eyes for severalmoments.While she consideredSpur's story shemade a

low,repetitiveplosivesound:pa-pa-pa-ptt."Butthisisdeeperthanwefirstsuspected,"shemused.Spur caught a glimpse of a head peeking out of the hatch above him. It ducked back into the hover

immediately."So,"Memsensaidat last, "let's choose tobelieveyou,ProsperGregoryofWalden."Sheeyedhim

briefly;whatevershesawinhisfaceseemedtosatisfyher."You'llhavetoshowusthewayfromhere.Yourway.TheHighGregory'sluckhaschosenyoutoleadusuntilweseeforourselvesthedirectioninwhichwemustgo.""Leadyou?Where?""Whereveryou'regoing.""ButI'mjustonmywayhome.ToLittleton."Sheclickedherrings."So.""Ibegyourpardon,AllworthyMemsen,"saidNgonda,tuggingatthecollarofhisshirt,"butyoumust

realizethat'simpossibleunderourCovenant….""Itisthenatureoflucktosidesteptheimpossible,"shesaid."WespeakfortheHighGregorywhenwe

expressourconfidencethatyou'llfindaway."She had so mastered the idiom of command that Spur wasn't sure whether this was a threat or a

promise.Eitherway,itgaveNgondapause."Allworthy,I'd likenothingbetter thantoaccommodateyouin this,"hesaid."Waldenisperhaps the

least of theThousandWorlds, but evenherewe'veheardof your efforts to helppreserve theone truespecies."Abeadof sweatdribbleddownhis forehead. "Butmy instructions are to accommodateyourrequestswithinreason.Withinreason,Allworthy.ItisnotreasonabletolandahoverinthecommonsofavillagelikeLittleton.Youmustunderstandthatthesearecountrypeople."ShepointedatSpur."Hereisoneofyourcountrypeople.""Memsen!"shoutedavoicefromthetopoftheramp."Memsen,Iamsobored.Eitherbringhimupright

noworI'mcomingdown."Hertongueflickedtothecornerofhermouth."Youwouldn'tlikeit,"shecalledback,"it'sveryhot."

Whichwasdefinitelytrue,althoughasfarasSpurcouldtell,theweatherhadnoeffectonher."Therearebugs.""That'sit!"TheHighGregoryofKenning,PhosphorescenceoftheEternalRadiationandluckmakerof

theL'ung,scampereddowntherampofthehover."There,"hesaid,"Ididit,sonowdon'ttellmetogoback."Hewaswearinggreensneakerswithblack

socks,khakishortsandat-shirtwithapixofadancingturtle,whichhadahumanhead."Spur!Youlooksadderthanyoudidbefore."Hehadknobbykneesandfairskinandcurlybrownhair.IfhehadbeenborninLittleton,Spurwould'veguessed thathewas tenyearsold. "Didsomethingbadhappen toyou?Saysomething.Doyoustilltalkfunnylikeyoudidonthetell?"Spur had a hundredquestionsbut hewas so surprised that all he couldmanagewas, "Whyare you

doingthis?""Why?"Theboy'syelloweyesopenedwide."Why,why,why?"Hestoopedtopickupahandfulofthe

blackenedlitterandexamineditwithinterest,shiftingitaroundonhisopenpalm."BecauseIgotoneofmyluckfeelingswhenwewere talking.They'renot like ideasordreamsoranythingsoIcan'texplainthemverywell.They'rejustspecial.Memsensaysthey'renotlikethefeelingsthatotherpeopleget,butthatit'sallrighttohavethemandIguessitis."Hetwirledinatightcirclethen,flingingthedebrisinawidescatter."Andthat'swhy."HerubbedhishandsonthefrontofhisshortsandapproachedSpur."AmIsupposedtoshakehandsorkissyou?Ican'tremember."Ngonda stepped between Spur and theHighGregory as if to protect him. "The custom is to shake

hands.""ButIshookwithyoualready."HetuggedatNgonda'ssleevetomovehimaside."Youhavehardlyany

luckleft,friendConstant.I'mafraidit'sallprettymuchdecidedwithyou."Whenthedeputyfailedtogiveway,theHighGregorydroppedtoallfoursandscootedthroughhislegs."Hello,Spur,"saidtheboyashescrambledtohisfeet.TheHighGregoryheldouthishandandSpurtookit.Spurwasatonceawarethathewassweatyfromtheheatoftheday,whiletheboy'shandwascoolas

riverrock.Hecouldfeelthedifferenceintheirsize:theHighGregory'sentirehandfit inhispalmandweighedpracticallynothing."FriendSpur,youhavemorethanenoughluck,"theboymurmured,lowenoughsothatonlySpurcould

hear."Icanseewe'regoingtohaveanadventure.""Stay up there," cried Memsen. "No!" She was glowering up the ramp at the hatch, which had

inexplicablyfilledwithkidswhowereshoutingather.Spurcouldn'ttellwhichofthemsaidwhat."Whendowegetourturn?""YoulettheGregoff.""Wecameallthisway.""He'sbored?I'mmorebored.""Heymove,you'reinmyway!""ButIwanttoseetoo."Severalinthebackstartedtochant."Notfair,notfair!"Memsengroundhertoesintothefakeforestfloor."Wehavetogonow,"shesaid."Ifweletthemoffthe

hover,it'lltakehourstoroundthemup.""I'lltalktothem."HighGregoryboundeduptheramp,makingsweepingmotionswithhishands."Back,

getback,thisisn'tit."Thekidsfellsilent."We'renotthereyet.We'rejuststoppingtopicksomeoneup."Hepausedhalfwayupandturnedtotheadults."Spuriscoming,right?"Ngondawasblottingsweatfromaroundhiseyeswithahandkerchief."Ifhechooses."Hesnappedit

withaquickflickofthewristandthenstuffeditintohispocket,deliberatelyavoidingeyecontactwithSpur.Spurcouldfeelhisheartpounding.He'dwantedtoflyeversincehe'drealizedthatitwaspossibleand

didn'tcareifsimplicitycounseledotherwise.Buthewasn'tsurehewantedtoberesponsibleforbringingalltheseupsiderstoLittleton."So."Memsenmusthavemistakenhishesitation for fear. "Youhaveneverbeen inahover,Prosper

GregoryofWalden?""CallhimSpur,"saidtheHighGregory."Itdoesn'tmeanyouhavetohavesexwithhim."MemsenbowedtoSpur."Hehasnotyetinvitedustotakethatfamiliarity.""Yes,pleasecallmeSpur."HetriednottothinkabouthavingsexwithMemsen."Andyes,"hepicked

uphiskit,"I'llcomewithyou.""Lead then."She indicated thatheshouldbefirstup theramp.Ngondafollowedhim.Memsencame

last,climbingslowlywithhersmallandpainstakinglyaccuratesteps.Asheapproachedthetopoftheramp,thecoolnessofthehover'sinteriorwashedoverhim.Itwaslike

wadingintoMercy'sCreek.HecouldseethatthekidshadgatheredaroundtheHighGregory.Therewereaboutadozenoftheminabaythatwasaboutsixbytenmeters.Boxesandcontainerswerestrappedtothefarbulkhead."Nowwherearewegoing?""Whendowegettoseethefire?""Hey,who'sthat?"Mostofthekidsturnedtoseehimstepontothedeck.Althoughwelllit,theinsideofthehoverwasnot

asbrightasithadbeenoutside.Spurblinkedashiseyesadjustedtothedifference."ThisisSpur,"saidtheHighGregory."We'regoingtovisithisvillage.It'scalledLittleton.""Why?Aretheylittlethere?"

Agirlofsixorperhapssevensidledovertohim."What'sinyourbag?"Shewaswearingadressofstraw-coloredbrocadethathungdowntohersilkslippers.Thegoldchainaroundherneckhadapendantintheshapeofastylizedhumaneye.Spurdecidedthatitmustbesomekindofcostume.Heslunghiskitoffhisshoulderandsetitdowninfrontofhersoshecouldsee."Justmystuff.""It'snotverybig,"shesaiddoubtfully."Doyouhavesomethinginthereforme?""YourGrace,"saidMemsen,puttingahandonthegirl'sshoulder,"wearegoingtoleaveSpuralonefor

now."Sheturnedthegirlaroundandgaveherapolitenudgetowardtheotherkids."You'llhavetoforgivethem,"shesaidtoSpur."They'reusedtogettingtheirownway."

7Chapter

Ihaveadeepsympathywithwar,itsoapesthegaitandbearingofthesoul.–Journal,1840

SpurhadstudiedgeographyinschoolandknewhowbigWaldenwas,butforthefirsttimeinhislifehefeltit.Fromtheground,therampantforestsrestrictedwhatanyonecouldseeoftheworld.Eventhefieldsandthelakeswerehemmedinbytrees.SpurhadneverbeentotheModilonOceanbuthe'dstoodontheshores ofGreatKamitLake.The sky over the lakewas impressive, but therewas noway to take themeasureofitsscale.SpurhadhikedtheTarataMountains,buttheywereforestedtotheirsummitsandtheonlyviewswerefromledges.TherewasatoweronSamsonKokodathataffordeda360-degreeview,butthesummitwasjust1,300meterstall.Nowthehoverwascruisingthroughthecloudsatanaltitudeof5,700meters,accordingtothetellon

thebulkhead.Waldenspreadbeneathhiminallitsbreathtakingimmensity.Maps,measuredininflexiblekilometersandflathec-tares,wereashamcomparedtothis.Everycitizenshouldseewhathewasseeing,andifitviolatedsimplicity,hedidn'tcare.ConstantNgonda,ontheotherhand,wasnotenjoyingtheview.Hecurledonabenchfacingawayfrom

thehull,whichMemsenhadmadetransparentwhenshe'dpartitionedaprivatespaceforthem.Hisneckmuscleswererigidandhecomplainedfromtimetotimeabouttroublewithhisears.Wheneverthehovershiveredasitcontendedwiththewind,hetookahugegulpingbreath.Inaraspyvoice,thedeputyaskedSpurtostopcommentingonthescenery.SpurwasnotsurprisedwhenNgondalurchedtohisfeetandtorethroughthebubble-likebulkheadinsearchofabathroom.Thewallpoppedbackintoplace,throwingascatterofrainbowsacrossitsshiveringsurface.Spur kept his face pressed to the hull.He'd expected the surface to be smooth and cold, like glass.

Instead,itwaswarmandyielding,asifitwerethefleshofsomelivingcreature.Belowhimthelakesandriversgleamedintheafternoonsunliketheshardsofabrokenmirror.ThemuddyKaliboboRiverveeredawaytothewestasthehoverflewintothefoothillsoftheTarataRange.Asthelandrolledbeneathhim,Spurcouldspotareaswherethebright-greenhardwoodforestwasyieldinggroundtotheblue-greenofthe conifers: hemlock and pine and spruce. Therewere only a few farms and isolated villages in theshadowofthemountains.TheywouldhavetoflyovertheTaratastogettoLittletonontheeasternslope.At first Spur had difficulty identifying the familiar peaks. He was coming at them from the wrong

directionandataltitude.ButoncehepickedouttheclenchedfistofWoitape,hecouldcountforwardandbackdowntherange:Taurika,BootlessLowaandBoroko,curvingtothenorthwest,KaivunaandSamsonKokodacommandingtheplaintothesouth.Hemurmuredthenamesaloud,aslongasthedeputywasn'taroundtohear.Hehadalwayslikedhowroundthepukpuksoundswere,howtheyrolledinhismouth.Whenhe'dbeentrappedintheburnwithVic,hewascertainthathewouldneversaythemagain.When Chairman Winter bought Morobe's Pea from ComExplore IC, he had thought to rename

everything on the planet and make a fresh start for his great experiment in preserving unenhancedhumanity.But thenasurprisingnumberofComExploreemployees turneddownhisgenerousrelocationoffer;theywantedtostayon.Almostallofthesepukpukscouldtracetheirancestrybacktosomeancientwhohadmadeplanetfallonthefirstcolonizingships.MorethanafewclaimedtobedescendedfromOld

Morobeherself.Asagestureofrespect,theChairmanagreedtokeeppukpuknamesforsomelandforms.Sotherewerestillrivers,valleys,mountainsandislands,whichhonoredthelegacyofthefirstsettlers.ChairmanWinterhadnevermadeasecretofhisplansforWalden.Atstaggeringpersonalexpense,he

hadintendedtotransformtheexhaustedlandsofMorobe'sPea.Intheirplacehewouldmakeaparadisethat re-created the heritage ecology of the homeworld.Hewould invite only true humans to come toWalden.Allheaskedwasthathiscolonistsforsakethetechnologies,whichwerespinningoutofcontrolontheThousandWorlds.ThosewhoagreedtolivebytheCovenantofSimplicitywouldbegivenlandandcitizenship.EventuallyboththeforestandtheTranscendentStatewouldoverspreadallofWalden.But the pukpuks had other plans. They wouldn't leave and they refused to give up their banned

technologies.AtfirsttradebetweenthetwoculturesofWaldenflourished.Infact,thepukpukindustrialandcommercialbaseproppedupthefledglingTranscendentState.Citizensneededpukpukgoods,evenifbotsmanufactured them.As time passed however, theCooperative recognized that pukpuks' continuedpresence was undermining the very foundations of the Transcendent State. When the Cooperativeattempted tocloseoff theborders inorder toencourage local industry,blackmarkets sprangup in thecities.Many citizens came to question the tenets of simplicity. The weak were tempted by forbiddenknowledge.Forthefirsttimesincethefounding,theemigrationrateedgedintothedoubledigits.Whenitwas clear that the only way to save the Transcendent State was to push the pukpuks off the planet,ChairmanWinterhadauthorizedtheplantingofgeneticallyenhancedtrees.Butoncetheforestbegantoencroachonthepukpukbarrens,theburnsbegan.The pukpukswere the clear aggressors in the firefight; even their sympathizers among the citizenry

agreedonthat.Whatnoonecouldagreeonwashowtoaccommodatethemwithoutcompromising.Infact,many of themore belligerent citizens held that the ultimate responsibility for the troubles laywith theChairman himself. They questioned his decision not to force all of the pukpuks to emigrate after thepurchase ofMorobe's Pea. And some wondered why he could not order them to be rounded up anddeportedevennow.Itwas,afterall,hisplanet."We've come up with a compromise," said Ngonda as he pushed through the bulkhead into the

compartment.Hewasstillaspaleasarootcellarmushroom,butheseemedsteadier.Heevenglancedbrieflydownat theeasternslopeofBootlessLowaMountainbeforecuttinghiseyesaway."I thinkwecanlettheHighGregoryvisitunderyoursupervision."Memsen, the High Gregory, and a young girl followed him, which caused the bulkhead to burst

altogether.Spur caught a glimpseof a knot of kids peering at himbefore thewall reformed itself twometersfarther intotheinteriorof thehover,creatingthenecessaryextraspacetofit themall.TheHighGregorywascarryingatrayofpastries,whichhesetonthetablehecausedtoformoutofthedeck."Hello,Spur,"hesaid."Howdoyoulikeflying?YourfriendgotsickbutMemsenhelpedhim.Thisis

Penny.""ThePendragonChromlisFurcifer,"saidMemsen.SheandSpurstudiedeachother.AlittletallerbutperhapsalittleyoungerthantheHighGregory,the

girlwasdressedhoodtobootinclothesmadeofsupplemetallic-greenscales.Thescalesofhergloveswereasfineassnakeskinwhilethosethatformedhertuniclookedmorelikecherryleaves,eventotheserratededges.Arigidhoodprotectedthebackofherhead.Atangleof thick,blackhairwreathedherface."Penny,"saidtheHighGregory,"you'resupposedtoshakehishand.""Iknow,"shesaid,butthenclaspedbothhandsbehindherbackandstaredatthedeck."Yourrightgoes tohis right."TheHighGregoryheldouthisownhand todemonstrate."She's justa

littleshy,"hesaid.Spurcrouchedandheldouthishand.Shetookitsolemnly.Theyshook.Spurlethergo.Thegirl'shand

wentbehindherbackagain.

"Youhaveaprettyname,Pendragon,"saidSpur."That's her title."Memsen faced left and then right before she sat on the bench next toNgonda. "It

meanswarchief.""Really.Andhaveyoubeentowar,Penny?"Sheshookherhead—moreofatwitchofembarrassmentthanashake."Thisisherfirst,"saidtheHighGregory."Butshe'sL'ung.She'sjustheretowatch.""I'msorry,"saidSpur."WhoaretheL'ung?"Ngondaclearedhis throat inanobviouswarning.TheHighGregory sawMemsenpinch theair and

whateverhe'dbeenabouttosaydiedonhislips.ThesilencestretchedlongenoughforPennytorealizethattherewassomedifficultyaboutansweringSpur'squestion."What,ishestupid?"ShescrutinizedSpurwithrenewedinterest."Areyoustupid,Spur?""Idon'tthinkso."Itwashisturntobeembarrassed."ButmaybesomepeoplethinkthatIam.""This iscomplicated,"saidMemsen, fillingyetanotherawkwardpause."Weunderstand thatpeople

here seek to avoid complication."She considered. "Let's just say that theL'ung are companions to theHighGregory.Theyliketowatchhimmakeluck,youmightsay.Thinkofthemasstudents.They'vebeensent frommanydifferentworlds, formanydifferent reasons.Complications again.There is a politicalaspect…"Ngondawriggledinprotest."… which the deputy assures us you would only find confusing. So." She patted the bench. "Sit,

Pendragon."ThePendragoncollectedamacaroonfromthepastrytrayandobedientlysettledbesideMemsen,then

leanedtowhisperinherear."Yes,"saidMemsen,"we'llaskaboutthewar."Ngondarosethen,butcaughthimselfagainstabulkheadasifthechangefromsittingtostandinghadleft

himdizzy. "This isn't fair,"he said. "TheCooperativehasmadea completedisclosureof the situationhere,bothtoKenningandtotheForumoftheThousandWorlds.""Whatyousentwasdull,dull,dull,friendConstant,"saidtheHighGregory."Idon'tthinkthepeople

whomadethereportwentanywherenearaburn.Someonetoldsomebodyelse,andthatsomebodytoldthem."JustthenthehoverbuckedandthedeputyalmosttoppledontoMemsen'slap."Yougaveusabunchofcontractsandmapsandpixofdeadtrees,"continuedtheHighGregory."Ican'tmakeluckoutofcharts.ButSpurwasthere,hecantellus.Hewasalmostburnedup.""Not aboutMotuRiver," said Spur quickly. "Nothing about that." Suddenly everyonewas staring at

him."Maybe,"beganNgondabutthehovershudderedagainandheslappedahandhardagainstthebulkhead

tosteadyhimself."Maybeweshouldtellhimwhatwe'veagreedon."Spur sensed thatMemsenwas judging him, and that shewas not impressed. "If youwant to talk in

generalaboutfightingfires,"hesaid,"that'sdifferent."Ngondalookedmiserable."Can'twesparethisbraveman…?""DeputyNgonda,"saidMemsen."What?"Hisvoicewasverysmall.TheHighGregoryliftedthetrayfromthetableandofferedittohim."Haveacookie."Ngonda shrank from the pastries as if theymight bite him. "Go ahead then," he said. "Scratch this

foolishitchofyours.Wecan'tstopyou.We'rejustabunchofthrowbacksfromanothingworldandyou're—""DeputyNgonda!"Memsen'svoicewassharp.Hecaughthisbreath."You'reMemsentheTwenty-Secondandhe's theHighGregoryofKenningand

I'm not feeling verywell."Ngonda turned to Spur,muttering. "Remember, they don't really carewhat

happenstoyou.Oranyofus.""That'snottrue,"saidtheHighGregory."Nottrueatall."ButNgondahadalreadysubsidedontohisbench,queasyandunvoiced."So."Memsenclickedherringstogether."Youfightfires.""I'm just a smokechaser." Ngonda's outburst troubled Spur. He didn't know anything about these

upsiders,afterall.Weretheyreallyanydifferentthanpukpuks?"IvolunteeredfortheCorpsaboutayearago, finished training last winter, was assigned the Ninth Regiment, Gold Squad. We mostly buildhandlinesalongtheedgesofburnstocontainthem."Heleanedagainstthehullwithhisbacktotheview."Theideaisthatwescrapeoffeverythingthatcancatchfire,digtomineralsoil.Ifwecanfitaplowortractorin,thenwedo,butinroughterrainweworkbyhand.That'saboutit.Boringasthosereportsyouread.""Idon'tunderstand."TheHighGregorysprawledonthedeck,pickingidlyathissneakers."Ifyou'reso

busydigging,whendoyouputthefiresout?""Fire needs three things," he said, "oxygen, fuel and temperature. They call it the triangle of

combustion. Think of a burn as a chain of triangles. The sides of every triangle have to connect."Heformed a triangle by pressing his thumbs and forefingers together. "Hot enough connects to enough airconnects to enough stuff to burn. Take away a side and you break the triangle… ." He separated histhumbs."…andweakenthechain.Whenaburnblowsup,there'snogoodwaytocutoffitsoxygenorlower the core temperature, so you have to attack the fuel side of the triangle. If you do your job,eventuallythere'snothinglefttoburn.""Thenyoudon'tactuallyputfiresout?"TheHighGregorysoundeddisappointed."Wedo,butthat'sjusthotspotting.Onceweestablishahandline,wehavetodefendit.Sowewalkthe

lines, checking for fires that start from flying sparksorunderground runners.Treesmight fall across aline.Ifwefindahotspot,wedigitoutwithajacksmithorsprayitcoldwithretardantfromoursplashpacks."Henoticed that thePendragonwaswhisperingagain toMemsen."I'msorry,"hesaid."Is theresomething?"Memsengavehimapolitesmile—atleasthehopeditwaspolite."Sheasksaboutthepeoplewhoset

firetothemselves.Haveyoueverseenone?""Atorch?"Spurfrowned."No."Thelieslippedoutwithpracticedease."Theymustbeverybrave."TheHighGregorywriggledacrossthedeckonhandsandkneestoSpur's

kit. "Hey, your bag got burnt here."He held the kit up to the afternoon light pouring through the hull,examiningit."Andheretoo.Doyouhatethem?""No.""Buttheytriedtokillyou.""Notme.They'retryingtokilltheforest,maybetheTranscendentState,butnotme.Theyhavenoidea

whoIam."HemotionedforthekitandtheHighGregorydraggeditacrossthecompartmenttohim."AndIdon'tknowanyofthem.We'reallstrangers."Heopenedthekit,rummagedinsideandpulledoutapixofGoldSquad."Here'smysquad.That'sfullfirefightinggearwe'rewearing."Deadfriendsgrinnedathimfromthepix.Vic,kneelinginthefrontrowofthepicture,andHardy,whowasstandingnexttoSpur.HeflippedthepixoverandpassedittotheHighGregory."Why are the torches doing this?" said Memsen. "You must have wondered about it. Help us

understand.""It'scomplicated."HewaitedforNgondatopipeupwiththeofficialline,butthedeputywasgazing

throughthehullofthehoverwitheyesofglass."Theyshouldhavegonelongago,"saidSpur."They'reupsiders,really.Theydon'tbelonghereanymore.""Athousandworldsforthenew,"saidMemsen,"oneforthetrue.That'swhatyourchairmansays,isn't

it?"

"Your parents came here from other worlds," said the High Gregory. "So that's why you think thepukpuksshould'vebeenwillingtopackupandgo.ButwouldyoucomebackwithustoKenningifJackWintersaidyoushould?""That'snotwhyI…."Spurrubbedathisforehead."Idon'tknow,maybeitis.Anyway,theyweremy

grandparents,notmyparents."TheHighGregoryslidacrossthedeckandhandedthepixofGoldSquadtoMemsen.ThePendragon

cranedhernecktosee."Youhavetounderstand,"saidSpur,"thatthepukpukshatethenewforestsbecausetheyspreadsofast.

The treesgrowlikeweeds,not like theones inmyorchard."Heglancedoverhisshoulderat thehillsbeneath him. They were on the east side of the Taratas now and flying lower. Almost home. "WhenWaldenwas still the Pea, this continent was dry andmostly open. The Niahwas prairie. There wassupposedlythishugedesert, theNev,or theNeb,whereConcordisnow.Thepukpukshuntedbilligagsandtamedthegosdogherds.Theirbotsdughugepitstominecarbonatitesandrareearths.Eventuallytheykilledoff theherds,plowedtheprairiesunderandexhaustedall thesurfacedeposits.Theycreated thebarrens,rapedthisplanetandthenmostofthemjustleft.Morobe'sPeawasadyingworld,that'swhytheChairmanpickedit.Therewasnothingforthepukpukshere,noreasontostayuntilwecame."Asthehoverswoopedlowoverthetreetops,Spurcouldfeelthetugofhomeasrealasgravity.After

allhehadbeen through,Littletonwasstilldrowsingat thebaseofLamanaRidge,waitingforhim.Heimaginedsleepinginhisownbedthatnight."Soontherewon'tbeanymorebarrens,"hesaid,"justforest.Andthatwillbetheendofit."TheHighGregory staredathimwithhisunnervingyelloweyes. "They're just trying toprotect their

wayoflife.Andnowyou'retellingthemthatyourwayisbetter.""No."Spurbithis lip; the truthofwhat theHighGregorysaidhad longsinceprickedhissoul."But

theirwayoflifeistodestroyourway."MemsenflickedafingeragainstthepixofGoldSquad."Andsothat'swhytheystartedthiswar?""Isthisawar?"Spurtookthepixfromherandtuckeditintohiskitwithoutlookingatitagain."They

setfires,weputthemout.It'sdangerouswork,eitherway.""Peopledie,"whisperedthePendragon."Yes,"saidSpur."Theydo."

8Chapter

Ihavelivedsomethirty-oddyearsonthisplanet,andIhaveyettohearthefirstsyllableofvaluableorevenearnestadvicefrommyseniors.–Journal,1852

SpurperchedonastumpwonderinghowtosneakovertotheLittletontrainstation.Fromwherehesat,it lookedhopeless.Hehad justbushwhacked through the forest fromtheedgeofSpotPond,where thehoverhadlingeredlongenoughtoputhimontothemuckyshore.NowhewasonthetrailthatleddownLamanaRidge.JustaheadofhimwasBlueValleyRoad,aroughtrackthatconnectedahandfuloffarmstoCivicRoute22.cr22becameBroadStreetasitpassedthroughLittletonCommons,thevillagecenter.IfheskulkeddownBlueValley,hecouldhitcha rideon22.Exceptwhowouldbeout this timeofday?Neighbors.Littletonwasasmalltown;hisfatherhadnodoubttoldeveryonethathissontheherowasdueinonthe8:16trainfromHeart'sWall.Ofcourse,hecouldavoid22altogetherandskirtaroundtowntothetrainstation.Exceptitwasagoodtenkilometersbetweenthestumpandthestationandhewasbonetired.Hedecidedtositalittlelonger.At least Ngonda had kept most of the upsiders out of Littleton. He could imagine Penny and Kai

Thousandfold and little Senator-for-Life Dowm spreading through his bewildered village to gawk atfamilypixandopenclosetsandaskawkwardquestions.TheHighGregorywasallSpurhad toworryabout.Hewould be stepping off the hover ramp tomorrowmorning at Spot Pondwith the deputy.HewouldposeasNgonda'snephewandthedeputywouldbeSpur'scomrade-in-armsfromIronSquad.TheHighGregorywouldspendthedaytouringLittletonandmakingwhateverluckhecould.HewouldsleepatSpur'shouseandthedayaftertomorrowheandNgondawouldcatchthe7:57southbound."Spur?"calledafamiliarvoicefromupthetrail."IsthatProsperLeung?"Spurwantedtoblurt,"No,notme,notatall."Hewantedtorunaway.Insteadhesaid,"Hello,Sly."

TherewereworsecitizenshecouldhaverunintothanSlySawatdee.Thebigman lumbereddown thepath.Hewaswearingcut-off shorts,one legofwhichwasseveral

centimeterslongerthantheother.Hisbarrelbellystretchedhisshirt,whichwasunbuttonedtohisnavel.Hisfloppyhatwastwo-toned:dirtyanddirtier.Hewascarryingabasketfilledwithgooseberries.Hissmilewasbrightasnoon."ThatismyProsper,Iswear.Myluckylittlepinecone,allsafe.Butyou'resupposedtobeawayatthe

fires.Howdidyougethere,sofarfromnowhere?""Felloutofthesky."Slygiggledlikealittleboy."Goaroundthatagain."SlywasgrayasanoakandalmostasoldasSpur's

father,buthisyearshadneverseemedaburdentohim.IftheTranscendentStatetrulywanteditscitizenssimple, then Sly Sawatdeewas themost civic-minded person inHamiltonCounty. "You're jokingme,no?""Allrightthen,Iwalked.""Walkedfromwhere?"Spurpointedwest.

Sly turned, as if he expected to see that a highway had been miraculously cut through the forest."Nothingthatwaybuttreesandthenmountainsandthenahellofalotmoretrees.That'satruckloadofwalking, green log. You must be tired. Have a gooseberry?" He offered Spur the basket. When Slyharvestedthewildfruit,hejustbrokewholecanesoff,insteadofpickingindividualberries.Closeworkhelefttohisgrandnephewsathome."Allrightthen,"saidSpur."I'mnothere.I'monthetrainfromHeart'sWall.Igetinat8:16.""Yeah?ThenwhoamItalkingto,myownshaggyself?Watchthethorns."Spurpoppedoneof thestripedpinkberries intohismouth. Itwasstillwarmfromthesun;his teeth

crunchedthetinyseeds."Youdon'tlikeanyofmyanswers?"Heslunghiskitoverhisshoulder."I'llnibblealmostanything,Spur,butIspitoutwhatdoesn'ttastegood."Hepressedastubbyforefinger

intoSpur'schest."YourSlycantellwhenyou'recarryingasecret,happyoldshoe.EasetheweightofitoffyourbackandmaybeIcanhelpyouwithit.""Let'swalk." Spur set off down the trail.Ahead the trees parted forBlueValleyRoad. "How'smy

father?""Wellenoughforanoldman."Slyfellintostepalongsidehim."Whichistosaynotsomuchofwhathe

was.SaidyougotburntwhenVicJoerlyandthoseotherpoorboysgotkilled."HepeeredatSpur."Youdon'tlookmuchburnt.""IwasinahospitalinConcord."TheyhadreachedBlueValleyRoad,whichwasnothingmorethana

coupleofdirt ruts separatedbya scraggleofweeds. "Anupsiderdoctor savedmy life."Spurheadedtowardcr22."Theycandothingsyouwouldn'tbelieve.""I'll believe it this veryminute if you say so."Hismouth twisted like he'd bit into awormy apple.

"OnlyIneverhadmuchuseforupsiders.""Why?Haveyouevermetone?""Notme,butmyDiDausedtosayhowtheypokeholesintheirownbrainsandcutarmsandlegsoffto

sewonpartsofbotsintheirplace.Nowwhere'sthesenseinagoodmanturningbot?"TherewasnoarguingwithSlywhenhegot to remembering thingshis long-suffering fatherhad told

him."I'mguessingyouburiedVicalready?""His body came on the train lastWednesday. The funeral was Friday.Most the village was there,

biggestcommunioninyearsandjustaboutthesaddestday.""How'sComfort?""Hard to say." He grimaced. "I paid respects, didn't chitchat. But I heard around that she's digging

herselfquiteahole.Wouldn'ttakemuchforhertofallin."HeturnedawayfromSpurandpickedastoneupofftheroad."Whataboutyoutwo?""Idon'twanttotalkaboutit.""Yeah."Helobbedthestoneintothewoods."That'swhatIheard."TheywerecomingupontheBandaranfarmstead,cornstalksnoddinginthefieldnearesttheroad.Spur

couldhear thewoodenclunkof theirwindmill turningonthewhisperedbreathof theafternoon.Itwasbringingwaterupfromawelltosplashintoadugpondwhereducksgabbledandcropped.HetriedtokeepSlybetweenhimselfandthehouseastheypassed,butwhetherhewasnoticedornot,nobodycalledouttohim.ThenextfarmsteadbelongedtotheSawatdees,whereSlylivedwithhisnephewSunnyandhisfamily.

Onanimpulse,Spursaid,"Thereisasecret.""Yeah,Iknow.I'mold,butIstillhearthemosquitoesbuzz.""Thethingis,I'mgoingtoneedyourhelp.Andyoucan'ttellanyone."SlysteppedinfrontofSpurandblockedhisway."DoesanyoneknowwhosatonGandyStar'scherry

pie?TheonethatshebakedforyourDiDa?"Spurgrinned."Ihopenot."

He prodded Spur in the chest with his finger. "Did they ever figure the boy who was with LeafBenklemanthedayshegotdrunkontheapplejackandthrewupattheSolsticeDaypicnic?""It wasn't me." Spur put a hand on Sly's finger and pushed it away. "I was with you fishing that

afternoon.""Yeah,thefishstory."HestoodasideandmotionedforSpurtopass."Rememberwhotoldthatone?

Theoldcitizenyoualwaysforgettocomevisitnowthatyou'reallgrownup."Theycontinueddowntheroad.TheSawatdeefarmsteadwasjustaroundthenextbend."Iremember,Sly.Canyouhelp?Ineedaridehomerightnow.""ThecottageoryourDiDa'shouse?""DiligenceCottage."Henodded."Sunnycantakeyouinthetruck.""No,ithastobeyou.You'regoingtobetheonlyonewhoknowsI'mback.Partofthesecret."Slyswungthebasketofgooseberriesinwiderarcsashewalked."Sunnydoesn'twantmedrivingat

nightanymore.""Don'tworry,you'llbebackinplentyoftimeforsupper.ButthenI'llneedyouagaininthemorning.

Comegetmefirstthing.I'mmeetingsomeoneupatSpotPond.""SpotPond?Nobodytherebutfrogs."SpurleanedclosertoSly."Icantellyou,butyouhavetopromisetohelp,nomatterwhat."Helowered

hisvoice."Thisisabigsecret,Sly.""Howbig?"Slylookedworried."Biggerthanabarn?""Biggerthanthewholevillage."SpurknewSlywouldbepleasedandflatteredtobetheonlyonein

LittletonwhomSpurhadinvitedintohisconspiracy."Inorout,myfriend?""Inuptohere."Slyraisedahandoverhishead."Earsopen,mouthshut."Hegiggled."Good."Spurdidn'tgivehimtimetoreconsider."AnupsideriscomingtovisitLittleton.""Anupsider."Slytookthisforanotherjoke."Andheparkshisspaceshipwhere?OnBroadStreet?""AhoverisgoingtoputhimoffnearSpotPond.He'sgoingtostaywithmeforaday.Oneday.Nobody

issupposedtoknowhe'sfromtheupside.""A hover." Sly glanced over one shoulder and then the other, as if he expected to spot the hover

followingthem."Oneofthosebirdbotsinoursky."Spurnodded."Andyouwantthis?"The question caught him off guard, because he realized that sometime in the last few hours he had

changedhismind."Ido,Sly."SpurwantedtospendmoretimewiththeHighGregoryanditwasfinewithhimiftheyweretogetheratDiligenceCottage.Hejustdidn'twanttoinflicttheupsiderontherestofhissleepyvillage.Theywouldn'tunderstand.ExceptSlywasshakinghishead."Nothinggoodevercameofgettingtangledupwithspacepeople.""I'mjustcuriousisall,"saidSpur."Curiouscan'tsitstill,youngsprout.Curiousalwaysgoesforthecloserlook."Forthefirsttimesince

Spurhadknownhim,SlySawatdeelookedhisage."AndnowI'mthinkingwhatwillhappentoyourDiDawhenyouleaveus.He'sagoodman,youknow.I'veknownhimallmylife."

9Chapter

Forwhenmanmigrates,hecarrieswithhimnotonlyhisbirds,quadrupeds,insects,vegetablesandhisverysward,buthisorchardalso.–WildApples,1862

CapabilityRogerLeunglovedapples.Hewasfondoftheotherpomesaswell,especiallypearsandquince.Stonefruitshedidn'tmuchcarefor,althoughhetoleratedsourcherriesinmemoryofGiGa'spies.ButappleswereCape'sfavorite,theancientfruitofthehomeworld.Heclaimedthatapplesgracedthetables of all of Earth's great civilizations: Roman, Islamic, American and Dalamist. Some people inLittletonthought thatSpur'sfather lovedhisappletreesmorethanhelovedhisfamily.ProbablySpur'smother,LucyBlissLeung, hadbeenoneof these.Probably thatwaswhy she left himwhenSpurwasthree,firsttomovetoHeart'sWallandthenclearacrossthecontinenttoProvidence.SpurnevergotthechancetoaskherbecauseheneversawheragainaftershemovedtoSouthwest.ThecitizensofWaldendidnottravelformerepleasure.Spur'sgrandparentshadarrivedonWaldenpennilessandwithonlyabasicknowledgeoffarming.Yet

hardworkandbrutalfrugalityhadbuilttheirfarmsteadintoasuccess.However,thepricetheypaidforsingle-mindeddedicationtofarmingwashigh;oftheirthreechildren,onlyCapechosetostayonthefarmasanadult.AndevenhemovedoutofDiligenceCottagewhenhewassixteenandputupahutforhimselfatthefarthestedgeoftheLeungproperty.Hewastryingtoescapetheirdisapproval.Wheneverhelookedatthetellorvisitedfriendsorclimbedatreetoreadabook,GiGoorGiGawouldcarpathimforbeingfrivolousorlazy.Theycouldn'tseethesenseofvolunteeringforthefiredepartmentorplayingleftbasefortheLittletonEagleswhentherewerechorestobedone.SometimesweeksmightpasswithoutCapesayinganunnecessarywordtohisparents.YetithadbeenCapewhotransformedthefamilyfortuneswithhisapples.Whenhewaseighteen,he

beganattendingclassesatthehortischoolextensioninLongwalk,verymuchagainstGiGo'swishes.Hehadpaid tuitionoutofmoneyearneddoingodd jobsaround thevillage—anotherpointlessdiversionfrom home chores that irritated his parents. Cape had become interested in fruit trees after brown rotspoiledalmosttheentirecropofLittleton'ssourcherriestheyearbefore.Allthefarmersinthevillageraised fruit, but their orchards were usually no more than a dozen trees, all of traditional heirloomvarieties.Cropsweresmall,usuallyjustenoughforhomeusebecauseoftheravagesofpestsanddisease.Farmers battled Terran immigrants like tarnished plant bugs, sawflies, wooly aphids, coddlingmoths,leafrollers, lesser appleworms, and the arch enemy: plum curculio. Thereweremildews, rusts, rots,cankers,blotchesandblightstocontendwithaswell.Thelonggrowingseasonoffruittreesmadethemvulnerabletosuccessiveattacks.CitizensacrosstheTranscendentStatedebatedwhetherornotChairmanWinter had introduced insect evil and fungal disease into his new Garden of Eden on purpose. Thequestionhadneverbeensettled.Butathortischool,Cape learnedaboutneemspray,extracted fromthechinaberrytreeandtheorganicinsecticidepyrethrum,whichwasmadefromdrieddaisies.AndheheardaboutanamazingciderapplecalledHuang'sNectar,adisease-resistantearlybloomer,well-suitedtotheclimateofSoutheastbutnotyetprovenhardyinthenorth.Asmuchtospitehisfatherastotestthenewvariety, he had drained his savings and bought a dozen saplings on w4 semi-dwarfing rootstock. He

startedhisownorchardonlandhehadclearednearhishut.Twoyears later,hebrought inhisfirst—admittedly light — harvest, which nevertheless yielded the sweetest cider and smoothest applejackanyone inLittleton had ever tasted.Capepurchased a handscrewpress in his third year and switchedfromfermentinghiscideringlasscarboystohugeoakbarrelsbyhisfifth.Andheboughtmoreappletrees—heneverseemedtohaveenough:McIntosh,GoRed,Jay'sPippin,AlumarGold,AdamandEve.Soonhebegantogrowrootstockandselltreestootherfarmers.BythetimeCapemarriedSpur'smother,theLeungswererentinglandfromfarmsteadsoneithersideoftheiroriginalholding.GiGoandGiGalivedlong enough to see their son become the most prosperous farmer in Littleton. GiGo, however, neverforgavehimselfforbeingwrong,orCapeforbeingright,abouttheapples.CapehadgivenSpurandComforthisparents'houseasaweddingpresent;DiligenceCottagehadbeen

empty ever since GiGa had died. Cape had long since transformed his own little hut into one of thegrandesthomes inLittleton.SpurhadSlydrophimoff justdownJanePowderStreet fromthecottage,hopingtoavoidthebighouseandtheinevitableinterrogationbyhisfatherforaslongaspossible.AfterseeingSly'sdismayatthenewsoftheHighGregory'svisit,hewasthinkinghemighttrytokeeptheHighGregory'sidentityfromCape,ifhecould.However,asSpurapproached the frontdoor,hespottedCape's scooterparkedby thebarnand then

CapehimselfreachingfromaladderintothescaffoldbranchesofoneofGiGo'sancientMacounapples.Hewas thinningthefruitset.Thiswas twiceasurprise: first,becauseCapeusuallyavoidedthehousewhere he had grown up, and second, because he had been set against trying to rejuvenate theLeungs'original orchard, arguing that itwas awasteofSpur's time. In fact thepeaches and theplum treehadprovedbeyondsaving.However,throughdrasticpruning,SpurhadmanagedtobringthreeMacounsandoneSunsetapple,andaNorthstarcherrybackintoproductionagain."DiDa!"Spurcalledoutsothathewouldn'tstartlehisfather."It'sme.""Prosper?" Cape did not look down as he twisted an unripe apple free. "You're here already.

Something's wrong?" He dropped the cull to the pack of gosdogs waiting below. A female leapt andcaughttheappleinmidairinitslongbeak.Itchompedtwiceandswallowed.Thenitchaseditsscalytaleindelight,whiletheothershootedatCape."Everything'sfine.TherewasalastminutechangeandImanagedtogetaridehome."Spurdoubtedhis

fatherwould be satisfiedwith this vague explanation, but itwasworth a try. "What are you doing upthere?"Hedroppedhiskitonthefrontstepofthefarmhouseandtrudgedovertotheorchard."IthoughtyouhatedGiGo'suselessoldtrees."Cape sniffed. "Macoun is a decent enough apple; they're just too damnmuchwork. And since you

weren'taroundtotendtothem—butIshouldcomedown.You'rehome,Prosper.Wait,I'llcomedown.""No,finishwhatyou'redoing.Howarethingshere?""Itwasadryspring."Heculledanothergreenapple,carefultograspthefruitingspurwithonehand

andthefruitwiththeother."Junewasparchedtoo,butthecountywon'tcallitadroughtyet."Thegosdogsswirledandtumbledbeneathhimashelettheapplefall."TheJunedropwaslight,soI'vehadtodoalotofthinning.Wehadsawflybutthecurculioisn'tsobad.Theyletyououtofthehospitalsosoon,Prosper?Tellmewhatyou'renottellingme.""I'mfine.Readytobuildfenceandbuckfirewood.""HaveyouseenComfortyet?""No.""Youweresupposedtoarrivebytrain.""Ihitchedaridewithafriend.""FromConcord?""IgotoffthetraininWheelwright.""Wheelwright."Oneofthegosdogswastryingtoscrabbleuptheladder."Idon'tknowwherethat is

exactly.SomewhereinSoutheast,Ithink.LeeCountymaybe?""Aroundthere.What'swrongwithMacouns?""Ah."He shook his head in disapproval. "A foolish tree that doesn't knowwhat's good for it." He

gesturedattheimmatureapplesallaroundhim."Lookatthesizeofthisfruitset.EvenaftertheJunedrop,therearetoomanyapplesleftonthebranches.Growmorethanafewofthesetreesandyou'llspendthesummerhand-thinning.HaveyouseenComfortyet?""Ialreadysaidno."Spurpluckedalow-hangingcherry,whichhelditsgreenstem,indicatingitwasn't

quiteripe;despitethis,hepoppeditintohismouth."Sourcherriesaren'ttoofarfromharvest,I'dsay."Hespatthepitatthegosdogs."They'repullingtheentireregimentbacktoCloyceForest,whichiswhereI'llcatchupwiththem.""Civicrefreshment—you'llbebusy."Capewoundupandpitchedacullintothenextrowoftrees.As

thepackhurtledafterit,hebackeddowntheladder."AlthoughIwouldn'tmindsomehelp.You'rehomeforhowlong?""Justtheweek."Heheftedtheladderandpivoteditintothenexttree."Notmuchtime.""No."Hewasabouttoclimbupagainwhenherealizedthathehadyettogreethisonlyson."I'mgladyou're

safe,Prosper,"hesaid,placingahandonhisshoulder."ButIstilldon'tunderstandaboutthetrain."HeheldSpuratarm'slength."Yougotoffwhy?"Spurwasdesperatetochangethesubject."DiDa,Iknowyoudon'twanttohearthisbutComfortandI

areprobablygoingtogetdivorced."CapegrimacedandletgoofSpur."Probably?"Hesethisfootonthebottomrung."Yes."Thegosdogswerebackalready,swarmingaroundtheladder,downyfeathersflying."I'msorry."

Spursteppedaway."Prosper,youknowmyfeelingsabout this."Hemounted the ladder."But theneveryoneknowsI'ma

simplefoolwhenitcomestokeepingawoman."Cape Leung had been saying things like that ever since Spur's mother left him. On some days he

bemoanedthefailureofhismarriageasawoundthathadcrippledhimforlife,onothershepreenedasifsurvivingitwerehisonetruedistinction.Asayoungman,SpurhadthoughttheseweremerelyposesandhadresentedhisfatherforkeepinghisfeelingsaboutSpur'smotherinatangle.Now,Spurthoughtmaybeheunderstood."Comfortwasnevercomfortablehere,"Spursaidmorosely."Iblamemyselfforthat.ButIdon'tthink

shewasborntobeafarmer'swife.Neverwas,neverwillbe.""Are you sure?"Cape sucked air between his teeth as he leaned into the tree. "She's had a terrible

shock,Prosper.Nowthis?""It isn't going to comeas a shock,"he said,hisvoice tight.His fatherhad far toomany reasons for

wantingSpurtomakehismarriagework.HehadalwayslikedbothoftheJoerlykidsandhadlovedthewayComforthadremadebothDiligenceCottageandhisonlyson.Capewasimpatientforgrandchildren.Andthentherewasthematteroftheland,onceagreeablycomplicated,nowhorriblysimple.Eversincetheyhadbeenkids,ithadbeenarunningjokearoundthevillagethatsomedaySpurwouldmarryComfortand unite the Joerly farmstead with the Leung holdings, immediately adjacent to the east. Of course,everyoneknewitwouldn'thappenquitethatway,becauseofVic.ButnowVicwasdead."Whenwillyouseeher?""Idon'tknow,"saidSpur."Soon.Anyway,it'sbeenalongdayforme.I'mgoingin.""Comebacktothehouseforsupper?"saidCape."No,I'mtootired.I'llscrapeupsomethingtoeatinthecottage.""Youwon'thavetolooktoohard."Hegrinned."Yourfansstoppedbythismorningtoopentheplace

up. I'msure they left somegoodies. I'vebeen telling theneighbors thatyouwereduehome today."Hedroppedanotherculltothegosdogs."NowthatIthinkaboutit,Ishouldprobablyrideintotowntotellfolksnottomeetyourtrain.Istillcan'tbelieveyougotarideallthewayfrom…wheredidyousayitwasagain?""Whatfans?""IthinkitmusthavebeenGandyJoywhoorganizedit;atleastshewastheonewhocametothehouse

toaskmypermission."Hesteppedofftheladderintothetreetoreachthehighestbranches."ButIsawtheVelez girls waiting in the van, Peace Toba, SummerMillisap." He stretched for a particularly denseclusterofapples."Oh,andaftertheyleft,IthinkComfortmighthavestoppedbythecottage."

10Chapter

Ifinditwholesometobealonethegreaterpartofthetime.Tobeincompany,evenwiththebest,issoonwearisomeanddissipating.–Walden

Therefrigeratorwasstockedwithachickenandparsnipcasserole,apotofbarleysoup,halfadozeneggs,alittletubofbutter,aslabofgoatcheeseandthreebottlesofrootbeer.Therewasaloafoffreshonionryebreadandglassjarsofhomemadeapricotandpearpreservesonthecounter.ButwhatSpuratefor supperwaspie.Someonehadbakedhim twopies,apeachandanapple.Heatehalfofeach,andwashedthemdownwithrootbeer.Whynot?Therewasnobodyaroundtoscoldhimandhewastootiredtoheatupthesouporthecasserole,muchlesstoeatit.Eatingpietooknoeffortatall.Besides,hehadn'thadadecentsliceofpiesincehehadleftLittleton.ThenicetiesofbakingwerebeyondthefieldkitchensoftheCorpsofFirefighters.Afterwardhepouredhimselfatumblerofapplejackandsatatthekitchentable,tryingtodecidewho

hadbroughtwhat.ThebarleysoupfeltlikeanofferingfromsturdyPeaceToba.GandyJoyknewhehadadeveloped a secretweakness for root beer, despite growing up in a farmstead that lived and died bycider.TheMillisapshadthelargestherdofgoatsintown.Hewasn'tsurewhohadmadethecasserole,althoughhewouldhavebetitwasn'ttheVelezsisters.CasserolesweretoomatronlyfortheVelezes.Theywereintheirearlytwentiesandsingleandalittlewild—atleastbyLittleton'sstandards.Theyhadtobe,sincetheyweresearchingforromanceinavillageofjustoversixhundredsouls.Everyonesaidthatthey would probably move to Longwalk someday, or even to Heart'sWall, which would break theirparents'hearts.Hewasguessingthatthepieshadcomefromtheirkitchen.Awell-madepiewasasgoodas a love letter. But would theVelez sisters just assume he and Comfort were finally going to split?Comfortmusthavedecidedonherownandwastellingpeopleinthevillage.ThenSpurrememberedthatSly had said he had heard something. And if Sly knew, then everyone knew. In a nosy village likeLittleton,ifakidskinnedhiskneeplayingbaseball,atleastthreemomsfelloutoftreeswavingbandages.Spurputthefoodawayandwashedthedishes,afterwhichtherewasnoreasontostayinthekitchen.

Buthelingeredforawhile,tryingtoavoidthememorieswhichwhisperedtohimfromtheotherroomsofthecottage.Herememberedhissterngrandparentsghostingaroundthewoodstoveintheirlastyears.HerememberedboardingDiligenceCottageupafterGiGodied,thelumpyfurnitureandthethreadbarecarpetrecedingintothegloom.AndthenheandComfortpullingtheboardsdownandrediscoveringtheirnewhome.ThenewlywedshadmovedalmostallofGiGoandGiGa'sthingstothebarn,wheretheymolderedto thisday.SpurandComforthaddustedandcleanedandscrapedandpaintedeverything in theemptycottage.He remembered sittingon the floorwithhisback to thewall of theparlor, lookingat theonelonelychairtheyowned.Comforthadcuddledbesidehim,becauseshesaidthatiftherewasn'troomforbothofthemonthechairthenneitherwouldsit.Hehadkissedherthen.Therehadbeenalotofkissinginthose days. In fact, Comfort had made love to him in every room of the cottage. It was her way ofdeclaringownershipandofexorcisingthedisapprovingspiritsoftheoldfolks.Nowthatshewasabouttopassoutofhislife,SpurthoughtthatComfortmighthavebeentooferocious

aloverforhistastes.Sometimesitwasallhecoulddotostaywithherinbed.Occasionallyherpassion

alarmedhim,althoughhewouldneverhaveadmittedthis tohimselfwhile theyweretogether.Itwouldhavebeenunmanly.ButjustbeforehehadvolunteeredfortheCorps,whenthingshadalreadybeguntogowrong,hehadfeltasiftherewasalwaysanothermanstandingnextthem,watching.Notanyonereal,butratherComfort'sideaofalover.Spurknewbythenhewasn'tthatman.Hehadjustbeenaplaceholderforwhoeveritwasshewaswaitingfor.Finallyheleftthekitchen.ThewomenwhohadopenedDiligenceCottagehaddonetheirbest,butthere

wasnoairtoworkwithonthiscloseJulynight.Theroomswerestaleandhot.Hesatoutontheporchuntil the needlebugs drove him inside. Then he propped a fan in either window of the bedroom anddumpedhiskitoutontothebedspread.Whatdidhehavetowearthatwascool?Hepickedupat-shirtbutthensmelledthetangofsmokestillclingingtoit.Hedroppeditontothebedandchuckledmirthlessly.Hewashome;hecouldputonhisownclothes.HeopenedthedresserdrawerandpulledouttheshortsthatComforthadboughtforhisbirthdayandagauzyblueshirt.Thepantswerelooseandsliddownhiships.Hehadlostweightinthefirefightandevenmoreinthehospital.Toomuchheartbreak.Notenoughpie.Then, against his better judgment, he crossed the bedroom to Comfort's dresser and began to open

drawers.Hehadneverunderstoodwhysheabandonedeverythingsheownedwhenshe lefthim.Diditmean thatshewasplanning tocomeback?Or thatshewascompletelyrejecting their life together?Hedidn'ttouchanything,justlookedatherpanties,blackandnavyblueandgray—nopastelsorpatternsforhis girl. Then the balled socks, sleeveless blouses, shirts with the arms folded behind them, heavyworkpants,lightweightsweaters.Andinthebottomdrawerthejadepajamasofblack-marketmaterialsosheerthatitwouldslipfromherbodyifheeventhoughtabouttuggingatit."Notexactlysomethingafarmer'swifewouldwear."Spurspokealoudjusttohearavoice;thedense

silenceofthecottagewasmakinghimedgy."Atleast,notthisfarmer'swife."Now that hewas losingComfort, Spur realized that the only person in his familywas his father. It

struckhimthathehadnomemoriesofhisfatherinthecottage.HecouldseeCapeinthediningroomofthebighouseorthelibraryordozinginfrontofthetell.Alone,alwaysalone.Spurhadabadmomentthen.Hesteppedintothebathroom,andsplashedsomecoldwateronhisface.

Hewouldhave to remarryorhewould endup likehis father.He tried to imaginekissingBellVelez,slippingahandunderherblouse,buthecouldn't."Knock,knock."Awomancalledfromtheparlor."Yourfatherclaimsyou'reback."ItwasGandyJoy."Justaminute."Spurswipedathisdrippingfacewiththehandtowel.Ashestrodefromthebedroom,

thesmileonhisfacewasgenuine.HewasgratefultoGandyJoyforrescuinghimfromthesilenceandhisdarkmood.Shewasasmall,roundwomanwithflyawayhairthatwaseightdifferentshadesofgray.Shehadbig

teethandaneasysmile.Hergreensundressexposedthewrinkledskinofherwideshouldersandarms;despitefarmworkshewasstillasfairasthefleshofanapple.SpurhadbeenmotheredbymanyofthewomenofLittletonasaboy,butGandyJoywastheonewhomeantthemosttohim.Hehadtostoopoverslightlytohugher."Prosper."Shesqueezedhimsohardittookhisbreathaway."Mylovelyboy,you'resafe.""Thank you for opening the cottage," he said. "But how did you find everything?" She smelled like

lilacsandherealizedthatshemusthaveperfumedherselfjustforhim."Smallhouse."Shesteppedbacktotakehimin."Notmanyplacesathingcanbe."Spurstudiedheraswell;sheseemedtohaveagedfiveyearsinthetenmonthssincehe'dseenherlast.

"Bigenough,especiallyforone.""I'msorry,Prosper."WhenSpursawthesadnessshadowherface,heknewthatshehadheardsomething.Shewas,afterall,

thevillagevirtuator.HesupposedheshouldhavebeenrelievedthatComfortwaslettingeveryoneknowshewantedadivorce,sincethatwaswhathewantedtoo.Insteadhejustfelthollow."Whathasshetold

you?"GandyJoyjustshookherhead."Youtwohavetotalk."Hethoughtaboutpressingher,butdecidedtoletitdrop."Haveaseat,Gandy.CanIgetyouanything?

There'sapplejack."Hesteeredhertowardthesofa."Androotbeer.""Nothanks."Shenoddedatherwooden-beadpurse,whichhenownoticedagainst thebolsterof the

sofa."Ibroughtcommunion.""Really?"hesaid,feigningdisappointment."Thenyou'reonlyhereonbusiness?""I'mhereformorereasonsthanyou'lleverknow."Shegavehimaplayfultaponthearm."Andkeeping

soulsincommunionismycalling,lovelyboy,notmybusiness."Shesettledonthesofanexttoherpurseandhesatfacingherontheoakchairthathadoncebeenhisonlystickoffurniture."How longareyouwithus?"Shepulledout three incenseburnersandset themon thecherrywood

tablethatComforthadorderedallthewayfromProvidence."Aweek."SpurhadseenGandyJoy'scollectionofincenseburners,buthehadneverknownhertouse

threeatonceforjusttwopeople."I'llcatchupwiththesquadinCloyceForest.Easyworkforachange;just watching the trees grow." He considered three excessive; after all, he had accepted communionregularlywiththeotherfirefighters."We weren't expecting you so soon." She slipped the aluminum case marked with the seal of the

TranscendentStatefromherpurse."Youdidn'tcomeonthetrain.""No."Sheselectedacommunionsquarefromthecase.Shetouchedittoherforehead,thetipofhernoseand

her lips and then placed it on edge in the incense burner. She glanced up at him and still the silencestretched."Justno?"shesaidfinally."That'sall?"Spurhandedherthecrockofmatcheskeptespeciallyforcommunion."Myfathertoldyoutoask,didn't

he?""I'mold,Prosper."Hersmilewascrooked."I'veearnedtherighttobecurious."Sherepeatedtheritual

withthesecondcommunionsquare."Youhave.Buthereallywantstoknow.""Healwaysdoes."Sheset the thirdcommunionin itsburner."But theneverybodyunderstandsabout

thatparticularbendinCapability'ssoul."Sheselectedamatchfromthecrockandstruckit.NowitwasSpur'sturntowait."Soaren'tyougoingtoaskmeaboutthetrain?""Iwas,butsinceyouhavesomethingtohide,Iwon't."Shetouchedthefiretoeachofthethreesquares

andtheycaughtimmediately,theoilsinthecommunionburningwithaneageryellowflame."Idon'treallycare, Spur. I'm just happy that you're back and safe."She blew the flames out on each of the squares,leavingaglowingedge."Makethemostofyourtimewithus."Spurwatchedthecommunionsmokeuncoilinthestillairofhisparlor.Then,asmuchtopleaseGandy

Joyastore-establishhisconnectionwithhisvillage,heleanedforwardandbreatheddeeply.Thefumesthat filledhisnosewereharshat first,butwispierandsomuchsweeter than thestranglingsmokeofaburn.Ashesettledbackintohischair,hegotthesubtleaccents:theyeastyaromaofbreadbaking,awhiffoffreshlysplitoakandjustahintofthesunshinescentofashirtfreshofftheclothesline.Hecouldfeelthecommunionsmokefillhisheadandtouchhissoul.Itboundhimasalwaystothepreciouslandandthecottagewherehisfamilyhadmadeanewlife,theorderlyLeungfarmstead,hishometownandofcoursetothiswomanwholovedhimmorethanhismothereverhadandhisflintyfatherwhocouldn'thelptheway he was and faithful Sly Sawatdee and generous Leaf Benkleman and droll Will Sambusa andsteadfastPeaceTobaandtheentireVelezfamilywhohadalwaysbeensogeneroustohimandyes,evenhis dear Comfort Rose Joerly, who was leaving him but who was nonetheless a virtuous citizen ofLittleton.HeshiveredwhenhenoticedGandyJoywatchinghim.Nodoubtshewastryingtogaugewhetherhe

hadfullyacceptedcommunion."Thankyou,"hesaid,"forallthefood."Shenodded, satisfied. "You'rewelcome.We justwanted to showhowproudweareofyou.This is

yourvillage,afterall,andyou'reourProsperandwewantyoutostaywithusalways."Hechucklednervously.Whydideveryonethinkhewasgoingsomewhere?Sheleanedforward,andloweredhervoice."ButIhavetosaytherewasmorethanalittlecompetition

goingonoverthecooking."Shechuckled."Betswereplacedonwhichdishyou'deatfirst.""Bets?"Spur found the idea of half a dozenwomen competing to please himquite agreeable. "And

whatdidyouchoose?""AfterIsaweverythinglaidout,Iwasthinkingthatyou'dstartinonpie.Afterall,therewasn'tgoingto

beanyonetotellyouno."Spurlaughed."PiewasallIate.Butdon'ttellanyone."Shetappedherforefingertoherlipsandgrinned."SoI'mguessingthattheVelezgirlsmadethepies?""Therewasjusttheone—anapple,IthinkiswhatBellsaid.""Ifoundtwoonthecounter:appleandapeach.""Really?"Gandysatbackonthecouch."Someoneelsemusthavedroppeditoffafterweleft.""MighthavebeenComfort,"saidSpur."DiDasaidhethoughtshestoppedby.Iwasexpectingtofinda

note.""Comfortwashere?""Sheliveshere,"saidSpurtestily."Atleast,allherstuffishere."Gandy tookadeepbreathover the incenseburnersandheld it in forseveralmoments."I'mworried

about her," she said finally. "She hasn't accepted communion sincewe heard aboutVic. She keeps toherselfandwhenwegotovisitherathome,she'sasfriendlyasabrick.There'smourningandthenthere'sself-pity,Prosper.She'sbeen talkingaboutselling thefarmstead,movingaway.We've lostpoorVictor,we don't want to lose her too. Littletonwouldn't be the samewithout the Joerlys.When you see her,whateveryoutwodecide,makesuresheknowsthat."Spuralmostgroanedthen,butthecommunionhadhiminitsbenevolentgrip.Ifcitizensdidn'thelpone

another,therewouldbenoTranscendentState."I'lldomybest,"hesaid,hisvoicetight."Oh,Iknowyouwill,mylovelyboy.Iknowitinmysoul."

11Chapter

Thingsdonotchange;wechange.–Journal,1850

TheHighGregory sat next to Spur in the bed of the Sawat-dees' truck, their backs against the cab,watching the dust billow behind them. Sly andNgonda rode up front. As the truck jolted downBlueValleyRoad,SpurcouldnothelpbutseetheexcitementontheHighGregory'sface.Thedirttrackwascertainlyrough,buttheboywasbouncingsohighSpurwasworriedthathe'dflyovertheside.HewasevenmakingSlynervous,andtheoldfarmerwasusuallyascalmasmoss.ButthenSlySawatdeedidn'tmakeahabitofgivingridestoupsiders.HekeptglancingoverhisshoulderattheHighGregorythroughtheopenrearslider.Spurhadnodoubt thathis cover story for theHighGregoryandNgondawasabout tounravel.The

HighGregoryhaddecidedtowearpurpleoverallswithabouttwentybrassbuttons.Althoughtherewasnothingwrongwithhisblackt-shirt,thebandanaknottedaroundhisneckwasapinkdisasterembellishedwithcartoonsofbeetsandcarrotsandcornonthecob.Atleasthehadusedsomeupsidertricktodisguisethecolorofhiseyes.Ngonda'sclothesweren'tquiteasodd,buttheytoowereaproblem.Spurhadseencitizens wearing flair jackets and high-collar shirts — but not on a hot summer Sunday and not inLittleton.NgondawasdressedforameetingattheCooperative'sOfficeofDiplomacyinConcord.Spur'sonlyhopewastowhiskthembothtoDiligenceCottageandeitherhidethemthereorfindthemsomethingmoreappropriatetowear."Tellmeaboutthegosdogs,"saidtheHighGregory.Spurleanedcloser,tryingtohearhimovertheroarofthetruck'sengine,theclatterofitssuspension

andthecrunchoftiresagainstthedirtroad."Sayagain?""The gosdogs," shouted the High Gregory. "One of your native species. You know, four-footed,

feathered,theyruninpacks.""Gosdogs,yes.Whatdoyouwanttoknow?""Youeatthem.""Idon't."TheHighGregoryseemedtobewaitingforhimtoelaborate,butSpurwasn'tsurewhathe

wantedtoknowexactly."Othercitizensdo,butthebrownsonly.Theotherbreedsaresupposedtobetoostringy.""Andwhenyoukillthem,dotheyknowthey'reabouttodie?Howdoyoudoit?""Idon't."Spurhadneverslaughteredagosdog;Capedidn'tbelieveineatingthem.However,Spurhad

slaughteredchickensandgoatsandhelpedoncewithabull.Butcheringwasoneoftheunpleasantchoresthatneededdoingonafarm,likediggingpostholesormuckingoutthebarn."Theydon'tsuffer.""Really?That'sgoodtoknow."TheHighGregorydidnot lookconvinced."Howsmartdoyou think

theyare?"At thatmoment Sly stepped on the brakes and swung the steeringwheel; the truck bumped onto the

smoothpavementofCivicRoute22."Notvery,"saidSpur.Withtheroadnoiseabating,hisvoicecarriedintothecab."Notverywhat?"saidConstantNgonda.

TheHighGregory propped himself up to speak through the openwindow. "Iwas asking Spur howsmartthegosdogsare.Icouldn'tfindmuchaboutthem,considering.Whyisthat,doyousuppose?""TheComExplore Survey Team rated them just 6.4 on the PeekayAnimal Intelligence Scale," said

Ngonda."Agoathasmorebrains.""Yes, I found that," said theHighGregory, "butwhat's interesting is that the firstevaluationwas the

onlyoneeverdone.Anditwouldhavebeenverymuchinthecompany'sintereststotestthemlow,right?And of course it made no sense for your pukpuks to bother with a follow-up test. And now yourTranscendentStatehasastakeinkeepingthatratingasitis.""Areyousuggestingsomekindofconspiracy?"Ngondawasworkinghiswaytoafineoutrage."That

we'redeliberatelyabusinganintelligentspecies?""I'mjustaskingquestions,friendConstant.Andno,I'mnotsayingthey'reassmartashumans,no,no,

never.Butsupposetheywereretestedandtheirintelligencewasfoundtobe…let'ssay8.3.Oreven8.1.TheThousandWorldsmightwanttoseethemprotected.""Protected?"Thedeputy'svoicesnappedthroughthewindow."Why,don'tyouthinkthatwouldbeagoodidea?You'djusthavetoroundthemupandmovethemtoa

parkorsomething.Letthemlooseintheirnativehabitat.""ThereisnonativehabitatleftonWalden."SpurnoticedthatSlywassointentontheconversationthat

hewascoastingdownthehighway."Exceptmaybeunderwater."Awestboundoiltruckwascatchinguptothemfast."Wecouldbuildonethen,"saidtheHighGregorycheerfully."TheL'ungcouldraisethemoney.They

needsomethingtodo.""CanIaskyousomething?"Ngondahadpassedoutrageandwaswellonhiswaytofury."Yes,friendConstant.Ofcourse.""Howoldareyou?""Twelvestandard.Mybirthdayisnextmonth.Idon'twantabigpartythisyear.It'stoomuchwork.""Theyknowthemselvesinthemirror,"saidSly."What?"Ngondawasdistractedfromwhateverpointhewasabouttomake."Whatdidyoujustsay?""Whenoneofthemlooksathisreflection,herecognizeshimself."Slyleanedbacktowardthewindow

ashespoke."Wehadthisbrood,amotherandthreepups,whostayedindoorswithuslastwinter.Theywere house-trained, mostly." The truck slowed to a crawl. "So my granddaughter Brookie is playingdress-upwith the pups one night and the silly little pumpkin decides to paint one all overwith grapejuice.Saidshewastryingtomakethefirstpurplegosdog—herfatherbabiesher,don'tyouknow?Butsheactuallystainstherightrearlegbeforehermothercatchesherout.AndwhenBrookieletsthepoorthingloose,itgalumphstothemirrorandbacksuptoseeitsgrapyleg.Thenitgetstowhimperingandcluckingandturningcirclesliketheydowhenthey'reupset."Slycheckedtherearviewmirrorandnoticedtheoiltruckclosinginonthemforthefirsttime."Iwasthere,sawitclearastapwater.Theideathatitknewwhoitwastippedmeoverforacoupleofdays."Heputtwowheelsontotheshoulderofcr22andwavedthetruckpast."It'sbeenahardship,butI'venevereatenascrapofgosdogsince.""That'sthemostridiculousthingI'veeverheard,"saidNgonda."Lotsofcitizensfeelthatway,"saidSpur."Asistheirright.Buttojumptoconclusionsbasedonthisman'sobservations….""Idon'twanttojump,friendConstant,"saidtheHighGregory."Let'snotjump."Althoughthedeputywasreadytopresshisargument,nobodyelsespokeandgraduallyhesubsided.Sly

pulledbackontocr22anddrovetherestofthewayatanormalpace.Theypassedtherestofthetripinsilence;thewindseemedtowhipSpur'sthoughtsrightoutofhishead.AstheyturnedoffJanePowderStreetontothedrivewayofthecottage,Slycalledbacktohim."Looks

likeyou'vegotcompany."

Spurrubbedthebackofhisneckinfrustration.Whotoldthetownsfolkthathewantedthemtocomevisiting?Heleanedoverthesideofthetruckbutcouldn'tseeanyoneuntiltheyparkednexttotheporch.Thenhespottedthescooterleaningagainstthebarn.IfitwasreallyintheHighGregory'spowertomakeluck,thenwhathewasbrewingupforSpursofar

waspuremisfortune.ItwasComfort'sscooter.TheHighGregorystoodupinthebackofthetruckandturnedaroundonce,surveyingthefarmstead.

"Thisisyourhome,Spur."Hesaiditnotasaquestionbutasastatement,asifSpurweretheoneseeingitforthefirsttime."Iunderstandnowwhyyouwouldwanttolivesofarfromeverything.It'slikeapoemhere."ConstantNgonda opened the door and stepped down into the dusty drive. From his expression, the

deputyappearedtohaveformedadifferentopinionofthecottage.However,hewasenoughofadiplomattokeepittohimself.Heclutchedaholdalltohischestandwasmountingthestairstotheporchwhenhenoticedthatnooneelsehadmovedfromthetruck.TheywerewatchingComfortstalktowardthemfromthebarn,soclearlyinatemperthatheatseemed

toshimmeroffherinthemorningswelter."Thatwomanlooksangryaslightning,"saidSly."Youwantmetotrytogetinherway?""No,"saidSpur."She'dprobablyjustknockyouover.""ButthisisyourComfort?"saidtheHighGregory."Thewifethatyoudon'tlivewithanymore.Thisis

soexciting,justwhatIwashopingfor.She'scomeforavisit—maybetowelcomeyouback?""I'mnotexpectingmuchofawelcome,"saidSpur."Ifyou'llexcuseme,Ishouldtalktoher.Sly,ifyou

wouldn'tmindstayingafewminutes,maybeyoucouldtakeConstantandyoungLuckyhereinside.There'splentytoeat.""Lucky,"saidtheHighGregory,repeatingthenametheyhadagreedonforhim,asifremindinghimself

togetintocharacter."Hello,friendComfort,"hecalled."I'mLucky.LuckyNgonda."She shook thegreetingoff andkeptbearingdownon them.Hiswifewas a slightwoman,with fine

featuresandeyesdarktascurrants.Herhairwaslongandsleekandblack.Shewaswearingasleeveless,yellowginghamdress thatSpurhadneverseenbefore.Partofhernewwardrobe,he thought,hernewlife.Whenhehadbeeninlovewithher,SpurhadthoughtthatComfortwaspretty.Butnow,seeingherforthefirsttimeinmonths,hedecidedthatshewasmerelydelicate.Shedidnotlookstrongenoughfortherigorsoflifeonafarm.SpuropenedthetailgateandtheHighGregoryjumpedfromthebackofthetruck.Ngondacameback

downthestairstobeintroducedtoComfort.SpurwashandingtheHighGregory'sbagdowntoSlyasshedrewherselfupinfrontofthem."Gandy Joy said you wanted to see me first thing in the morning." She did not waste time on

introductions."Ididn'trealizethatI'dbeinterruptingaparty.""Comfort,"saidSpur,"I'msorry."Hestoppedhimselfthen,chagrinedathoweasilyhefellintotheold

pattern.Whentheyweretogether,hewasalwaysapologizing."Morning,sweetcorn,"saidSly."Notthatmuchofaparty,I'mafraid.""Buttherearesnacksinside,"theHighGregorysaid."Thisissuchabeautifulplaceyoutwohave.I've

justmetSpurmyself,butI'mprettysurehe'sgoingtobehappyheresomeday.MynameisLuckyNgonda."Heheldouthishandtoher."We'resupposedtoshakebutfirstyouhavetosayyourname."ComforthadbeensofixatedonSpurthatshehadbrushedbytheHighGregory.Nowshescrutinized

himinallhispurplegloryandhereyeswentwide."Whyareyoudressedlikethat?""Is somethingwrong?"He glanced down at his overalls. "I'm dressed to visitmy friend Spur."He

pattedhisbarehead."It'sthehat,isn'tit?I'msupposedtobewearingahat.""ConstantNgonda,a friendofSpur's from theNinth."Ngondaoozedbetween them."Iapologize for

intruding;Iknowyouhavesomeimportantthingstodiscuss.Whydon'twegiveyouachancetocatchup

now.MynephewandIwillbegladtowaitinside."HeputanarmaroundtheHighGregory'sshoulderandaimedhimattheporch."Wait,"saidtheHighGregory."IthoughtIwasyourcousin.""Takeaslongasyouwant,Spur,"Ngondasaidashehustledtheboyoff."We'llbefine."Slyshookhisheadindisbelief."I'llmakesuretheydon'tgetintotrouble."Hestartedafterthem."There are pies in the refrigerator," Spur called after him. "Most of an apple pie and just a couple

slicesof apeach."He steeledhimself and turnedback toComfort. "My father saidyouwerehere theotherday."Heaimedasmileatherbutitbouncedoff."Youmademyfavoritepie.""Whoarethosepeople?"Hereyesglitteredwithsuspicion."Theboyisstrange.Whyhaveyoubrought

themhere?""Let'swalk."Hetookherarmandwassurprisedwhenshewentalongwithoutprotest.Hefelttheheat

ofherglarecoolingas theystrodeawayfromthecottage."IdidhaveachatwithGandyJoy,"hesaid."Shesaidyouwerefeelingprettylow.""IhavetherighttofeelhoweverIfeel,"shesaidstiffly."Youhaven'tbeenacceptingcommunion.""Communioniswhattheygiveyousoyoufeelsmartaboutactingstupid.TellherthatIdon'tneedsome

busybodyblowingsmokeinmyeyestokeepmefromseeingwhat'swrong."Shestoppedandpulledhimaroundtofaceher."We'regettingdivorced,Spur.""Yes,"Heheldhergaze."Iknow."Hewanted tohugherormaybeshakeher.Touchher long,black

hair.Insteadhishandshunguselesslybyhissides."ButI'mstillconcernedaboutyou.""Why?""You'vebeentalkingaboutmovingaway."Sheturnedandstartedwalkingagain."Ican'trunafarmbymyself.""Wecouldhelpyou,DiDaandI."Hecaughtupwithher."Hiresomeofthelocalkids.Maybebringina

tenantfromanothervillage.""Andhowlongdoyouthinkthatwouldworkfor?Ifyouwanttorunmyfarm,Spur,buyitfromme.""Yourfamilyisanimportantpartofthisplace.Thewholevillagewantsyoutostay.Everyonewould

pitchin."Shechuckledgrimly."Everyonewantedus togetmarried.Theywantus tostaytogether.I'mtiredof

havingeveryoneinmylife."Hewasn'tgoingtoadmittoherthathefeltthesamewaysometimes."Wherewillyougo?""Away.""Justaway?""Imisshim,Ireallydo.ButIdon'twanttoliveanywherenearVic'sgrave."Spurkickedastoneacrossthedrivewayandsaidnothingforseveralmoments."You'resureit'snotme

youwanttogetawayfrom?""No,Spur.That'sonethingIamsureof.""Whendidyoudecideallthis?""Spur,I'mnotmadatyou."Impulsively,shewentupontiptoesandaimedakissatthesideofhisface.

Shegotmostlyair,buttheircheeksbrushed,herskinhotagainsthis."Ilikeyou,especiallywhenyou'relikethis,socalmandthoughtful.You'rethebestofthislotandyou'vealwaysbeensweettome.It'sjustthatIcan'tlivelikethisanymore.""Ilikeyoutoo,Comfort.Lastnight,afterIacceptedcommunion—""Enough.Welikeeachother.Weshouldstopthere,it'sagoodplacetobe."Shebumpedupagainsthim.

"Nowtellmeaboutthatboy.Heisn'tanupsider,ishe?"Sheshothimachallenginglookandhetriedtobearupunderthepressureofherregard.Theywalked

in silencewhile he decidedwhat he could say aboutNgonda and theHighGregory. "Can you keep a

secret?"Shesighed."Youknowyou'regoingtotellme,sogettoit."Theyhadcompletelycircledthecottage.SpurspottedtheHighGregorywatchingthemfromawindow.

He turnedComfort toward thebarn. "Twodaysago,when Iwas still in thehospital, I started sendinggreetingstotheupside."Hewavedoffherobjections."Don'task,Idon'tknowwhyexactly,otherthanthatI was bored. Anyway, the boy answered one of them. He's the High Gregory of the L'ung,Phosphorescenceofsomethingorother,Iforgetwhat.He'sfromKenningintheThetaPerseisystemandI'mguessinghe'sprettyimportant,becausethenextthingIknew,heqicedhimselftoWaldenandhadmepulledoffatrain."He toldher about thehoverandMemsenand thekidsof theL'ungandhowhewasbeing forced to

showtheHighGregoryhisvillage."Oh,andhesupposedlymakesluck.""Whatdoesthatmean?"saidComfort."Howdoessomebodymakeluck?""Idon'tknowexactly.ButMemsenandtheL'ungareallconvincedthathedoesit,whateveritis."Theyhadwandered intoGiGa's flowergarden.Comforthad tried tomake itherownafter theyhad

moved in.However, she'dhadneither the timenor thepatience to tendpersnicketyplantsandsogrewonly daylilies and hostas and rugose roses. After a season of neglect, even these tough flowerswerelosinggroundtothebindweedandquackgrassandspurge.Spursatonthefieldstonebenchthathisgrandfatherhadbuiltforhisgrandmother.Hetappedontheseat

forhertojoinhim.Shehesitatedthensettledatthefarend,twistingtofacehim."Heactstoostupidtobeanyoneimportant,"shesaid."Whataboutthatsliphemadeaboutbeingthe

cousinandnotthenephew.Arethepeopleonhisworldidiots?""Maybeheintendedtosayit."Spurleanedforwardandpulledaflatclumpofspurgefromthegarden.

"Afterall,he'swearingthosepurpleoveralls;he'sreallynottryingveryhardtopretendhe'sacitizen."Heknockedthedirtofftherootsandleftittoshrivelinthesun."Whatifhewantedmetotellyouwhohewasanddecidedtomakeithappen?Ithinkhe'susedtogettinghisownway.""Sowhatdoeshewantwithus?"Herexpressionwasunreadable."I'mnotsure.IthinkwhatMemsenwastellingmeisthathehascomeheretoseehowhisbeinghere

changesus."Heshookhishead."Doesthatmakeanysense?""Itdoesn'thaveto,"shesaid."He'sfromtheupside.Theydon'tthinkthesamewaywedo.""Maybeso."Itwasacommonplacethathadbeendrilledintothemineveryself-relianceclasstheyhad

eversatthrough.Itwas,afterall,thereasonthatChairmanWinterhadfoundedWalden.Butnowthathehadactuallymetupsiders—Memsenand theHighGregory and theL'ung—hewasn't sure that theirwaysweresostrange.Butthiswasn'tthetimetoarguethepoint."Look,Comfort,Ihavemyownreasonfortellingyouallthis,"hesaid."Ineedhelpwithhim.AtfirstIthoughthewasjustgoingtopretendtobeoneofusandtakeaquietlookatthevillage.NowI'mthinkinghewantstobediscoveredsohecanmakethingshappen.SoI'mgoingtotrytokeephimbusyhereifIcan.It'sjustforoneday;hesaidhe'dleaveinthemorning.""Andyoubelievethat?""I'dliketo."Hedugatthebaseofadandelionwithhisfingersandprieditoutofthegroundwiththe

long taproot intact. "Whatotherchoicedo Ihave?"Heglancedbackat thecottagebutcouldn't see theHighGregoryinthewindowanymore."We'dbettergetback."Sheputahandonhisarm."FirstwehavetotalkaboutVic."Spurpaused,considering."Wecandothatifyouwant."Hestudiedthedandelionrootasifitheldthe

answerstoallhisproblems."Weprobablyshould.Butit'shard,Comfort.WhenIwasinthehospitaltheupsidersdidsomethingtome.Akindoftreatmentthat…."Shesqueezedhisarmandthenletgo."There'sjustonethingIhavetoknow.Youwerewithhimatthe

end.Atleast,that'swhatweheard.Youreportedhisdeath."

"Itwasquick,"saidSpur."Hedidn'tsuffer."Thiswasaliehehadbeenpreparingtotellhereversincehehadwokenupinthehospital."That'sgood.I'mglad."Sheswallowed."Thankyou.Butdidhesayanything?Attheend,Imean.""Say?Saywhat?""Youhave tounderstand thatafter Imovedbackhome, I found thatVichadchanged. Iwasshocked

whenhevolunteeredfortheCorpsbecausehewasactuallythinkingofleavingLittleton.MaybeWaldentoo.He talked a lot about going to the upside." She clutched her arms to her chest so tightly that sheseemedtoshrink."Hedidn'tbelieve—youcan'ttellanyoneaboutthis.Promise?"Spurshuthiseyesandnodded.Heknewwhatshewasgoingtosay.Howcouldhenot?Nevertheless,

hedreadedhearingit.Hervoiceshrankaswell."Hehadsympathyforthepukpuks.Notfortheburning,butheusedtosaythat

wedidn'tneedtocovereverylastscrapofWaldenwithforest.Hetalkedaboutrespecting…"Withoutwarning, thenightmare leapt fromsomedarkness inhis soul like some raveningpredator. It

chasedhimthroughastandofpine;treesexplodedlikefirecrackers.Sparksbit throughhiscivviesandstunghim.Hecouldsmellburninghair.Hishair.Buthedidn'twanttosmellhishairburning.Spurwastryingdesperatelytogetbacktothebenchinthe

garden,backtoComfort,butshekeptpushinghimdeeperintothenightmare."Afterweheardhe'dbeenkilled,Iwenttohisroom…"He beckoned and for a moment Spur thought it might not be Vic after all as the anguished face

shimmeredintheheatoftheburn.Vicwouldn'tbetraythem,wouldhe?"Itwashishandwriting…."Spurhadtodancetokeephisshoesfromcatchingfire,andhehadnoescape,nochoice,notime.The

torchspreadhisarmswideandSpurstumbledintohisembraceandwithanangrywhooshtheyexplodedtogetherintoflame.Spurfelthisskincrackle….Andhescreamed.

12Chapter

Wearepaidforoursuspicionsbyfindingwhatwesuspected.–AWeekontheConcordandMerrimackrivers

Everyonesaidthathehadnothingtobeembarrassedabout,butSpurwasnonethelessdeeplyashamed.Hehadbeenrevealedasunmanly.Weakandoutofcontrol.Hehadnomemoryofhowhehadcometobelaidoutonthecouchinhisownparlor.Hecouldn'trememberifhehadweptorcursedorjustfaintedandbeendraggedlikeasackofonionsacrosstheyardintothecottage.Whenheemergedfromthenightmare,allheknewwas thathis throatwasrawandhischeekswerehot.Theotherswereallgatheredaroundhim,tryingnottolookworriedbutnotdoingaveryconvincingjobofit.Hewasn'tsurewhichhemindedmore:thatthestrangershadwitnessedhisbreakdown,orthathisfriendsandneighborshad.Whenhesatup,ageneralalarmrippledamongtheonlookers.Whenhetriedtostand,Slypressedhim

backontothecouchwithafirmgripontheshoulder.Comfortfetchedhimaglassofwater.Shewassodistraught thatherhandshookassheofferedit tohim.Hetookasip,moretosatisfy theothers thantoquenchhisownthirst.Theyneededtothinktheywerehelping,eventhoughthebestthingtheycouldhavedoneforhimthen—goawayandleavehimalone—wastheonethingtheywerecertainnottodo."MaybeIshouldcallDr.Niss."Spur'slaughwasaslightasashes."Askformymoneyback.""You'reright."ConstantNgondalitupatthethought,thenrealizedthathisenthusiasmwasunseemly."I

mean, shouldn't we notify the hospital?" he said, eyeing the tell on the parlor wall. "They may haveconcerns."SpurknewthatthedeputywouldlovetohavehimwhiskedawayfromLittleton,inthehopesthatthe

HighGregoryandtheL'ungwouldfollow.Hewonderedbrieflyifthatmightnotbeforthebest,butthenhehadbeenhumiliatedenoughthatmorning."There'snothingtoworryabout.""Good," saidNgonda. "I'm happy to hear that, Spur.Do youmind, I promised to check inwith the

Cooperativewhenwe arrived?"Withoutwaiting for a reply, Ngonda bustled across the parlor to thekitchen.Meanwhile,theHighGregoryhadsprawledontoachair,hislegsdanglingoverthearmrest.Hewas flipping impatiently through a back issue of Didactic Arts' True History Comix without reallylooking at the pages. Spur thought he looked evenmore squirmy than usual, as if he knew there wassomeplaceelsehewassupposedtobe.SlySawatdeehadparkedhimselfnexttoSpur.Hishandswerefoldedinhislap,hiseyelidswereheavyandhehummedtohimselffromtimetotime,probablythinkingaboutfishingholesandberrypatchesandmolassescookies."Iamsosorry,Spur,"saidComfort."Ijustdidn'trealize."Itwasthethirdtimeshehadapologized.She

wasn'tused toapologizingandshedidn'tdo itverywell.Meanwhileheranguishwassmotheringhim.Herfacewaspale,hermouthwasascrookedasascar.Whathadhesaidtoher?Hecouldn'trememberbutitmusthavebeenawful.Therewasaquietdesperationinhereyesthathehadneverseenbefore.Itscaredhim.Spur set the glass ofwater on the end table. "Listen, Comfort, there is nothing for you to be sorry

about."Hewas theonewhohadfallenapart,afterall."Let's just forget it,all right?I'mfinenow."Toproveit,hestoodup.Slytwitchedbutdidnotmovetopullhimbackontothecouchagain."Haveenoughairupthere,my

hastylittlesparrow?""I'm fine,"he repeated and itwas true.Time toput this by andmoveon.Change the subject. "Who

wantstoseetheorchard?Lucky?""Ifyoudon'tmind,"saidSly."Mybonesareinnomoodforahike.ButI'llmakeuslunch.""I'llcome,"saidNgonda.Comfortlookedasifshewantedtobegoff,butguiltgotthebetterofher.Theytrampedaroundthegrounds,talkingmostlyoffarmmatters.Aftertheyhadadmiredtherevived

orchard, inspected theweed-chokedgarden, toured thebarn,playedwith thepackofgosdogs that hadwanderedoverfromthebighouseandbegantofollowthemeverywhere,walkedtheboundariesofthecornfieldwhichCapehadplantedincloveruntilSpurwasreadytofarmagain,theyhikedthroughthewoodsdowntoMercy'sCreek."Wetakesomeirrigationwaterfromthecreek,buttheJoerlysowntherights,sothere'swaterinour

endofthecreekprettymuchallyearlong."Spurpointed."There'sapoolinthewoodswhereComfortandIusedtoswimwhenwewerekids.Itmightbeagoodplacetocooloffthisafternoon.""AndsoyouandSpurwereneighbors?"TheHighGregoryhadbeen trying todrawComfortoutall

morning,withoutmuchsuccess."Yougrewuptogetherlikemeandmyfriends.Iwashopingtobringthemalong butUncleConstantNgonda said therewere toomanyof them.Your family is still living on thefarm?""Momdied.Shelefteverythingtous.NowVic'sdead.""Yes,Spursaidthatyourbrotherwasabravefirefighter.Iknowthatyouareverysadaboutit,butIsee

muchmoreluckaheadforyou."Sheleanedagainstatreeandstaredupatthesky."Thereusedtobeapukpuktowninthesewoods."Spurwasitchingtomoveon."Theybuiltallalong

thecreek.It'sovergrownnow,butwecouldgolookattheruins."TheHighGregorysteppedoffthebankontoaflatstonethatstuckoutofthecreek."Andyourfather?""Heleft,"Comfortsaiddully."Whentheywerelittle,"Spursaidquickly.HeknewthatComfortdidnotlikeeventothinkabouther

father,muchlesstalkabouthimwithstrangers.ParkNenhadmarriedintotheJoerlyfamily.Notonlywashismarriage toRosie Joerly stormy, but hewas also a lonerwho had never quite adjusted to villageways."ThelastweheardParkwaslivinginFreeport."TheHighGregorypickedhiswayacrossthecreekonsteppingstones."Hewasapukpuk,no?"Hisfoot

slippedandhewindmilledhisarmstokeephisbalance."Whotoldyouthat?"IfComforthadbeenabsent-mindedbefore,shewasverymuchpresentnow."Iforget."Hecrossedbackoverthestreaminfourquickhops."Wasityou,Uncle?"Ngondalickedhislipsnervously."I'veneverheardofthisperson.""ThenmaybeitwasSpur."SpurwouldhavedenieditifComforthadgivenhimthechance."Heneverknew."Hervoicewassharp."Nobodydid."Sheconfrontedtheboy."Don'tplaygameswith

me,upsider."Hetriedtobackawaybutshepursuedhim."Whydoyoucareaboutmyfather?Whyareyouhere?""Areyoucrazy?"NgondacaughttheHighGregoryashestumbledoverarockandthenthrusttheboy

behindhim."ThisismynephewLucky.""Sheknows,friendConstant."TheHighGregorypeekedoutfrombehindthedeputy'sflairjacket.He

wasglowingwithexcitement."Spurtoldhereverything.""Oh,no."Ngondaslumped."Thisisn'tgoingwellatall.""Memsen gave us all research topics for the trip here to meet Spur," said the High Gregory. "Kai

Thousandfoldwasassignedtofindoutaboutyou.You'dlikehim;he'sfromBellweather.Hesaysthathe's

veryworriedaboutyou,friendComfort.""Tellhimtomindhisownbusiness."Spurwasaghast."Comfort,I'msorry,Ididn'tknow….""Bequiet,Spur.Theseupsidersareplayingyouforthefoolthatyouare."Hereyeswerewet."Ihardly

knewmyfatherandwhatIdidknow,Ididn'tlike.Momwouldprobablystillbealiveifshehadn'tbeenlefttomanagethefarmbyherselfallthoseyears."Herchinquivered;Spurhadneverseenhersoagitated."She toldus thatGrandmaNenwas apukpuk, but that she emigrated from thebarrens longbeforemyfatherwasbornandthathewasbroughtupacitizenlikeanyoneelse."Tearsstreakedherface."Sodon'tthinkyouunderstandanythingaboutmebecauseyoufoundoutaboutadeadwomanwhoInevermet."With that she turned and walked stiff-legged back toward Diligence Cottage. She seemed to have

shrunksincethemorning,andnowlookedsoinsubstantialtoSpurthatasummerbreezemightcarryherofflikemilkweed.Heknewtherewasmore—muchmore—theyhadtotalkabout,butfirsttheywouldhavetofindanewwaytospeaktoeachother.Asshedisappeared into thewoods,hefelta twingeofnostalgia for the lost simplicity of their youth,when life really had been as easy asChairmanWinterpromiseditcouldbe."I'mhungry."TheHighGregoryseemedquitepleasedwithhimself."Isitlunchtimeyet?"Afterhehadspunout lunch foras longashecould,Spurwasat a lossas tohow tokeep theHigh

Gregoryoutoftrouble.TheyhadexhaustedthesightsoftheLeungfarmstead,shortofgoingovertovisitwithhisfatherinthebighouse.Spurconsideredit,butdecidedtosaveitforalastresort.Hehadhopedto spend the afternoon touring the Joerly farmstead, but now thatwasout of thequestion.As theHighGregoryfidgetedabout thecottage,picking thingsupandputting themdownagain,askingabout familypix, opening cabinets and pulling out drawers, Spur proposed that they take a spin aroundLittleton inSly'struck.Arollingtour,hetoldhimself.Nostops.Thestrategyworkedformostofanhour.AtfirsttheHighGregorywascontenttositnexttoSpurinthe

backof the truckashepointedoutLittleton's landmarksanddescribed thehistoryof thevillage.Theydrove up Lamana Ridge Road to Lookover Point, from which they had a view of most of LittletonCommons.ThevillagehadbeenaThirdWavesettlement,populatedbythewinnersofthelotteryof2432.In the first years of settlement, the twenty-five founding families hadworked together to construct thebuildings of the Commons: the self-reliance school, athenaeum, communion lodge, town hall andLittleton'sfirstexchange,wheregoodsandservicescouldbeboughtorbartered.TheFirstTwenty-fivehad livedcommunally in roughbarracksuntil thebuildingson theCommonswerecompleted,and thengraduallymovedouttotheirfarmsteadsaslandwasclearedandcrewsofcarpentersputupthecottagesand barns and sheds for each of the families. TheLeungs had arrived in the SecondTwenty-five fouryearsafterward.Therailroadhadcomethroughthreeyearsafter thatandmostof thebusinessesof thefirstexchangemovedfromtheCommonsouttoShedTownbythetrainstation.Slydrovethemdowntheridgeandtheybumpedalongbackroads,pastfarmsandfieldsandpastures.TheyviewedtheTobaandParochetandVelezfarmsteadsfromasafedistanceandpassedSambusa'slumberyardattheconfluenceofMercy'sCreekandtheSwiftRiver.ThentheypulledbackontoCR22.The onlyway back toDiligenceCottagewas through theCommons. "Drive by the barracks," Spur

calledtoSlyinthecab."Wecanstretchourlegsthere,"hesaidtotheHighGregory."I'llshowyouhowthe First Twenty-five lived."One of the original barracks had been preserved as a historicalmuseumacrossthelawnfromthecommunionlodge.Itwasleftopentoanywhowantedtoviewitsdustyexhibits.Spurthoughtitthebestpossiblechoiceforastop;exceptforFounders'Day,theChairman'sbirthdayandThanksgiving,nobodyeverwentthere.TheCommonsappeared tobedesertedas theypassed thebuildingsof thefirstexchange.Thesehad

beenrenovatedintohousingforthosecitizensofLittletonwhodidn'tfarm,liketheteachersat theself-reliance school andDr. Christopoulos and some of the elders, likeGandy Joy. They sawDoll Groth

comingoutoftheathenaeum.Recognizingthetruck,shegaveSlyaneighborlywave,butwhenshespottedSpurintheback,shesmiledandbegantoclap,raisingherhandsoverherhead.ThissopleasedtheHighGregorythathestoodupandstartedclappingbackather.Spurhadtobracehimtokeephimfrompitchingoverthesideofthetruck.ButDollwastheonlypersontheysaw.Spurcouldn'tbelievehisgoodfortuneastheypulleduptothe

barracks,dustfromthegravelparkinglotswirlingaroundthem.Thewindhadpickedup,butprovidednorelieffromthemidsummerheat.Spur'sshirtstucktohisbackwherehehadbeenleaningagainstthecabofthe truck. Although he wasn't sure whether the High Gregory could sweat or not, the boy's face wascertainlyflushed.Ngondalookedasifhewereliquefyinginsidehisflair jacket.TheweatherfitSpur'slatestplanneatly.Hewashopingthataftertheyhadspentahalf-hourinthehotandairlessbarracks,hemightbeabletopersuadetheHighGregorytoreturntoDiligenceCottageforaswiminthecreek.Afterthat itwouldpracticallybe suppertime.Andafter that theycouldwatch the tell.Orhemight teach theHighGregorysomeofthelocalcardgames.SpurhadalwaysbeenluckyatFoolAll.Itwasn'tuntiltheengineoftheSawatdees'truckcoughedandrattledandfinallycutoutthatSpurfirst

heardthewhoopofthecrowd.Somethingwasgoingonattheballfieldsnexttotheself-relianceschool,justdownthehillacouplehundredmeters.HetriedtoushertheHighGregoryintothebarracksbutitwastoolate.Spurthoughttheremustbealotofpeopledownthere.Theyweremakingaracketthatwashardtomiss.TheHighGregory cocked his head in the direction of the school and smiled. "Lucky us," he said.

"We'rejustintimeforMemsen."

13Chapter

Iassociatethisday,whenIcanrememberit,withgamesofbase-ballplayedoverbehindthehillsintherussetfieldstowardSleepyHollow.–Journal,1856

"Whatisthis?"hissedNgonda.Slypulledhisfloppyhatoffandwipedhisforeheadwithit."Lookslikeabaseballgame,citypants,"

saidSly.TheL'ungwere in the field;witha sick feelingSpurcounted twelveof them inpurpleoveralls and

black t-shirts.Theymusthavearrived in the twovans thatwereparkednext to thewoodenbleachers.Besidethevanswasanarrayoftrucks,scootersandbicyclesfromthevillage.Theremusthavebeenahundred citizens sitting in the bleachers and another twenty or thirty prowling the edges of the field,cheeringthehometeamon.MatchKlizziehadopenedtherefreshmentshedandwasbarbequingsausages.GandyJoyhadsetuphercommuniontent:Spurcouldseebillowsofsweetwhitesmokewheneveroneofthevillagerspulledbacktheflap.Withmanyof theyounger baseball regulars off at the firefight, theLittletonEaglesmight havebeen

undermanned.ButSpurcouldseethatsomeold-timershadcomeoutofretirementtopullonthescarlethose.WarpKovachowas just steppingup to homebase andSpur spottedCape sittingon the strikers'bench,secondfromtheinbox.BettyChiefTwosaltshinedtheballagainstheroverallsasshepeeredinatWarp."Whereto,oldsir?"

ShewasplayingfeederfortheL'ung.Warpswungtheflatbatatbelt level toshowher justwherehewantedthefeedtocrosshomebase.

"Righthere,missy,"hesaid."Thenyoubetterduck."Theywereplayingwithjusttwofieldbases,leftandright.Thebannersfixedtothetopofeachbasepolesnappedinthestiffeningbreeze.Bettynoddedandthendeliveredthefeedunderhanded.ItwasslowandveryfatbutWarpwatcheditgo

by.ThePendragonChromlisFurciferwascatchingfortheL'ung.ShebarehandeditandflippeditbacktoBetty."What'shewaitingfor?"grumbledtheHighGregory."Thatwasperfect."HeignoredSpur'sicystare."Justasmight lowernext time,missy,"saidWarp,onceagain indicatinghispreferencewith thebat.

"Yougotthespeedright,nowhitthespot."YoungMelodyVelezwasperchedattheendofthetopmostbleacherandnoticedSpurpassingbeneath

her."He'shere!"shecried."Spur'shere!"Playstoppedandthebleachersemptiedasthevillagerscrowdedaroundhim,clappinghimontheback

and shaking his hand. In five minutes he'd been kissed more than he'd been kissed altogether in thepreviousyear."So is this another one of your upsider friends?"Gandy Joy held theHighGregory at arms length,

takinghimin."Hello,boy.What'syourname?""I'mtheHighGregoryofKenning,"hesaid."ButmyWaldennameisLucky,soI'dratherhaveyoucall

methat."Citizensnearbylaughednervously.

"Luckyyouarethen."GandyHopeNakuru touched thepinkbandanaknottedaroundhisneck."Isn't thisacutescarf?"The

HighGregorybeamed.Spurwasastonishedbyitall."Butwhotoldyouthatthey'refromtheupside?"hesaid."Howdidthey

gethere?Andwhyareyouplayingbaseball?""Memsenbroughtthem,"saidPeaceToba."Shesaidthatyou'dbealongoncewegotthegamegoing.""Andshewasright."LittleJewelParochettuggedathisshirt."Spur,shesaidyouflewinahover.What

wasitlike?""Maybenexttimeyoucanbringaguestalongwithyou?"MelodyVelezsaid,smiling.Shebrushedwith

nogreatsubtletyagainsthim.Spurglancedaboutthethinningcrowd;citizenswereclimbingbackintothebleachers."Butwhereis

Memsen?"Peace Toba pointed;Memsen had only come out onto the field as far as right basewhen Constant

Ngondahadcapturedher.Hewaswavinghisarmssofranticallythathelookedlikehemighttakeoffandflyaroundthefield.Memsentiltedherheadsothatherearwaspracticallyonhershoulder.ThenshesawSpur.Sheclickedherringsathim,aslysmileonherface.Heknewheoughttobeangrywithher,butinsteadhe felt buoyant, as if hehad just set his splashpackdownand steppedout of his field jacket.Whateverhappenednow,itwasn'thisfault.Hehaddonehisbestforhisvillage."So this was what you were keeping from me." His father was chuckling. "I knew it had to be

something.They'refine,yourfriends.Youdidn'tneedtoworry."HehuggedSpurandwhisperedintohisear."Fine,butverystrange.They'renotstayingarethey?"Hepulledback."Prosper,weneedyourbatinthisgame.Thesekidsaretough."HepointedatKaiThousandfold"Thatonehasanarmlikeafirehose.""Nothanks,"saidSpur."Butyoushouldgetbacktothegame."Heraisedhisarmsoverhisheadand

waved to the bleachers. "Thankyou all, thanks," he called to hiswell-wishers.Theyquieted down tolisten."Ifyou'reexpectingsomekindofspeech,thenyou'vegotthewrongfarmer.I'lljustsaythatI'mgladtobehomeandleaveitatthat.Allright?"Thecrowdmadeamurmurofassent."Thenplayball."Theycheered."AndgoEagles!"Theycheeredlouder."CanIplay?"saidtheHighGregory."Thislookslikefun."Hestraightenedthestrapofhisoveralls."I

canplay,can'tI?WehaveallkindsofbaseballonKenning.Butyourrulesaredifferent,right?Tellthemtome.""Whybother?"SpurwasbeginningtowonderiftheHighGregorywasplayinghimforafool."Looks

likeyou'remakingthemupasyougo."HerGrace, JacquelineKristof,putanarmaroundhis shoulder. "Theball is soft, sonogloves," she

said,assheledhimontothefield."Notagoutseither,youactuallyhavetohittherunnerwiththeball.That'scalledasting.Nofoulsandno…"As the spectators settled into their seats, Spur found his way to Ngonda andMemsen. She wasn't

wearingthestandardL'ungoveralls,butratheraplaingreensundresswithafloralprint.Shehadwashedthephosphorescentpaintoffherarmsandpulledherhairbackintoaponytail.ButifMemsenwastryingtolookinconspicuous,thenshehadfailedutterly.Shewasstillthetallestwomanontheplanet."Talktoher,"saidNgonda."Wehadanagreement….""Whichyoubroke,"saidMemsen."Whatweagreedwas that theHighGregorywouldvisitLittleton

andyou'dlethimmakewhateverluckyouaredestinedtohave.Youpromisedtogivehimtherunofthevillage—""—underSpur'ssupervision,Allworthy,"interruptedNgonda.BettyChiefTwosaltdeliveredafeedandWarpwatcheditgobyagain.Thisdidnotsitwellwiththe

L'ung."Delayofgame,oldsir,"someonecalled.Memsen turned from Ngonda to Spur. "As we were explaining to the deputy, the L'ung and I see

everything that the High Gregory sees. So we know that you've introduced him to just two of yourneighbors.Youpromisedthathecouldmeetthecitizensofthisvillagebutthenyou'vekepthimisolateduntilnow.Heneedstobewithpeople,Spur.Barnsdon'thaveluck.Peopledo.""Itwasmydecision,"saidSpur."I'lltaketherespon-sibility.""Andthiswasours."Shewavedtowardthefield."So?"Ngondasnortedindisgust."IneedtocallConcord.TheOfficeofDiplomacywillbefilingaprotest

with theForumof theThousandWorlds."He took a step away from them, then turned andwaggled afingeratMemsen."This isaclearviolationofourCovenant,Allworthy.TheL'ungwillberecalled toKenning."AstheywatchedNgondastalkoff,Warpstruckagrounderstraightbackatthefeeder.Bettystabbedatit

butittippedoffherfingersandrolledawayatanangle.LittleSenatorDowmpouncedonitbutheldthethrowbecauseWarpalreadyhadahandontherightbasestake."MaybeIshould'veintroducedtheHighGregorytoafewmorepeople."Spurwonderedifstandingtoo

closetoMemsenmightbeaffectinghisperceptions.Theveryplanetseemedtotiltslightly,asithadthatafternoonwhenheandLeafBenklemanhaddrunkawholeliterofhermother'sprizeapplejack."Butwhyareweplayingbaseball?"Memsenshowedhimher teeth in thatwayshehad thatwasn'tanything likeasmile."Tolerance isn't

somethingthatthecitizensoftheTranscendentStateseemtovalue.You'vebeentaughtthatyourwayoflifeisbetternotonlythanthatofthepukpuks,butthanthatofmostoftheculturesoftheThousandWorlds.Orhavewemisreadthetextbooks?"Spurshookhisheadgrimly."So."Shepinchedtheair."DeputyNgondawasrighttopointoutthatlandingahoveronyourCommons

might have intimidated some people. We had to find some unthreatening way to arrive, justify ourpresenceandmeetyourneighbors.Theresearchpointedtobaseballasalikelyploy.YourEagleswerechampionsofHamiltonCountyjusttwoyearsagoandsecondrunner-upintheNortheastin2498.""Aploy.""Aploytotakeadvantageofyourtraditions.Yourvillageisproudofitsaccomplishmentsinbaseball.

You'reusedtoplayingagainststrangers.Andofcourse,wehadaninvitationfromSpurLeung,theheroofthehour."LivyJayawardenahitahighflyballthatsailedovertheheadsofthemidfielders.KaiThousandfold,

playingdeepfield,racedbackandmadeanover-the-shouldercatch.MeanwhileWarphadtakenoffforleft base. In his prime, hemight havemade it, but his prime had beenwhen Spurwas a toddler.Kaiturned,setandfired;hisperfectthrowstungWarprightbetweentheshoulderblades.Doubleplay,inningover."Iinvitedyou?"saidSpur."Whenwasthatagain?""Why, in the hospital where we saved your life. You kept claiming that the L'ung would offer no

competition for your Eagles. You told Dr. Niss that you couldn't imagine losing a baseball game toupsiders,muchlessabunchofchildren.Really,Spur,thatwastoomuch.Wehadtoacceptyourchallengeonceyousaidthat.Sowhenwearrivedatthetownhall,wetoldourstorytoeveryonewemet.Withinanhourthebleacherswerefull."Spurwasimpressed."Andyouthoughtofallthissinceyesterday?""Actually,justinthelastfewhours."Shepausedthen,seeminglydistracted.Shemadealow,repetitive

pa-pa-pa-ptt. "Although there is something you should know about us," she said at last. "Of course,Deputy Ngonda would be outraged if he knew that we're telling you, but then he finds outrageeverywhere."Shestoopedtohislevelsothattheywerefacetoface."Irarelythinkallbymyself,Spur."Hetriednottonoticethatherkneesbentindifferentdirections."Mostofthetime,wethinkforme."The world seemed to tilt a little more then; Spur felt as if he might slide off it. "I don't think I

understandwhatyoujustsaid.""It's complicated." She straightened. "And we're attracting attention here. I can hear several young

womenwhisperingaboutus.Weshouldfindamoreprivateplacetotalk.Ineedyouradvice."Sheturnedandwavedtothecitizensinthebleacherswhowerewatchingthem.Spurforcedasmileandwavedaswell,andthenledherupthehilltowardtownhall."Ngondawill file his protest," she said, "and it'll be summarily rejected.We've been in continuous

contactwiththeForumoftheThousandWorlds."Herspeechbecamechoppyasshewalked."Theyknowwhatwe'redoing."Climbing thegentlehill leftherbreathless. "Not allworlds approve.Consensus ishardtocomeby.ButtheL'unghaveaplan…toopentalksbetweenyou…andthepukpuks."Sherestedahandonhisshouldertosupportherself."Isthatsomethingyouthinkworthdoing?""Maybe."Hecouldfeelthewarmthofherhandthroughthethinfabricofhisshirt."Allright,yes."He

thoughtthismustbeanotherploy."Butwhoareyou?WhoaretheL'ung?Whyareyoudoingthis?""Bepatient."Atthetopofthehillshehadtoresttocatchherbreath.Finallyshesaid,"Youspokewith

theHighGregoryaboutgosdogs?""Inthetruckthismorning.""It was at the instigation of the L'ung. Understand that we don't believe that gosdogs think in any

meaningfulsenseof theword.Perhaps theoriginalPeekay intelligence ratingwasaccurate.But if theywerefoundtobemoreintelligent, thenwecouldbringtheissueoftheirtreatmentheretotheForum.Itwould require a delicate touch to steer the debate toward the remedy the L'ung want. Tricky but notimpossible.TheForumhasnorealpowertointerveneintheaffairsofmemberworldsandyourChairmanWinterhas the right to runWaldenashepleases.Buthedependson thegoodopinionof theThousandWorlds.Whenwe'refinishedhere,theL'ungwillproposetoreturnthegosdogstoapreservewheretheycanliveintheirnaturalstate.""Butthereisnonaturalhabitatleft.Thepukpuksdestroyedit.""Ah, but ecologies can be re-created." She gestured at the lawn stretching before them, at the rose

hedgesalongitsborderandthetreesthatshadedit,theirleavestremblinginthesummerbreeze."Asyouwellknow.""Butwhatdoesagosdogpreservehavetodowiththepukpuks?""Comeawayfromthesunbeforewemelt."Memsenledhimtoabenchintheshadowofanelm.She

saggedontoit;Spurremainedstanding,lookingdownatherforachange.Iteasedthecrickinhisneck."Thepreservesetsaprecedent."Sheclickedherrings."Inorderforittobeestablished,thegrowthof

theforestmustbecontrolled,whichmeanstheTranscendentStatewillbeblockedfromspreadingacrossWalden.Upuntilnow,theCooperativehasrefusedtonegotiateonthispoint.Andthencomesthequestionofwhere toput thepreserve.Youand thepukpukswillhave tositdowntodecideonasite.Together.WithsomedelicatenudgingfromtheForum,there'snotellingwhatconversationsmighttakeplaceatsuchameeting.""Butwecan't!"Spurwipedthesweatfromhisforehead."TheTranscendentStatewasfoundedsothat

humanscouldliveapartandstaytruetoourselves.Aslongasthepukpukslivehere,we'llbeunderdirectattackfromupsiderways.""YourTranscendentStateisacontroversialexperiment."Memsen'sfacewentslackandshemadethe

pa-pa-pa-pttsoundSpurhadheardbefore."We'vealwayswonderedhowisolationandignorancecanbesuitable foundations for a human society.Doyou really believe in simplicity,Spur, or doyou just notknowanybetter?"Spurwonderedifshehadusedsomeforbiddenupsidertechtolookintohissoul;hefeltviolated."I

believeinthis."Hegestured,asshehaddone,atLittletonCommons,greenasadream."Idon'twantmyvillagetobesweptaway.Thepukpuksdestroyedthisworldoncealready.""Yes, thatcouldhappen, if it'swhatyouandyourchildrendecide,"saidMemsen."Wedon'thavean

answerforyou,Spur.Butthequestionis,doyouneedapreservelikegosdogs,orareyoustrongenoughtoholdontoyourbeliefsnomatterwhochallengesthem?""Andthis isyourplan tosaveWalden?"Hegroundhisshoe into thegrass."This is the luck that the

HighGregorycameallthiswaytomake?""Isit?"Sheleanedbackagainstthebenchandgazedupintothecanopyoftheelm."Maybeitis.""I'vebeensuchanidiot."Hewasbitter;ifshewasgoingtousehim,atleastshecouldadmitit."You

andtheHighGregoryandtheL'ungflitaroundtheupside,havinggrandadventuresandstraighteningupotherpeople'smesses."Hebegantopacebackandforthinfrontofthebench."You'relikesomekindofsuperheroes,isthatit?""TheL'unghavegatheredtogethertolearnstatecraftfromoneanother,"shesaidpatiently."Sometimes

they travel,butmostly theystaywithusonKenning.Ofcourse theyhavepoliticalpower in theForumbecauseofwho theyare,but theirpurpose isnot somuch todoas it is to learn.Then, ina fewmoreyears,thiscohortwilldisbandandscattertotheirrespectiveworldstotrytheirluck.Andwhenthetimecomesforustomarry….""Marry?Marrywho?""TheHighGregory,ofcourse.""Buthe'sjustaboy."Memsenmusthaveheardthedismayinhisvoice."Hewillgrowintohisownlucksoonenough,"she

saidcoldly."Iwaschosenthetwenty-secondMemsenbymypredecessor.Shesearchedformeforyearsacross the ThousandWorlds."With a weary groan she stood, and once again towered over him. "AMemsenistwicehonored:tobewifetooneHighGregoryandmothertoanother."Hervoicetookonadeclaiming quality, as if she were giving a speech that had been well rehearsed. "And I carry mypredecessorandtwentysoulswhocamebeforehersavedinourmemory,sothatwemayalwaysservetheHighGregoryandadvisetheL'ung."Spurwas horrified at the depth of hismisunderstanding of thiswoman. "You have dead people…

insideyou?""Notdead,"shesaid."Saved."Acrazedhonkinginterruptedthem.Atruckcareenedaroundthecornerandskiddedtoastopinfrontof

thetownhall.StarkSukulgundaflunghimselfoutofthestill-runningtruckanddashedinside.Spur stood. "Something's wrong." He started for the truck and had gotten as far as the statue of

ChairmanWinter,highonhispedestal,whenStarkburstoutofthedoorsagain.HesawSpurandwavedfrantically."Wherearetheyall?"hecried."Nobodyanswers.""Playingbaseball."Spurbrokeintoatrot."What'swrong?What?""Baseball?"Stark'seyesbulgedashe tried tocatchhisbreath."SouthslopeofLamana…burning…

everything'sburning…theforestisonfire!"

14Chapter

IwalkedslowlythroughthewoodtoFairhavencliff,climbedtothehighestrockandsatdownuponittoobservetheprogressoftheflames,whichwererapidlyapproachingmenowaboutamiledistantfromthespotwherethefirewaskindled.PresentlyIheardthesoundofthedistantBellgivingthealarm,andIknewthatthetownwasonitswaytothescene.HithertoIfeltlikeaguiltyperson.Nothingbutshameandregret,butnowIsettledthematterwithmyselfshortly,andsaidtomyself.WhoarethesemenwhoaresaidtobeownersofthesewoodsandhowamIrelatedtothem?Ihavesetfiretotheforest,butIhavedonenowrongtherein,andnowitisasifthelightninghaddoneit.Theseflamesarebutconsumingtheirnaturalfood.SoshortlyIsettleditwithmyselfandstoodtowatchtheapproachingflames.Itwasagloriousspectacle,andIwastheonlyonetheretoenjoyit.Thefirenowreachedthebaseofthecliffsandthenrushedupitssides.Thesquirrelsranbeforeitinblindhaste,andthepigeonsdashedintothemidstofthesmoke.Theflamesflashedupthepinestotheirtopsasiftheywerepowder.–Journal,1850

MorethanhalfoftheLittletonVolunteerFireDepartmentwereplayingbaseballwhenthealarmcame.They scrambled up the hill to the brick firehouse on the Commons, followed by almost all of thespectators, who crowded anxiously into the communion hall while the firefighters huddled. Normallythere would have been sixteen volunteers on call, but, like Spur,Will Sambusa, Bright Ayoub, BlissBandaranandChiefCaryMillisaphadjoinedtheCorps.CapewascurrentlyAssistantChief;hewouldhaveledthevolunteershadnothissonbeenhome.EventhoughSpurprotestedthathewasmerelyagruntsmokechaser,thevolunteers'firstactwastovotehimActingChief.Likeany small-townunit, theLittletonFireDepartment routinelyansweredcalls forhouse firesand

brushfiresandaccidentsofallsorts,buttheywereill-equippedtostopamajorburn.Theyhadjustonefire truck, an old quadwith a 3,000-liter-per-minute pump and 5,000-liter water tank. It carried fiftymetersofsix-centimeterhose,fiftymetersofboosterhose,andaten-metermechanicalladder.IftheburnwasasbigasStarkdescribed,EngineNo.4wouldbeaboutasmuchusefightingitasabroom.Spur resisted the impulse to put his team on the truck and rush out to the burn. He needed more

informationbeforehecommittedhismeagerforces.ItwouldbeatleastanhourbeforecompaniesfromneighboringvillageswouldarriveandtheCorpsmightnotgettoLittletonuntilnightfall.Capespreadamapoutonthelongtableinthefirehouseandthevolunteersstoodaroundit,hunch-shoulderedandgrim.GandyJoyglidedin,litasinglecommunionsquareandslippedoutagainastheycontemplatedwhattheburnmightdototheirvillage.TheytookturnspepperingStarkwithquestionsaboutwhathehadactuallyseen.Atfirsthetriedhisbesttoanswer,buthe'dhadashockthathadknockedbettermenthanhimoffcenter.Astheypressedhim,hegrewsullenandsuspicious.TheSukulgundaslivedwellwestoftheLeungsandhigheruptheslopeofLamanaRidge.They'dbeen

latecomerstoLittletonandpartsoftheirfarmsteadweresosteepthatthefieldshadtobeterraced.TheywereaboutfourkilometersnorthoftheCommonsattheveryendofJanuaryRoad,asteepdirttrackwithswitchbacks.Starkmaintainedthattheburnhadcomedowntheridgeathim,fromthegeneraldirectionofLookoverPointtotheeast.Atfirstheclaimeditwasmaybeakilometerawaywhenhe'dlefthisplace,

but then changed hismind and insisted that the burnwas practically eating his barn. That didn'tmakesense, since the strong easterly breeze would push the burn in the opposite direction, toward thefarmsteadsoftheEzzatsandMillisapsandeventuallytotheHerrerasandtheLeungs.Spur shivered as he imagined the burn roaring through GiGa's orchards. But his neighbors were

countingonhimtokeepthosefearsatbay."Ifwhatyou'resayingistrue,"hemused,"itmightmeanthatthisfirewasdeliberatelysetandthatsomeoneisstillouttheretryingtomaketroubleforus.""TorchesinLittleton?"LivyJayawardenalookeddubious."We'renowherenearthebarrens.""NeitherwasDoubleDown,"saidCape."OrWheelwright.""Idon'tknowabout that."StarkSukulgundapulledthecapoffhisheadandstartedtwistingit."AllI

knowisthatweoughttostoptalkingaboutwhattodoanddosomething.""Firstwehavetoknowforsurewheretheburnisheaded,whichmeansweneedtogetuptheLamana

RidgeRoad."Spurwasstrugglingtoapplywhathe'd learnedin training."If theburnhasn't jumpedtheroadandheadedbackdownthenorthslopeoftheridge,thenwecanusetheroadasafirebreakandholdthat line.Andwhen reinforcements come,we'll send themeast over the ridge to the headof the burn.That's thewaythewind isblowingeverything."Heglancedupat theothers tosee if theyagreed."Weneedtobethinkinghardaboutaneasternperimeter.""Why?"Starkwaslivid."Becausethat'swhereyoulive?It'smyhousethat—""Shutup,Stark,"saidPeaceToba."Fillyoursnootwithcommunionandgetrightwiththevillagefora

change."Noneofthethreatenedfarmsteadsthatlayinthepathoftheburntotheeastwascompletelyclearedof

trees. Simplicity demanded that citizens only cultivate asmuch of their land as they needed. FarmersacrossWaldenusedtheforestasawindbreak;keepingunusedlandintreespreventedsoilerosion.ButnowSpurwasthinkingaboutallthepineandhemlockandredcedar,needlesladenwithresinsandoils,sidebysidewiththedeciduoustreesinthewoodswherehehadplayedasaboy.AtMotuRiverhe'dseenpinetreesexplodeintoflame.Andthenthereweretheburnpilesofslashandstumpsandoldlumberthateveryfarmercollected,bakinginthesummersun."Ifthingsgowrongintheeast,wemightneedtosetourfirebreakasfarbackasBlueValleyRoad."

Spurranhisfingerdownthelineonthemap."Itwon'tbeaseffectiveabreakastheridgeroadbutwecanimprove it.Get theBandaransandSawatdees to rakeoffall the forest litterandduffon thewestside.Thendiskharrowtheentireroad.Iwanttoseeat leastathree-meter-widestripoffreshsoildowntheentirelength.""Prosper."Cape'svoicewashushed."You'renotgivinguponallofthis."Hetracedtheoutlineofthe

fourthreatenedfarmsonthemap,endingontheblacksquarethatmarkedDiligenceCottage.Spurglancedbriefly at his father, then awayagain, troubledbywhathehad seen.CapabilityLeung

looked just as desperate asStarkSukulgunda.Maybemore so, if he thought he had just heard his sonpronouncedoomonhis life'swork.For the first time inhis life,Spur feltas ifhewere the fatherandCapewastheson."No."Hetriedtoreassurehisfatherwithasmile."That'sjustourfallback.WhatI'mhopingisthatwe

cancutahandlinefromSpotPondalongMercy'sCreekallthewaydowntotheriver.It'sroughcountryanddependingonhowfasttheburnismovingwemaynothaveenoughtime,butifwecanholdthatline,wesavetheMillisaps,Joerlysandus."LeftunsaidwasthattheEzzats'farmsteadwouldbelost,evenifthisdiceystrategyworked."But right now the fire is much closer to my place than anyone else's," said Stark. "And you said

yourself,theremaybesomesuicidalmaniacjustwaitingtoburnhimselfupandtakemyhousewithhim."SpurwasannoyedatthewaythatStarkSukulgundakeptbuzzingathim.HewasmakingithardforSpur

toconcentrate."Wecouldsend the fire truckyourway,Stark,"hesaid,"but Idon'tknowwhatgood itwoulddo.Youdon'thaveanystandingwateronyourland,doyou?"

"Why?""Thetruckonlyhasa5,000-literwatertank.That'snotnearenoughifyourhousegetsinvolved.""Wecoulddropthehardsuctionlineintohiswell,"saidLivy."Pumpfromthere.""Youhaveadugwell?"saidCape."Howdeep?""Fourmeters.""We'dprobablysuckitdrybeforewecoulddoyoumuchgood,"saidCape."No,"saidSpur."He'sright.Peace,youandTennyandCerttakeNo.4uptoSukulgundas.Youcanalso

establishourwesternperimeter.Clearameter-widehandlineasfarup theridgeasyoucan.Watchfortorches.Idon'tthinkthefireisgoingtocomeyourwaybutifitdoes,beready,understand?Getonthetellandletusknowifanythingchanges.""We'llcallinwhenwegetthere,"saidPeaceasherteamscatteredtocollectgear."Livy,youandtheothersroundupasmanyasyoucantohelpwiththecreekline.Wemaywanttostart

abackfire,sokeepintouchwithmeonthehand-tell.Howmuchliquidfirehaveyougot?""Atleasttwentygrenades.Maybemore.Nofirebombsthough.""Bring gas then, you'll probably need it. Keep your people between the civilians and the burn,

understand?Andpullbackifitgetstoohot.I'velosttoomanyfriendsthisyear.Idon'twanttobeburyinganyoneelse.DiDa,youandIneedtofindawaytogetuptheridge…"Hewasinterruptedbytheroarofacrowd,whichhadgatheredjustoutsidethefirehouse.Spurfroze,

momentarilybewildered.Theycouldn'tstillbeplayingbaseball,couldthey?Thenhethoughtthattheburnmusthavechangeddirection.Ithadcareeneddowntheridgefasterthanithadanyrightto,anavalancheof fire thatwas about to incinerate theCommons and therewas nothing he could do to fight it; in thenightmare,hewasn'twearinghissplashpack.Orhisfireprooffieldjacket.Spurshuddered.Hewasn'tfittolead,todecidewhattoletburnandwhattosave.Hewasweakandhissoulwaslostindarknessandheknewheshouldn'tbeafraid.Hewasaveteranofthefirefight,butfearsqueezedhimnonetheless."Areyouallright,son?"Hisfatherrestedahandonhisshoulder.Theburnlickedatbouldersandscorchedthetreesintheforesthehadsworntoprotect."DiDa,"hewhispered,leaningclosetohisfathersonooneelsewouldhear,"whatifIcan'tstopit?""You'lldoyourbest,Prosper,"hesaid."Everyoneknowsthat."Astheyrushedoutofthefirehouse,theycouldseesmokeroilingintotheskytothenorthwest.Butthe

evil plumewasn'twhat had stunned the crowd,whichwas still pouring out of the communion hall.Ashadowpasseddirectlyoverheadand,evenintheheatofthisdisastrousafternoon,Spurwaschilled.Silently,likeamiracle,theHighGregory'shoverlandedonLittletonCommons.

15Chapter

Mengotoafireforentertainment.WhenIseehoweagerlymenwillruntoafire,whetherinwarmorcoldweather,bynightorbyday,dragginganengineattheirheels,I’mastonishedtoperceivehowgoodapurposethelevelofexcitementismadetoserve.–Journal,1850

"There'sabigdifferencebetweensurfacefireandcrownfire,"saidthePendragonChromlisFurcifertotheL'ungassembledinthebellyofthehover."Surfacefiresmovealongtheforestfloor,burningthroughtheunderstory."Shewasreadingfromnotesthatscrolleddownherforearm."Wait,what's understory again?" askedHerGrace, JacquelineKristof,whowas the youngest of the

L'ung.Memsenpinchedtheair."Youmustn'tkeepinterrupting,YourGrace.Ifyouhavequestions,querythe

cognisphereinslowtime."ShenoddedatPenny."Goahead,Pendragon.You'redoingafinejob.""Understoryisthegrass,shrubs,deadleaves,fallentrees—thatstuff.Soanyway,asurfacefirecan

burnfastorslow,depending.Butiftheflamesclimbintothecrownsofthetrees,italmostalwaysripsrightthroughtheforest.SincetheTranscendentalStatedoesn'thavethetechtostopit,Spurwillhavetoletitburnitselfout.Ifyoulookoverthere…."Thegroupclosedaroundher,craningtosee.Spur had been able to ignore Penny for the most part, although Cape kept scowling at the L'ung.

MemsenhadexplainedthatPenny'sresearchtopicforthetriptoWaldenwasforestfires.Thehoverwasnotcompletelyproofagainstsmoke.Astheyskirtedtheroilingconvectioncolumnof

smokeandburningembers,theairinsidethehoverbecametingedwiththebitterstenchoftheburn.ThisimpressedtheL'ung.Astheywanderedfromviewtoview,theywouldcalltooneanother."Here,overhere.Doyousmellitnow?Muchstrongeroverhere!"Theyhaddissolvedthepartitionsandmademostofthehulltransparenttoobservedevelopmentsinthe

burn.Justasinglethree-meter-widebandransolidfromthefrontofthedecktothebackasaconcessiontoSpurandCape;theL'ungseemedtotallyimmunefromfearofheights.SpurwasproudathowCapewashandlinghis first flight inahover,especially sincehehimself felt slightlyqueasywheneverhe lookedstraightdownthroughthedeckattheridge1,500metersbelow.From thisvantage,Spurcould seeexactlywhatwasneeded tocontain theburnand realized thathe

didn'thavetheresourcestodoit.Lookingtothenorth,hewasrelievedthattheburnhadn'tyetcrossedLamanaRidgeRoadintothewildernessonthefarslope.Barringanunforeseenwindchangeoremberslightingnewspot fires,he thoughthemightbeable tokeep theburnwithin theLittletonvalley.Butheneededdozensoftrainedfirefightersupontheridgetodefendtheroadassoonaspossible.Tothewest,hesawwheretheflameshadcomeclosetotheSukulgundas'farmstead,butnowtheburntherelookedtobe nothingmore than a surface fire thatwas already beginning to gutter out. Peace and the teamwithEngineNo.4shouldhavenotroublemoppingup.Thenhe'dmovethemontotheridge,notthatjustthreepeople andone ancient pumperwere going to be enough to beat back awall of flame twokilometerswide."Whereyouseethedarkersplotchesintheforest,thoseareevergreens,thebestfuelofall,"saidPenny.

"Iftheycatch,youcangetablowupfire,whichiswhatthathugecolumnofsmokeisabout."

Totheeastandsouth,theprospectsweregrim.TheburnhaddroppedmuchfartherdowntheridgethanSpurhadexpected.Herememberedfromhistrainingthatburnsweresupposedtotrackuphillfasterthandown,butthespreadtothenorthandsouth,upslopeanddown,lookedaboutthesame.AssoonasthefirstcrewsrespondedfromnearbyBodeWellandHighbridge,they'dhavetodeployatthebaseoftheridgetoprotecttheCommonsand

thefarmsteadsbeyondit.Theheadof theburnwas a violent crown fire racing east, beneath a chimneyofmalign smoke that

toweredkilometersabovethehover.WhenSpurhadgiventheEzzatsandMillisapspermissiontosaveasmuchas theycouldfromtheirhouses,he'd thought that they'dallhavemoretime.Nowherealizedthathe'dmiscalculated.Hereachedbothfamiliesusingthehand-tellandtoldthemtoleaveimmediately.BashEzzat was weepingwhen she said she could already see the burn sweeping down on her. Spur triedComfort'stellagaintoletherknowthatherfarmsteadwasdirectlyinthepathoftheburn,butstillgotnoanswer."DiDa,"saidSpurgently.He'dbeendreadingthismoment,eversincehe'dunderstoodthetruescope

anddirectionoftheburn."IthinkweneedtopullLivyandherpeoplebackfromthecreektoBlueValleyRoad."Hesteeledhimselfagainstanger,griefandreproach."There'snotimetoclearaline,"hewenton."Atleastnotonethatwillstopthisburn.""I think you're right," Cape said, as casually as if they were discussing which trees to prune. "It's

simple,isn'tit?"Relievedbut still anguished, he huggedhis father. "I'm sorry,DiDa."He couldn't remember the last

timetheyhadbeen thisclose,andwasnotsurprised thatCapedidnot returnhisembrace."Shouldwesend someone to the house?" he said, as he let his father go. "Have them pack some things? Papers,furniture—there'sstillalittletime.""No."Capeturnedandcuppedhishandsagainstthetransparenthullofthehover."IfIdidsomething

sillylikethat,thefarmwouldburnforsure."Heloweredhisfaceintohishandsasiftoshadetheviewfromglare.Buttheafternoonsunwasadimmemory,blottedoutbytheseethingcloudsofsmoke.Spur shut his eyes then, so tight that for a moment he could feel muscles on his temple quiver.

"Memsen,"hesaid,hisvoicecatchinginhisthroat,"canyouputusdownbytheSawatdees'house?"Spur got more resistance from Livy than he had from his father. It took him almost ten minutes to

convinceher that trying todiga firebreakalongMercy'sCreekwasnotonly futilebutalsodangerous.When itwasover,he feltdrained.Ashe floppedbesideCapeontooneof thechairs thatMemsenhadcausedtoflowfromthedeckofthehover,thehand-tellsquawked.Hegroaned,anticipatingthatLivywasbackwithanewargument."ProsperLeung?"saidawoman'svoice."Speaking.""I'mCommanderDoAdoula,FourthEngineers.MysquadwasonCRinLongwalkbutweheardyou

haveasituationthereandwe'reonourway.WecanbeinLittletoninhalfanhour.Iunderstandyou'reinahover.Whatdoyousee?"Thehandoverofcommandwassubtlebutswift.CommanderAdoulastartedbyaskingquestionsand

endedbygivingorders.Shewascoming in four light truckswith thirty-seven firefightersbutnoheavyequipment.SheapprovedofSpur'sdecisiontostoptheburnatBlueValleyRoad,andsplitherforceintwo while they were speaking, diverting half to the ridge and half to help Livy on Blue Valley. Shedirected the local firefighters from Bode Well and Highbridge to dig in on the south to protect theCommonsandrequestedthatSpurstayinthehoverandbehereyesinthesky.When they finished talking, Spur slumped back against his chair. He was pleased that Adoula had

ratifiedhisfirefightingplans,relievedtobenolongerincharge."TheCorps?"saidCape.

"FourthEngineers."Hefoldedthehand-tell."TheywereonCRinLongwalk.""Thatwaslucky.""Lucky,"heagreed.HespottedtheHighGregorywhisperingtoMemsen."Howareyoudoing,DiDa?""Youknow,I'venevervisitedtheocean."Capeblinkedashestaredthroughthehullattheforestbelow.

"Yourmotherwantedmetotakeherthere,didIevertellyouthat?""No.""Shealwaysusedtoaskifweownedthefarmorifthefarmownedus."Hemadealowsound,part

sighandpartwhistle."Iwonderifshe'sstillinProvidence."Spurdidn'tknowwhattosay.Capefrowned."Youhaven'tbeenincontactwithher?""No.""Ifyoueverdospeaktoher,wouldyoutellme?""Sure."Henoddedandmadethewhistlingsoundagain."Aburn thisbig isdifferent fromasurface fire," saidPenny."It's sohot that itmakesakindof fire

weathercalledaconvectioncolumn.Insidethecolumn,bubblesofsuperheatedairaresurgingup,onlywecan'tseethat.Butontheoutside,thecoolersmokyedgesarepouringbacktowardtheground.""Yes,yes."TheHighGregorypointed,clearlyexcited."Watchatthetop,totheleftoftheplume.It's

likeit'sturningitselfinsideout.""Awesome," said Kai Thousandfold. "Do you remember those gas sculptures we played with on

Blimminey?""Butthat'sgoingtobeaproblemforSpurandhisfirefighters,"saidPenny."It'slikeachimneyshooting

sparksandembershighintotheatmosphere.Theymightcomedownanywhereandstartnewfires.""Isanyonegoingtodie?"saidSenatorDowm."Wehopenot,"Memsensaid."Spurisdoinghisbestandhelpisontheway.""Don'tyouwishshe'dshutup?"mutteredCape,leaningintoSpur."Thisisn'tsomesillyclass.They're

watchingourlifeburndown.""They'refromtheupside,DiDa.Wecan'tjudgethem.""Andhowdoessheknowsomuchabouthowwefightfires?Lookather,she'sjustakid."ThathadbeenbotheringSpurtoo,anditwasgettingharderandhardertoputoutofhismind.Whenhad

theL'unghadtimetodoallthisresearch?TheyhadarrivedthedayafterhehadfirstspokentotheHighGregory.HadtheyknownaheadoftimethattheywerecomingtoWalden?Wasallthispartoftheplan?"Memsensaysthey'respecial,"hesaid."Spur."TheHighGregorysignedforhimtocomeover."Cometakealookatthis."HecrossedthedecktowheretheL'ungweregathered.Thehoverhaddescendedtoathousandmeters

andwascruisingovertheJoerlyfarmstead."There,"saidtheHighGregory,pointingtothewoodstheyhadtrampedthroughthatmorning,amixof

hardandsoftwoods:birchandoak,hemlockandpine.Inthemidstofit,threetendrilsofgraysmokewereclimbingintothesky."Thosearespotfires,"saidPenny."Causedbyfallingembers."Spurdidn'tbelieveit.He'dbeenworriedaboutspottingallalongandhadswungfromsidetosidein

thehoverlookingforthem.Buthe'ddecidedthatnotenoughtimehadpassedforembersfromtheburntostartrainingdownonthem.Theconvectioncolumntoweredatleastfivekilometersabovethevalley.Hestaredattheplumesofsmokerisingfromthewoodsofhischildhoodwithsickeningdread.Fromrighttoleft theywereprogressively smaller.Three fires in a series,whichmeant theyhadprobablybeen set.Whatwashisdutyhere?HewasprettysurethathisscooterwasstillinthebarnatDiligenceCottage.Hecoulduseittogetawayfromtheburninplentyoftime.Capecouldmonitortheprogressoftheburnfor

CommanderAdoula.Besides,ifsomeonewasdowntheresettingfires….Someone."Memsen,"hesaid."I'vechangedmymind."ThehoverglidedtoastopabovetheunusedfieldnearesttoDiligenceCottage.Spursteppedbackas

guardrailsflowedoutofthedeckaroundtheramp,whichslowlyextendedlikeametaltonguetowardthesweetcloverbelow.Cape,whowasstandingnexttoSpur,wassmiling.Whatdidhisfatherthinkwassofunny?"Wecanstayhereandwaitforyou,"saidMemsen."Ifyouhaveaproblem,we'llcome.""Not through those treesyouwon't," saidSpur, "No,you takeCapebackup sohe can report to the

commander."Thehovershudderedinthewindstormcausedbytheburn."Besides,it'sgoingtogetroughherebeforetoomuchlonger.Youneedtoprotectyourselves.""Thisisexciting."HerGrace,JacquelineKristofclappedherhands."Areyouexcited,Spur?"MemsenturnedthegirlaroundandgaveherahardshovetowardtherestoftheL'ung."DiDa?"Spurwantedtohughisfatherbutsettledforhandinghimthetell."Whenthecommandercalls,

justexplainthatIthinkwemighthaveatorchandI'monthegroundlooking.Thenjustkeeptrackoftheburnforher.""Yes."Hisfatherwasgrinningbroadlynow."I'mready.""Good.Memsen,thanksforyourhelp.""Gosafely."Sheclickedherrings.SpurheldouthishandtotheHighGregorybuttheboydodgedpastitandembracedhiminstead.Spur

wastakenabackwhenhefelttheHighGregory'skissonhischeek."Icanseemuchmoreluckforyou,friendSpur,"hemurmured."Don'twasteit."Thehotwindwasanimmediateshockafterthecoolinteriorofthehover.Itblewgustyandconfused,

whippingSpur'shairandpickingathisshortsleeves.Spurpausedatthebottomoftheramptoconsiderhisnextmoveandgatherhiscourage.Thepillarofsmokehadsmotheredtheafternoonsun,sinkingthelandintonightmarishanduntimelygraytwilight."Niceweatherwe'rehaving,"saidCape."DiDa,what?"Hespunaround,horrified."Getbackupthere."Capesnappedhimamocksalute."Sincewhendoyougivetheordersonthisfarm,son?""Butyouhaveto,youcan't…."Hefeltlikeafoolishlittleboy,caughtbyhisfatherpretendingtobea

grownup."Someonehastotalktotheground.Thecommanderneedstoknowwhat'shappeningwiththeburn.""Igavethetelltoyourknow-so-muchfriend,Penny.She'lltalkAdoula'searoff."Therampstartedtoretract."WhatIhavetodoistoodangerous,DiDa."Spur'sfacewashot."You'renotcoming,understand?""Wasn'tplanningto."Capechuckled."Neverenteredmymind."Spurwatchedinhelplessfuryasthehatchclosed."Thenjustloadwhateveryouwantintothetruckand

takeoff.You'vegotmaybetwentyminutesbeforethingsgethothere."Thehoverrosestraightupandawayfromthefieldbutthenpaused,adarkspeckinanangrysky."Seewhatyou'vedone?"Spurgroaned."Don'tworry.They'llrunbeforetoolong."Capeclappedhimontheback."Idon'tknowaboutyou,but

Ihavethingstodo.""DiDa, areyou…?"Spurwasuncertainwhether he should leaveCapewhile hewas in thismanic

mood."Becareful."CapabilityRogerLeungwasnotamanknownforhissenseofhumor,buthelaughednow."Prosper,if

wewerebeingcareful,we'dbeupthereintheskywithyourstrangelittlefriends."Hepointedintothewoods."Timetotakesomechances,son."

Heturnedandtrottedofftowardthebighousewithoutlookingback.Spurknewthesewoods.HeandVicandComforthadspenthoursinthecoolshadepretendingtobe

piratesorskantlingsoraliensorfairies.TheyplayedqueenandcastleinthepukpukruinsandpretendedtobemembersofMorobe'soriginalcrew,exploringastrangenewworldforthefirsttime.Theycutpathstosecrethideoutsandbuiltlean-tosfromhemlockboughsand,whenVicandSpurwereeleven,theyevenerectedaramshackletreehousewithwallsandaroof,althoughCapemadethemtakeitdownbecausehesaiditwastoodangerous.Spurhadbeenkissedforthefirsttimeinthattreehouse:Inacontestofsiblinggrossout,Vichaddaredhisbigsistertokisshisbestfriend.Comfortgotthebestofit,however,becauseherbackdarewasthatVichadtokissSpur.Ashepulledbackfromthekiss,VichadpunchedSpurinthearmsoharditleftabruise.ThewoodsweredarkandunnaturallyquietashepaddeddownthepaththatledpastBearRockandthe

Throneof theSpruceKing.Spurheardnobirdsongordroneofbugs. Itwasas if the trees themselveswerelisteningforthecrackleoffire.Whenhefirstsmelledsmoke,hestoppedtoturnslowlyandsniff,tryingtoestimatewhereithadcomefrom.Aheadandtothenorthwashisbestguess.ThatmeantitwastimetocutoffthepathandbushwhacksouthacrosstheGreatGosdogSwamp,whichhadneverbeenverygreatandalwaysdriedupinthesummer.Hisplanwastostrikeoutinthedirectionofthesmallestofthethreefireshehadseenfromthehover.Heknewhewasgettingclosewhenitstartedtosnowfire.Mostofwhatfloateddownwasash,butinthemixweresparksandburningembersthatstungthebare

skinof his arms and face.Hebrushed ahand throughhis hair and ran.Not in a panic— just tokeepembersfromstickingtohim.Tohisrighthecouldseetheglowofatleastoneofthefires.Andyes,nowhecouldhearthedistantcrackandwhooshheknewalltoowell.Theburnwasworkingalongtheforestfloor,hewassureofthat.Crownfiresoundedlikearunawaytrain.Ifhewereanywherenearone,he'dbedeafenedand thenhe'dbedead.Spurfinallyescaped theashfallafterseveralminutesofdodgingpasttreesatspeed.Hehunchedovertokneadthestitchinhisside,thenpressedon.Thewindhadpickedupandnowwasblowingwest,noteast.Hethoughtitmustbeanindraft.Theburn

thatwascrashingdownon themhad tosuckair inhugegulps fromeverydirection inorder tosupportitself.Maybethewindshiftwouldworkintheirfavor.Awestwindwouldpushtheseoutlyingspotfiresbacktowardtheburnitself.Ifthelineofbackfirewaswideenough,itmightactuallychecktheadvanceoftheburnwhenthetwomet.Ofcourse,itwouldhavetoscorchacrossthebestpartsoftheMillisapandJoerlyfarmsteadsfirst.Inthegatheringdarkness,Spurdecidedtostarttrottingagain.Itwastakingtoolongtoskirtaroundthe

last fire toMercy'sCreek.And unless he saw something soon, hewas turning back.He had to leavehimselfenoughtimetogetaway.Andhewantedtomakesurehisfatherhadn'tdoneanythingcrazy.Intent on not trippingover a stoneor root, Spur never saw thewindblown curtain of smokeuntil it

closedaroundhim.Hespunaround,disoriented.Hehadbeenpantingfromrunning,sohisnoseandmouthandlungsfilledimmediately.Itwasliketryingtobreathecotton.Hiseyeswenttearyandtheworldwasreducedtoawaterydissolve.HadhebeenoutwithGoldSquad,hewouldhavebeenwearinggoggles,ahelmetandabreather.Butherehewaspracticallynaked,andthesmokewaspervasiveandsmothering.Hewascoughingsohardhecouldtastethetangofbloodandthenhisthroatclosedandheknewhewasabouttochoketodeath.Inapanic,hehurledhimselfflatagainsttheforestfloor,desperatelysearchingfortheshallowlayerofbreathableairthattheysaidsometimesclungtotheground.Astumppokedathissidebut as he laid his cheek against the mat of twigs and papery leaves, he found cooler air, rank butbreathable.Hetriedtofillhisachinglungs,coughedupmucusandblood,thentriedagain.Spurdidn'tknowexactlyhowlonghelaythere,butwhenhecametohimselfagain,thehazeofsmoke

had thinned togauzeandheknewhehad takenenoughchances.Hehad learned thehardwayatMotuRiverthathewasnohero.Whywasheatitagain?Nomore;gettothecottage,getonthescooterandgetasfarawayfromfireaspossible.Hepushedhimselfuponhandsandknees,coughedandspat.Hisnose

feltasifsomeonehadpulledbarbedwirethroughit.Hesatbackonhisheels,blinking.Itwasn'tuntilhebrushedattheleaflitteronhisfacethatherealizedhe'dbeencrying.Whenhefinallystood,hefelttottery.Hegrabbedasaplingtosteadyhimself.Thenheheardatwigsnapandtherustleoffoliagebeingparted.Heduckedbehindabeechtreethatwasbarelywiderthanhewas.Comfortcametrudgingtowardhim,herfacehard,eyesglassy.Onelooktoldhimeverything.Shehad

changedoutoftheginghamdressintoapairofbaggyworkpantsthatlookedliketheymusthavebelongedtoVic.Over a smudged and dirty t-shirt, shewore a crude burlap vest towhichwere attached threeliquid-fire grenades.Theybumped against her chest as she approached.She lookedweary, as if she'dbeencarryingaweightthathadpushedhertotheverylimitofherstrength.Hehadthoughttoleapoutandoverwhelmherwhenshepassed,butshespottedhimwhenshewasstill

adozenmetersaway,andfroze.Hesteppedfrombehindhistree,hishandsheldinfrontofhim."Iwon'thurtyou,"hesaid.Intheinstanthesawmindlessanimalpanicinhereyes,hethoughthermorealienthananyupsider.He

hadspookedher.Thensheturnedandsprintedaway.Spurranafterher.Hewasn'tthinkingabouttheburnorhisvillageorsimplicity.Heran.Hedidn'thave

time to be either brave or afraid.He ran because he had loved thiswoman once and because he hadwatchedherbrotherdie.Asagirl,Comforthadalwaysbeenthenimblestofthethreeofthem.Inanopenfield,Vicwouldhave

caught her, but scooting past trees and ducking under low branches, Comfortwas faster than any twosquirrels.Afteracoupleofminutesofpursuit,Spurwaswinded.Hewasn'texactlysurewheretheywereanymore.Headedtowardthecreek,heguessed.Ifshethoughtshecouldcrossoverandtakerefugeinherownhouse,shetrulywascrazy.Suicidal.Whichmadehimpickupthepace,despitehisfatigue.Heransohardhethoughthisheartmightbreak.Shehadalmostreachedthecreekwhenthechaseendedabruptly.Comfortgotreckless,cutatreetoo

closeandclippeditinstead.Theimpactknockedoneofthegrenadeslooseandspunherhalfaround.ShewenttoherkneesandSpurleaptather.Butshekickedherselfawayandheskiddedpastandcrashedintoatangleofsummersweet.Bythetimehegottohiskneesshewasshowinghimoneofthegrenades.Hecouldseethatshehadflippedthesafetyandthatherfingerwasontheigniter."Stopthere,"shesaid.Spurwasbreathlessandalittledizzy."Comfort,don't.""Toolate."Sheblewastrandofdarkhairoffherface."Ialreadyhave."Hestood,onceagainholdinghishandswhereshecouldseethem."What'sthisabout,Comfort?""Vic,"shesaid."It'smostlyaboutVicnow.""He'sgone.There'snothingyoucandoforhim.""We'll see."Sheshivered,despite theheat."Itwasmyfault,youknow.Iwas theonewhorecruited

him.Buthewasjustsupposedtopassinformation."Hervoiceshook."Theymusthavebulliedhimintobecomingatorch.Ikilledhim,Spur.Ikilledmybrother.""Listentome,Comfort.Hewasn'tatorch.Itwasanaccident."Thehandholdingthegrenadetrembledslightlybutthensteadied."That'snotwhatyousaidthismorning

when youwere off your head." She gave him a pitying look. "You said you tried to save him. That Ibelieve."Hetookahalf-steptowardher."ButhowdoesithelpanyonetosetfiretoLittleton?"Anotherhalf-step.

"Toourfarms?"Shebackedawayfromhim."Theycouldstopthis,youknow.Yourupsiderfriends.Theycouldforce

theCooperative to settle, putpressureon JackWinter todowhat's right.Except theydon't really careaboutus.Theycometowatch,buttheynevergetinvolved."Herlaughwaslowandscattered."They'reinvolvednow.Ihopethatlittlebratisscaredofdying."

"Buttheydocare."Heheldhisarmstighttohissides;otherwisehewouldhavebeenwavingthemather."Memsenhasaplan."Spurthoughthemightyetsaveher."Youhavetobelieveme,Comfort.Therearegoingtobetalkswiththepukpuks.""Right."Hermouthtwisted."Andyoudidn'tseeVictorchhimself.""Besides,didyoureally thinkyoucouldburnthemup?TheHighGregoryissafe,Comfort.Memsen

and the L'ung. Their hover came for us. That's how I got here so fast. They're in the air," he pointedbackwardoverhisshoulder,"waitingformeoverthecottage."Whenhesawhergazeflickupandawayfromhim,helaunchedhimself.Hegrabbedatthearmwiththe

grenade. They twirled together in a grotesque pirouette. Then, unable to check his momentum, Spurstumbledandfell.Comfortsteppedawayfromhim.Sheshookherheadonce.Shepressedtheigniteronthegrenade.Itexplodedintoafireball thatshotouttwolongstreamsofflameinoppositedirections.Onesoared

highintothetrees,theothershotdownattheforestfloorandgatheredinablazingpuddleatherfeet.Shescreamedasthegrenadefellfromhercharredhand.Greattonguesofflamelickedupherlegs.Herpantscaughtfire.Hersingedhaircurledintonothingness.Spurscreamedtoo.Seeingitallhappenalloveragainwasworsethananynightmare.WhenVichadset

theliquidfirebomboff,hehadbeeninstantlyengulfedinflame.Spurhadtriedtoknockhimdown,hopingtorollhisfriendontothegroundandputthemercilessfireout.ButVichadshovedhimaway.Withhisclothes,hisarmsinflames,VichadfoundthestrengthtosendSpursprawlingbackward.WhichsavedSpur'slifewhenthesecondbombwentoff.Butthiswasn'tMotuRiverandVicwasdead.Comfort,hisComforthadonlygrenades,designedtoset

backfires,notbombsdesignedbypukpukterrorists.Thelowerhalfofherbodyhadbeensoakedinliquidfireandwasburningbuthecouldseeherface,herwild,sufferingeyes,hermouthaslashofscreechingpainandthatlastgrenadestillbumpingagainstherchest.Spurflewatherandrippedtheunexplodedgrenadefromthevest.Hesweptherupinhisarms,taking

herweighteasilywithamadstrength,andracedtowardthecreek.Hehadthecrazythoughtthatifheranfastenough,hewouldbeabletostayaheadofthepain.Heknewhewasburningnowbuthehadtosaveher.HehadneverhadachancewithVic;takesomechances,hisfatherhadsaid,andtheHighGregoryhadwarnedhimnot towastehis luck.But thepainwas too fast, itwascatchingup tohim.Comfort'sscreamsfilledhisheadandthenhewasflying.Hesplasheddownontopofherinthecoolwaterandshedidn'tstrugglewhenheforcedherunder,countingone, two, three,four,five,andheyankedherupandscreamed at her to breathe, breathe, andwhen she choked and gasped, he thrust her down again, two,three,four,fiveandwhenhepulledherupagainshewaslimp;hispoorburnedComforthadeitherfaintedawayordiedinhisarmsbutatleastshewasn'tonfireanymore.Neitherofthemwas.

16Chapter

Thelightwhichputsoutoureyesisdarknesstous.Onlythatdaydawnstowhichweareawake.–Walden

In the dream, Spur sits in the kitchen ofDiligenceCottagewithComfort,who iswearing the jade-colored pajamas. There are pies everywhere. Apple and cherry pies are stacked on the counters andacrossthetable.Blackberry,elderberryandblueberrypiesarelineduponthenewoakflooragainstthewallwithitsmorningglorywallpaperthatComfortorderedallthewayfromProvidence,whichiswhereSpur'smotherlives.Maybe.Heshouldfindout.Comforthassetfiestapearandpeachsurprisepiesontopoftherefrigeratorandlaidouttherhubarbpiestwotoachair.WhateverelsepeopleinLittletonsayabouther,everyoneagreesthatComfortmakesthebestpumpkinpiesanywhere.Inthedream,thepiesareheridea.Shehasmadeenoughpietolasthimtherestofhislife.Hewillneeditifshegoes.Inthedream,though, it'snotcertain thatshe is leavingandhe'snotsurehewantsher to.Besides, shecertainly isn'tgoingtocatchthetrainbacktoLongwalkinthosepajamas.Theysliderightoffwhenyoutugatthem,thesmoothfabricslidinglightlyagainstherskin.Inthedreamshethreadsherwayaroundastrawberrypiesoshecankisshim.Atfirstherkissislikeapromise.Afterakisslikethis,heshouldkickopenthebedroomdoorand throwback thecovers.But thekissends likeaquestion.And theanswer isno,Spurdoesn'twantthiswomantobeunhappyanymorebecauseofhim.Hedoesn'twanttodryhertearsor…."Enoughsleeping,son."Asharpvoiceslicedthroughhisdream."Wakeupandjointheworld."Spurblinked,thengaspedindisappointment.Itwasn'tfair;hedidn'tgettokeepComfortorthepie.The

strangeroomhewasinseemedtobeahugebaywindowfilledwithsunlight.Initwasascatterofdarkshapes,oneofwhichwasmoving.Acoldhandpressedagainsthisforehead."38.2degrees,"saidthedocbot."Butthenalittlefeveristobeexpected.""Dr.Niss?"saidSpur."I'mneverhappytoseerepeatcustomers,son."ThedocbotshinedpinlightsintoSpur'seyes."Doyou

knowwhereyouare?Youwerealittlewoozywhenwepickedyouup."Helickedhislips,tryingtorecall."Thehospital?""AllworthyMemsen'shover.Openyourmouthandsayahh."Thedocbotbrusheditsmedfingeracross

Spur'stongue,leavingawaxyresiduethattastedlikemotoroil."Thehover?"TherewassomethingimportantthatSpurcouldn'tquiteremember."Buthowdidyouget

here?""I'mon call, son," said the docbot. "I canbe anywhere there's a bot.Although this isn'tmuchof an

implementation.Feelstwosizestoosmall."Spurrealizedthenthatthisdocbotwasdifferentfromtheoneatthehospital.Itonlyhadtwogripper

armsanditseyewassetontopofitsheadplate.Whatdidhemean,repeatcustomers?Thenthememoryoftheburnwentroaringthroughhishead."Comfort!"Spur tried tositupbut thedocbotpushedhimbackdown."Issheallright?""Stillwithus.We'vesavedherfornow.Butwe'lltalkaboutthatafterwelookatyourburns.""HowlonghaveIbeenhere?Didtheystoptheburn?"

ThedocbotreachedbehindSpur'sneck,untiedthehospitalgownandpulledittohiswaist."Ikeptyoudownalllastnightandthebetterpartoftodaytogiveyourgraftsachancetotake."Thenewsetofburnsran in rough stripes across his chest. There was a splotch like a misshapen handprint on top of hisshoulder."You'llbeonpainblockersfor thenextfewdays—theycanpokeholes inyourmemory,sodon't worry if you forget how to tie your shoes." The docbot flowed warm dermslix onto the grafts."Dermalregenerationjust13percent,"itmuttered."Theburn,whatabouttheburn?""Yourpeoplehave itunder control, according to that littlePendragongirl. Iguess there's still some

moppinguptodo,butatleastthosekidsarefinallysettlingdown.Theywerebouncingoffthewallsalllastnight."Hepulledthegownbackup."You'llbefineson.Juststopplayingwithfire."Spurwasalreadyswinginghislegsoffthebedashefumbledwiththetiesofthegown.Butwhenhe

wenttostand,thedeckseemedtofallawaybeneathhisfeet."Whoops."Thedocbotcaughthim."Anothersideeffectofpainblockersisthatthey'lltiltyoursenseof

balance."Heeasedhimbackontothebed."You'regoingtowantsomeonetohelpyougetaroundfornow.Thedocbottwistedoffitsmedfingeranddroppeditinthesterilizer."I'vegotjustthepartyforyou.WaithereandI'llsendhimin."ThedocbothadscarcelypoppedoutoftheroomwhentheHighGregorycameburstingin,pushinga

wheelchair.TheentirebubblewallcollapsedmomentarilytorevealtheL'ung,whostartedwhoopingandapplaudingforSpur.Memsenslippedinjustasthewallreformed."Youare thecraziest, luckiest,bravestpersonIknow."TheHighGregorywaspracticallysqueaking

withexcitement."Whatwereyouthinkingwhenyoupickedherup?Wewerecheeringsoloudwethoughtyoucouldprobablyhearusdownthere.Icouldn'tsleepallnight,justthinkingaboutit.DidyouheartheL'ungjustnow?Itaughtthemtoclaphandsforyou.Here,haveaseat."SpurallowedMemsenandtheHighGregorytohelphiminto thechair,althoughhewascertain they

weregoingtodrophim.Heshuthiseyes,countedtothreeandwhenheopenedthemagainthecabinhadstoppedchasingitstail."HowdoyouknowwhatIdid?""Wewatched,"saidMemsen."Fromthemomentyousteppedofftheramp,ourspybugswereonyou.

TheHighGregoryisright.Wewereverymoved.""Youwatched?"Hefelthischeeksflush."Icould'vebeenkilled.""Watchisallwe'resupposedtodo,"saidMemsen,"accordingtoyourcovenant.""ButMemsensaidwecouldn'tjustleaveyouafteryoujumpedintothewaterwithher,"saidtheHigh

Gregory."Sowemoweddownsomeforesttogettoyou,pulledthetwoofyououtofthecreekandqicedDr.NissintoabotthatBettyTwosaltmade."HewheeledSpurtowardthehullsohecouldseetheview."She'sgood.Shewonaprizeforherbotsonce.""AndComfort is all right?"Spur glancedbackover his shoulder atMemsen. "That'swhatDr.Niss

said.""Saved,"saidMemsen,clickingherringstogether."Wewereabletosaveher."TheHighGregoryparkedthewheelchairasneartothehullashecouldget,andsetthebrake.Hemade

thedecktransparenttoo,sotheycouldseemoreofthevalley."It'shuge,Spur,"hesaid,gesturingthroughthehullattheremainsoftheburn."I'veneverseenanythinglikeit."TheywerepassingoverMercy'sCreekheadedfortheJoerlys,althoughhescarcelyrecognizedtheland

beneath themashe surveyed thedamage.The firesComfort had startedmust havebeen suckedby theindraftbacktowardtheburnasSpurhadhoped,creatingabackfiredbarriertoitsprogress.ThebackfireandtheheadoftheburnmusthavemetsomewherejusteastoftheJoerlys.Comfort'shouse,barnandallthe shedshadburned to their foundations.Farther to thewest, theMillisapandEzzat farmsteadswerealsoobliterated.AndmorethanhalfofLamanaRidgewasawastelandofblackenedspikesrisingoutofgray ash. Wisps of white smoke drifted across the ravaged land like the ghosts of dead trees. But

dispersed through the devastation were inexplicable clumps of unscathed forest, mostly deciduoushardwood.Spurwasrelievedtoseeablue-greencrownofforesttothenorthalongthetopoftheridge,wheretheCorpsmusthavebeatentheburnback."Whatabouttheeast?"saidSpur."Wheredidtheystopit?"Butthehoverwasalreadyturningandhisviewshifted,firstsouth,wherehecouldseethesteepleof

thecommunionhallontheCommonsthensoutheastwhereCR22slicedathinlinethroughintactforest.TheHighGregorywaswatchinghim,hisyelloweyesalightwithanticipation."What?"saidSpur,irkedtobeputtingonashowforthisfidgetyupsider."Whatareyoustaringat?""You,"saidtheHighGregory."There'ssomuchluckrunninginyourfamily,Spur.Youknowwetriedto

pickyourfatherupafterwegotyou,buthewouldn'tcome,eventhoughwetoldhimyouwerehurt.""Hewasstillthere?Thatoldidiot.Isheallright?""He'sfine."TheHighGregorypattedSpur'shand."Hesaidhewasn'tgoingtogivehisfarmupwithout

a fight.Hehadallyourhosesout.Hehad thisgreat line—Ican't remember itexactly."He looked toMemsenforhelp."Somethingaboutspitting?"Memsenwaitedasabenchbegantoformfromthedeck."Yourfathersaidthatif thepumpgaveout,

he'dspitattheburnuntilhismouthwentdry."Spur had raisedhimself out of thewheelchair, craning to see as the farm swung intoview.Thebig

house,thebarns,thecottagewerealluntouched.Buttheorchards…."He started his own backfire." Spur sank back onto the seat. Over half the trees were gone: the

MacintoshandGoRedsandPippinswerecharredskeletons.ButatleastCapehadsavedtheAlumarsandtheHuangsandtheGalas.AndGiGo'streesbythecottage,allthosefoolishMacouns."Thewindhadchangeddirection."Memsensaton thebenchfacingSpur."Whenwearrived,hehad

justknockedahole in thegas tankofyour truckandsaidhecouldn't stop to talk.Hewasgoingdrivethroughhisorchardandthensetthebackfire.Wethoughtitseemeddangeroussoweputspybugsonhim.Butheknewexactlywhathewasabout."SheshowedSpurherteeth."He'sabraveman.""Yes,"musedSpur,althoughhewonderedifthatweretrue.Maybehisfatherjustlovedhisapplesmore

thanhelovedhis life.Spurfelt thehoveraccelerate thenandthegroundbelowbegantoraceby.TheyshotovertheCommonsandheadedwestinthedirectionofLongwalk."Wewatchedallnight,"saidtheHighGregory,"justlikeyourfathertoldus.MemsenmadePennylet

everyonehaveaturntalkingtoCommanderAdoulaonthetell.Thefirewassoawesomeinthedark.Weflewthroughitagainandagain."TheHighGregory'senthusiasmcontinuedtoannoySpur.Threefarmsteadsweregoneandhisownorchardsdecimated,but thisboy thoughthewashavingan

adventure."Youdidn'toffertohelp?Youcould'vedroppedsplashontheburn,maybediverteditfromthehouses.""Wedidoffer,"saidMemsen."Weweretoldthatupsidersareallowedtorenderassistanceinthedeep

forestwhereonlyfirefighterscanseeus,butnotinplainsightofavillageortown.""MemsenisintroubleforlandingthehoverontheCommons."TheHighGregorysettledbesideheron

thebench."Wehaven'teventoldanyoneyetaboutwhatwedidforyoubythecreek.""So."Memsen held out her hand to him, fingers outspread. "We've been called back toKenning to

answerforouractions.""Really?"Spurfeltrelievedbutalsovaguelydisappointed."Whenwillyougo?""Now,actually."Herringsglitteredinthesunlight."WeaskedDr.Nisstowakeyousowecouldsay

goodbye.""ButwhowilltakeComfortandmetothehospital?""We'll be in Longwalk in a fewmoments. There's a hospital in Benevolence ParkNumber 2."Her

fingersclosedintoafist."ButComfortwillbecomingwithus."

"What?"Despitehimself,Spurlurchedoutofthewheelchair.Hetottered,thecabinspun,andthenextthingheknewbothMemsenandtheHighGregorywereeasinghimbackdown."Why?"Hetookadeepbreath."Shecan't.""Shecan'tverywellstayinLittleton,"saidtheHighGregory."Herfarmisdestroyed.You'regoingto

havetotelleveryonewhostartedtheburn.""Am I?"He consideredwhether hewould lie to protect her.After all, he had lied for her brother.

"She'stoldyoushewantstodothis?Letmetalktoher.""That'snotpossible."Memsenpinchedtheair."Whynot?""Doyouwanttocomewithus,Spur?"saidtheHighGregory."Youcould,youknow.""No."Hewheeledhimselfbackward,horrifiedattheidea."WhywouldIwanttodothat?Myhomeis

inLittleton.I'mafarmer.""Thenstopaskingquestions,"saidMemsenimpatiently."AsacitizenoftheTranscendentStateyou're

underaconsensualculturalquarantine.We'vejustbeenremindedofthatquiteforcefully.There'snothingmorewecansaytoyou.""Idon'tbelievethis."Spurheardhimselfshouting."You'vedonesomethingtoherandyou'reafraidto

tellme.Whatisit?"Memsenhesitated,andSpurheardthelow,repetitivepa-pa-pa-pttthathehaddecidedshemadewhen

shewasconsultingherpredecessors."Ifyouinsist,wecanmakeitsimpleforyou."Memsenthrustherface close to his. "Comfort died," she said harshly. "Tell that to everyone in your -village. She washorriblyburnedandshedied."Spurrecoiledfromher."Butyousaidyousavedher.Dr.Niss….""Dr.Nisscanshowyouthebody,ifyoucaretoseeit."Shestraightened."So.""Goodbye,Spur,"saidtheHighGregory."Canwehelpyoubackontothebed?"BeneaththemSpurcouldseetheoutskirtsofLongwalk.Abruptlythehullofthehoverturnedopaque

andtheceilingofthecabinbegantoglow.Spurknewfromwatchinghoverslandfromthewindowofhishospitalroomthattheycamouflagedthemselvesonthefinalapproachoveracity."No, wait." Spur was desperate to keep the upsiders talking. "You said shewas goingwith you. I

definitelyheard that.Yousaidshewassaved. Isshe…this is like theotherMemsens thatyou toldmeabout,isn'tit?Theonesthataresavedinyou?""Thisisatotallyinappropriateconversation."Memsenpinchedtheairwithbothhands."We'llhaveto

askDr.Nisstostrikeitfromyourmemory.""Hecandothat?""Sure,"saidtheHighGregory."Wedoitallthetime.Buthehastoreplaceitwithsomefakememory.

You'llhavetotellhimwhatyouwant.Andifyoushouldevercomeacrossanythingthatchallengesthereplacementmemory,youcouldget…."Spurhelduphishandtosilencehim."Butit'struewhatIjustsaid?"Memsensnortedindisgustandturnedtoleave."Shecan'tadmitanything."TheHighGregorygraspedherhandtorestrainher.Heheldittohischest.

"Butyes."Spurwasgrippingthepushrimsofhiswheelchairsohardthathishandsached."Sonobodydiesonthe

upside?""No,no.Everybodydies. It's just that someofuschoose tobesaved toa shellafterward.Even the

savedadmit it'snot thesameasbeingalive. Ihaven'tmademymindupaboutall thatyet,butI'monlytwelvestandard.Mybirthdayisnextweek,Iwishyoucouldbethere.""WhatwillhappentoComfortinthisshell?"

"She'sgoingtohavetoadjust.Shedidn'texpecttobesaved,ofcourse,probablydidn'tevenknowitwaspossible,sowhentheyactivateher,she'llbedisoriented.She'llneedsomekindofcounseling.WehavesomeprettygoodsoulmasonsonKenning.Andtheycansendforherbrother;he'llwanttohelp.""Stopit!Thisiscruel."Memsenyankedhishanddown."Wehavetogorightnow.""Why?"saidtheHighGregoryplaintively."He'snotgoingtorememberanyofthis.""Vicwassaved?"Eventhoughhewasstillsafeinthewheelchair,hefeltasifhewerefalling."Allthepukpukmartyrswere."TheHighGregorytriedtoshakehishandloosefromMemsen,butshe

wouldn'tlethimgo."Thatwaswhytheyagreedtosacrificethemselves.""Enough."Memsen started to draghim from the cabin. "We're sorry,Spur.You're a decentman.Go

backtoyour-cottageandyourapplesandforgetaboutus.""Goodbye,Spur,"calledtheHighGregoryastheypoppedthroughthebulkhead."Goodluck."Asthebulkheadshiveredwiththeirpassing,hefeltafierceandtroublingdesireburnhissoul.Some

partofhimdidwanttogowiththem,tobewithComfortandVicontheupsideandseethewondersthatChairmanWinterhadforbiddenthecitizensoftheTranscendentState.Hecoulddoit;heknewhecould.Afterall,everyoneinLittletonseemedtothinkhewasleaving.ButthenwhowouldhelpCapebringintheharvest?Spurwasn'tsurehowlonghesataloneinthewheelchairwithathousandthoughtsbuzzinginhishead.

Theupsidershadjustblownuphisworldandhewastryingdesperatelytopieceitbacktogether.Exceptwhatwasthepoint?Inalittlewhilehewasn'tgoingtobeworryinganymoreaboutComfortandVicandshellsandbeingsaved.Maybethatwasforthebest; itwasall toocomplicated.JustliketheChairmanhad said. Spur thought he'd be happier thinking about apples and baseball andmaybe kissingMelodyVelez.Hewasreadytoforget.Herealized that thehoverhadgonecompletelystill.Therewasnovibrationfromthehullskimming

throughtheair,nomuffledlaughterfromtheL'ung.Hewatchedthehospitalequipmentmeltintothedeck.Thenallthebulkheadspoppedandhecouldseetheentirebayofthehover.Itwasemptyexceptforhiswheelchair,agurneywithComfort'sshroud-coveredbodyandthedocbot,whichrolleduptohim."Soyou'regoingtomakemeforgetallthis?"saidSpurbitterly."Allthesecretsoftheupside?""Ifthat'swhatyouwant."Spurshivered."Ihaveachoice?""I'mjustthedoctor,son.Icanoffertreatmentbutyouhavetoacceptit.Forexample,youchosenotto

tellmehowyougotburnedthatfirsttime."Thedocbotrolledbehindthewheelchair."ThatprettymuchwreckedeverythingIwastryingtoaccomplishwiththeconciliationsim."Spurturnedaroundtolookatit."Youknewallalong?"Thedocbot locked into thebackof thewheelchair. "Iwouldn'tbemuchofadoctor if Icouldn't tell

whenpatientswerelyingtome."ItstartedpushingSpurtowardthehatch."But youwork for theChairman." Spur didn't know if hewanted the responsibility formaking this

decision."I take JackWinter'smoney," said thedocbot. "I don't takehis advicewhen it comes tomedical or

spiritualpractice.""ButwhatifItellpeoplethatComfortandVicaresavedandthatupsidersgettogoonaftertheydie?""Thenthey'llknow."Spur tried to imaginekeeping theupsiders' immortality a secret for the rest ofhisdays.He tried to

imaginewhatwouldhappentotheTranscendentStateifhetoldwhatheknew.Hismouthwentasdryasflour.Hewasjustafarmer,hetoldhimself;hedidn'thavethatgoodanimagination."You'resayingthatIdon'thavetohavemymemoryofallthiserased?""Goodness,no.Unlessyou'dratherforgetaboutme."AstheypassedComfort'sbody,Spursaid,"Stopaminute."

Hereachedoutandtouchedtheshroud.Heexpectedittobesomestrangeupsiderfabricbutitwasjustasimplecottonsheet. "Theyknew that Icouldchoose to remember,didn't they?Memsenand theHighGregorywereplayingmetotheveryend.""Son,"saidDr.Niss,"theHighGregoryisjustaboyandnobodyintheThousandWorldsknowswhat

theAllworthyknows."ButSpurhadstoppedlistening.Herubbedtheshroudbetweenhisthumbandforefinger,thinkingabout

howhe and the Joerlys used tomakeup adventures in the ruins alongMercy'sCreekwhen theywerechildren.Oftenasnotoneofthemwouldachievesomegloriousdeathaspartofthegame.Theexplorerwouldboldlydrinkfromthepoisonedcuptofreehercomrades,thepiratecaptainwouldberunthroughdefendinghis treasure, thequeenof skantlingswould throwdownherheartstone rather thanbetray thecastle.AndthenheorVicorComfortwouldstumbledramatically to theforestfloorandsprawl there,cheekpressedagainstleaflitter,asstillasscatteredstones.Theotherswouldpausebrieflyoverthebodyandthendashintothewoods,sothatthefallenherocouldbereincarnatedandthegamecouldgoon."Iwanttogohome,"hesaid,atlast.

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