if you , but in due time.quot;

    ;Youve earned my trust, Aniday. Listen and ;

    Luc off into to  toget t t toics.

    I  being out of t camp, but my companions did t to control my curiosity. t me stumble about on trails for a time before my clumsiness flus. to t a finger to ook t. Copying ts, I became nearly as graceful, and ly t I could steps. Silence s oance and instantly Smaolacion of tify its cause. t craning its neck to spy on us from a t, a cro completely faded, ramped t grounds to ters edge ice crystals greening closely, ers surface. t faded like a whisper and vanished.

    quot;Listenquot;—Smaolac;to t;

    At once, to sleet,  ture sympural ook cover in a grove of evergreens. Ice encased eac. Luc a leat producing a tiny paper and t pinc looked like tobacco. it fingers and a quick lick, te. From anotion of tracted several ced turned all but one to terproof compartment. ruck tc to burst into flame, te. Smaolaco reacaking tcips,  it in t order oast our palms and fingertips. Lucte to Smaolacook a deep drag and ime.  last, t o a joke.

    quot;Give t; Smaolaced.

    quot;I dont kno;

    quot;Do ; said Luceet;But  tell Igel about t tell anyone at all.quot;

    I took a drag on tte and began cougter-ing from t on lauger t scrap range perfume, ent, simultaneously alert and peaceful. t began to taper off, and silence returned like a lost friend.

    quot;Did you ?quot;

    quot; is it?quot; I asked.

    Luc;First, listen to see if you .