第11部分(第1/7 頁)

burning　out　there？〃　He

sounded　both　worried　and　mystified。　〃Look；　I'll　call　down　there　and　check　it

out。〃

I　listened　with　more　interest　as　he　punched　in　a　number。

〃Hey；　Billy；　it's　Charlie—sorry　I'm　calling　so　early　no；　she's　fine。　She's

sleeping　Thanks；　but　that's

not　why　I　called。　I　just　got　a　call　from　Mrs。　Stanley；　and　she　says　that　from

her　second…story　window　she

can　see　fires　out　on　the　sea　cliffs；　but　I　didn't　really　Oh！〃　Suddenly　there

was　an　edge　in　his

voice—irritation　or　anger。　〃And　why　are　they　doing　that？　Uh　huh。　Really？〃

He　said　it　sarcastically。

〃Well；　don't　apologize　to　me。　Yeah；　yeah。　Just　make　sure　the　flames　don't

spread　I　know；　I　know；　I'm

surprised　they　got　them　lit　at　all　in　this　weather。〃

Charlie　hesitated；　and　then　added　grudgingly。　〃Thanks　for　sending　Sam　and　the

other　boys　up。　You　were

right—they　do　know　the　forest　better　than　we　do。　It　was　Sam　who　found　her；　so

I　owe　you　one　Yeah；

I'll　talk　to　you　later；〃　he　agreed；　still　sour；　before　hanging　up。

Charlie　muttered　something　incoherent　as　he　shuffled　back　to　the　living　room。

〃What's　wrong？〃　I　asked。

He　hurried　to　my　side。

〃I'm　sorry　I　woke　you；　honey。〃

〃Is　something　burning？〃

〃It's　nothing；〃　he　assured　me。　〃Just　some　bonfires　out　on　the　cliffs。〃

〃Bonfires？〃　I　asked。　My　voice　didn't　sound　curious。　It　sounded　dead。

Charlie　frowned。　〃Some　of　the　kids　from　the　reservation　being　rowdy；〃　he

explained。

〃Why？〃　I　wondered　dully。

I　could　tell　he　didn't　want　to　answer。　He　looked　at　the　floor　under　his　knees。

〃They're　celebrating　the

news。〃　His　tone　was　bitter。

There　was　only