h knowledge and spoke.

    ‘You can’t go up to stay away.“

    “I see.”

    ‘tent,“ the girl added shyly.

    ‘I sa,“ I told her.

    In tes, tly breat.” And to me, “’s going on?”

    It ent. You’re not alloo go near. to go home.”

    to te, fro te tent. “Isn’t t  complete ion in front of t I knew w s.

    ‘I believe t is er’s  of her eyes.

    ‘Come on,“ sold t’s too cold to be outdoors, any’s go home and have cocoa.“

    ted tes and raced into treet. An invisible cord ogeto she cord away.

    I c a horrible absence by my side.

    t to me. “You could do  you? You’re as we as a g.”

    e fell into step, follo,” I told her. “I’m a friend of Aurelius Love.”

    Ser the deer here.”

    ‘I knoold me.“

    A  of reaco to escape her.

    ‘tor!“ my companion sed out. ”Get back on t!“

    t a jolt t did you say your son’s name was?”

    turned to me curiously.

    ‘It’s just— tor who worked here years ago.“

    ‘My fator.“

    I o stop to traigor… ther?”

    ‘Jo’s  ime before I ies when I was born.“

    Slo t offer of cocoa, if you don’t mind. And I’ve got someto show you.”

    I took my bookmark out of er’s diary. Karen smiled tant s eyes on to. , iff, raig a yellow  on. o ure.”

    ‘Your employer, Miss Marcom?“

    ‘Seen tom? Of course not! t retarded, I understand, so it’s tate. t of a recluse. S been back to Angelfield since tact we ors.“

    Karen stood at tove, ing for to . Be, till in it. t tl