Chapter 15

           Theywalkedoutintotheclearyellowsunshine.Thecamplookedbedraggledandgreyinthecleanlight.AlitterhadaccumulatedsinceBurtonwasgone,bitsofpaper,strings,overallshungontheguy-ropesofthetents.MacandJimwalkedoutofthecampandacrossthesurroundingfield,totheedgeoftheorchard.AtthelineoftreesMacstopped.Hiseyesmovedslowlyacrossthehorizontalfieldsofvision."Lookclose,Jim,"headvised."It’sprobablyadamnfoolthingtogooveralone.Iknowitisn’tgoodsense."Hestudiedtheorchard.Thelong,sun-spottedaislesweresilent.Therewasnomovement."It’ssoquiet.Makesmesuspicious.It’stooquiet."Hereachedtoalimbandtookdownasmall,misshapenapplethepickershadleft."God,thattastesgood.I’dforgotaboutapples.Alwaysforgetwhat’ssoeasy."

           "Idon’tseeanybodymoving,"saidJim."Notasoul."

           "Welllook,we’lledgedowninlinewiththetrees.Anybodylookingdownarowwon’tseeus,then."Theysteppedslowlyinunderthebigappletrees.Theireyesmovedrestlesslyabout.Theywalkedthroughshadowsofbranchesandleaves,andthesunstruckthemwithsoft,warmblows.

           Jimasked,"Mac,doyous’posewecouldgetaleaveofabsencesometimeandgowherenobodyknowsus,andjustsitdowninanorchard?"

           "’Bouttwohoursofit,andyou’dberaringtogoagain."

           "Ineverhadtimetolookatthings,Mac,never.Ineverlookedhowleavescomeout.Ineverlookedatthewaythingshappen.Thismorningtherewasawholelineofantsonthefloorofthetent.Icouldn’twatchthem.Iwasthinkingaboutsomethingelse.SometimeI’dliketositalldayandlookatbugs,andneverthinkofanythingelse."