Peopleareinthedark,theydon’tknowwhattodo

           Ihadalittlelantern,ohbutitgotblownouttoo.

           I’mreachingoutmyhand.Ihopeyouaretoo.

           Ijustwanttobeinthedarkwithyou.

           —GREGBROWN,"INTHEDARKWITHYOU"

           Theychangedcarsatfiveinthemorning,inMinneapolis,intheairport’slong-termparkinglot.Theydrovetothetopfloor,wheretheparkingbuildingwasopentothesky.

           Shadowtooktheorangeuniformandthehandcuffsandleghobbles,puttheminthebrownpaperbagthathadbrieflyheldhispossessions,foldedthewholethingupanddroppeditintoaparkinglotgarbagecan.Theyhadbeenwaitingfortenminuteswhenabarrel-chestedyoungmancameoutofanairportdoorandwalkedovertothem.HewaseatingapacketofBurgerKingfrenchfries.Shadowrecognizedhimimmediately:hehadsatinthebackofthecarwhentheyhadlefttheHouseontheRock,andhummedsodeeplythecarhadvibrated.Henowsportedawhite-streakedwinterbeardhehadnothadwhentheyhadmetattheHouseontheRock.Itmadehimlookolder.

           Themanwipedthegreasefromhishandsontohissweater,extendedonehugehandtoShadow."Iheardoftheall-father’sdeath,"hesaid."Theywillpay,andtheywillpaydearly."

           "Wednesdaywasyourfather?"askedShadow.

           "Hewastheall-father,"saidtheman.Hisdeepvoicecaughtinhisthroat.