Castle Rock

           Ralphlayinacovert,wonderingabouthiswounds.Thebruisedfleshwasinchesindiameteroverhisrightribs,withaswollenandbloodyscarwherethespearhadhithim.Hishairwasfullofdirtandtappedlikethetendrilsofacreeper.Alloverhewasscratchedandbruisedfromhisflightthroughtheforest.Bythetimehisbreathingwasnormalagain,hehadworkedoutthatbathingtheseinjurieswouldhavetowait.Howcouldyoulistenfornakedfeetifyouweresplashinginwater?Howcouldyoubesafebythelittlestreamorontheopenbeach?

           Ralphlistened.HewasnotreallyfarfromtheCastleRock,andduringthefirstpanichehadthoughtheheardsoundsofpursuit.Butthehuntershadonlysneakedintothefringesofthegreenery,retrievingspearsperhaps,andthenhadrushedbacktothesunnyrockasifterrifiedofthedarknessundertheleaves.Hehadevenglimpsedoneofthem,stripedbrown,black,andred,andhadjudgedthatitwasBill.Butreally,thoughtRalph,thiswasnotBill.Thiswasasavagewhoseimagerefusedtoblendwiththatancientpictureofaboyinshortsandshirt.

           Theafternoondiedaway;thecircularspotsofsunlightmovedsteadilyovergreenfrondsandbrownfiberbutnosoundcamefrombehindtherock.AtlastRalphwormedoutofthefernsandsneakedforwardtotheedgeofthatimpenetrablethicketthatfrontedtheneckofland.HepeeredwithelaboratecautionbetweenbranchesattheedgeandcouldseeRobertsittingonguardatthetopofthecliff.Heheldaspearinhislefthandandwastossingupapebbleandcatchingitagainwiththeright.Behindhimacolumnofsmokerosethickly,sothatRalph’snostrilsflaredandhismouthdribbled.Hewipedhisnoseandmouthwiththebackofhishandandforthefirsttimesincethemorningfelthungry.