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           "Let’sgo."

           Wewentthroughtheauditoriumtothehallway,thendownthesteps.Itwasstillblackdark.Theremainingcarswereparkedontheothersideofthebuilding,andtheirheadlightswerelittlehelp."Ifsomeof‘emweregoin’inourdirectionwecouldseebetter,"saidJem."HereScout,letmeholdontoyour—hock.Youmightloseyourbalance."

           "Icanseeallright."

           "Yeah,butyoumightloseyourbalance."Ifeltaslightpressureonmyhead,andumedthatJemhadgrabbedthatendoftheham."Yougotme?"

           "Uhhuh."

           Webegancrossingtheblackschoolyard,strainingtoseeourfeet."Jem,"Isaid,"Iforgotmyshoes,they’rebackbehindthestage."

           "Welllet’sgoget‘em."Butasweturnedaroundtheauditoriumlightswentoff."Youcanget‘emtomorrow,"hesaid.

           "Buttomorrow’sSunday,"Iprotested,asJemturnedmehomeward.

           "YoucangettheJanitortoletyouin...Scout?"

           "Hm?"

           "Nothing."

           Jemhadn’tstartedthatinalongtime.Iwonderedwhathewasthinking.He’dtellmewhenhewantedto,probablywhenwegothome.Ifelthisfingerspressthetopofmycostume,toohard,itseemed.Ishookmyhead."Jem,youdon’thafta—"

           "Hushaminute,Scout,"hesaid,pinchingme.

           Wewalkedalongsilently."Minute’sup,"Isaid."Whatchathinkin’about?"Iturnedtolookathim,buthisoutlinewasbarelyvisible.

           "ThoughtIheardsomething,"hesaid."Stopaminute."

           Westopped.

           "Hearanything?"heasked.

           "No."