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           Everyleafofeverytreewasfrizzledtoacurlinglimpstring,andwherethegrasshadbeentheycouldseelittleblackbundleshereandthere,sheepcaughtinthefire,oranoccasionalbiggermoundwhichhadbeenasteerorapig.Theirtearsmingledwiththerainontheirfaces.

           BobandMeggieheadedthelittleprocession,JackandHughieinthemiddle,FeeandStuartbringinguptherear.ForFeeandStuartitwasapeacefulprogress;theydrewcomfortfrombeingclosetogether,nottalking,eachcontentinthecompanyoftheother.Sometimesthehorsesdrewcloseorshiedapartatthesightofsomenewhorror,butitseemednottoaffectthelastpairofriders.Themudmadethegoingslowandhard,butthecharred,mattedgrasslaylikeacoir-roperugonthesoiltogivethehorsesafoothold.AndeveryfewyardstheyexpectedtoseePaddyappearoverthefarflathorizon,buttimewentonandheneverdid.

           Withsinkingheartstheyrealizedthefirehadbegunfartheroutthanfirstimagined,inWilgapaddock.Thestormcloudsmusthavedisguisedthesmokeuntilthefirehadgonequitealongway.Theborderlandwasastonishing.Onesideofaclearlydrawnlinewasjustblack,glisteningtar,whiletheothersidewasthelandastheyhadalwaysknownit,fawnandblueanddrearintherain,butalive.Bobstoppedanddrewbacktotalktoeveryone.

           "Well,here’swherewestart.I’mgoingduewestfromhere;it’sthemostlikelydirectionandI’mthestrongest.Haseveryonegotplentyofammunition?Good.