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Samantha had only walked the path to the beach a few times in the last five years The first tione down to verify the boat was indeed there They had looked around for anything to salvage, but they hadn't turned up anything The other times she had come down to the beach by herself to make sure the boat was still there

The path looked a lot different at night The trees took on aout to grab her An owl hooted as it searched the forest for prey Samantha hoped that didn't include her She squealed like one of the toddlers when soht She held up the lantern, but didn't see anything

"It's just the wind," she told herself Or a squirrel or chip harmless like that There were plenty of those on Eternity But her e black irl," she said "I'hts after Reverend Crane and Pryde had died Samantha had been only six years old, not h she had slept in the dormitory for quite a few days already, the rooht Every noise proone into the adjoining roohairl woke up "Sae ought to be getting some sleep"

"I'm scared," Samantha said "Can I sleep with you?"

"I suppose that would be all right for tonight" Miss Brigham moved aside so Samantha could crawl onto the bed with her They had done that for three straight nights, until Miss Brigham finally looked Sa lady, but you have to get used to sleeping on your own You're a big girl and you should sleep in your own bed"

"But it's so dark"

"Thatin the dark that isn't there in the light"

Samantha had considered this They had finally settled for keeping one of their precious candles lit through the night They did this for two nights, until Sa inside the rooh, Saht have been true in the dormitory, but it wasn't true in the forest There were plenty of ani Those animals were not friendly to huht the pitchfork with her