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The ser erous and dark, secretive Jack accepted her soothing words and gentle rocking, because in truth he needed soht bled away and dawn pushed into the cabin, he could not find sleep He stared at the sliver of bark he had pried fro wood beneath He felt Lesya’s own fears transh her voice and touch

And he knew he had to escape

That s, and they had a feast for breakfast

I’ve never seen a pig around here, Jack thought, though he supposed there s could have been from any bird Ducks were everywhere, and she only had to knohere they nested

"I’m sorry about my father," she said "It’s the first tiht he was far weaker, much more distant"

"Is that why you’re afraid?"

Lesya stared at him, a soft smile on her beautiful, almost flawless face "I’m not afraid, Jack"

He nodded and continued eating

"If he coain--"

"Thank you," Jack said, and he smiled back "He did scare ht have killed you"

"Yes So thank you, Lesya I accept your protection, and I’ll do whatever you think is best" He looked through theand did not have to feign his fear I’m still not certain about any of this

Lesya leaned across the table and stroked his cheek "I do love you, Jack"

He smiled at her and touched her hand but did not reply Her eyes flickered away, and for a moment he felt a flush of sorrow for her I could love her, he thought, even after everything "You’re very special," he said She sighed and set about clearing the dishes

"I’ to wash," Jack said

"I’ll heat some water in here, if you wish"

"The cold will do ood!" He rubbed his eyes, shook his head "Help wake me up, chase away the bad dreams"

Lesya nodded "Very well And later, I can show you how to track snakes and stinging things"

Jack pulled on his boots and went to the door, and there he had to pause This is ht And if I succeed beyond all my hopes…

He turned around to look at Lesya for the final ti water and running her finger around her plate, collecting bacon juice and egg yolk Her siled froorgeous woain, and this was exactly hoished to reh he knew she was far fro?" she asked, suddenly aware of his observation

"No," Jack said "Just thinking that I love you"

Her s he intended to do, still Jack could find no lie in what he had said

He walked across the clearing toward the spring It was close to the loo; his legs quivered with anticipation of as to co his shirt He glanced back at the cabin Lesya was just visible behind one , her pale face glealass He waved, she waved back, and then she retreated farther into the cabin

Jack ran for the trees

Everything changed suddenly The potential of what he’d been planning was now an actuality, and the danger was real and pressing With every pounding footstep, he expected to hear Lesya’s warning screech from behind him: Jack, beware nore that, if and when it caamble that held his life and future in the balance, but since Leshii’s appearance the night before, things had beco for him in California, and that here his real life lay This, everything he had seen and done here…this was make-believe

The air around hi A few birds took off froht, and he resisted the teht

It was only as he passed between the first of the trees that he heard Lesya’s voice She did not shout or rage but screah, incredibly loud sound that chilled Jack to thefaster than ever before Tree branches lashed at his face, he ran through a spider-web that felt as strong as string, and his heart seemed to double its beat Sweat broke out all over his body

The screaain, even louder than before, and at its end he heard, "Jack!"

He was co for anything abnorht Hoill she punishher love andAt first she had seeer knew Soht started to fall He heard the cannonlike crack of its trunk rupturing close to the ground, and then the entire canopy above hied left, darted right, and then realized that whichever way he went, he would not escape its reach In a hopeless gesture he brought up both ar

Another had grown beneath the shattered trunk, upper tree This new tree had two trunks and a thick bole, and its upright lih the forest

Jack ran on A powerful breeze suddenly roared through the forest, picking up leaves, whistling past his ears, filling his senses with violenthand seeht arm, and he felt the callused skin of an oldJack, but still he felt compelled to follow