became the most talked-abo

hine, and looked intimidating enough

ness do

ely satisfie

ncreasingly seri

on the camp cot I ha

e up to find him asleep

eside m

ddle of the night and see a pair of glow

inki

erature kept

elt like a furnac

an obsessive need fo

front desk, he would wedge him

ting, he star

ollowed less than t

d had turned into

y nerves

of the shower and found

he clothes I had

ied in them as h

the door, he l

eaded across his forehead. The ve

What are

nd snatched the

angry, but more than any

't apol

he steppe

can't con

s rough, alm

ell too

y hand to h

nin

ugh to

have a

crep

ome. If he went down, who wa

hing? Some acute infection?

if holding himself to

ested on his forehead and pr

the scrape of stubb

was almost reverent, like a la

fever. I just...

s chest. The

something. It

ded del

f his mind fr

wn. I'll get yo

he bed and pulled t

et up, but I shot

. I'll dock

wor

went

anket, nose pressed f

d damp as they

g sound vibrated i

had said about heightened a

tion period real

ces, I turned and r