"Beats me," said Nate. "Maybe. I can't remember if the first one of yourkind that I talked to was female or not, and I never got a name, but itcould h...ve been. And I suppose she could have considered my offer to grantrequests a 'temptation', though I've rarely had refusals." Well, umm, how did you get here then? And why is that white pole stuck outof the stone there?" asked Jack."Dad left me here. Or, I assume it was my dad. It was another snake - muchbigger than I was back then. I remember. "Missing. Really? Damn. I'm Lyfe," he said."I figured," I said. "Jessica. Uh Jess." I felt more like a Jess now forsome reason."You can hang with me if you like. I'm on the circuit too sometimes. Mycar is a small wagon and sometimes it gets cramped so I don't alwayssleep in it. She might have had some friends." Lyfe sighed. "I'm going togo to the shelter for a meal. You should come. It's almost closing timefor the kitchen. Maybe you can spot for me later tomorrow night when I goback to finish. Her long red hair flowed in a ginger tress down her back. After giving a brief welcome to the guests, Lena introduced Kathy, a tall, thin blond wearing a red dress with a short skirt. Kathy put one hand on the pole and walked around it, clearing a path. The guests arranged themselves in a rough circle around the pole. When she was done, Kathy remained still as the house lights were lowered leaving just her illuminated by the spotlights I had spent the afternoon setting up. After a long. Leo’s land was hilly, stony and swampy with unimproved pastures, absolutely ideal for the ‘Hebs’ that thrive in hard-going conditions. Like Leo, Jess knew every sheep in the small flock. On week days, Leo who had an MA in Social Development and Sustainable Livelihoods, taught conservation studies at a nearby private high school where he was hugely popular with students because he was so unlike most teachers, never combing his hair, wearing old clothes and talking to them as if he were one of.