〃There's no sign of him—just a little blood again。〃 Charlie's face was
pained。 〃The rangers are going out
armed； taking armed volunteers。 There're a lot of hunters who are eager to be
involved—there's a
reward being offered for wolf carcasses。 That's going to mean a lot of
firepower out there in the forest；
and it worries me。〃 He shook his head。 〃When people get too excited； accidents
happen〃
〃They're going to shoot the wolves？〃 My voice shot through three octaves。
〃What else can we do？ What's wrong？〃 he asked； his tense eyes studying my
face。 I felt faint； I must be
whiter than usual。 〃You aren't turning into a tree…hugger on me； are you？〃
I couldn't answer。 If he hadn't been watching me； I would have put my head
between my knees。 I'd
forgotten about the missing hikers； the bloody paw prints I hadn't connected
those facts to my first
realization。
〃Look； honey； don't let this scare you。 Just stay in town or on the highway—
no stops—okay？〃
〃Okay；〃 I repeated in a weak voice。
〃I've got to go。〃
I looked at him closely for the first time； and saw that he had his gun
strapped to his waist and hiking
boots on。
〃You aren't going out there after the wolves； are you； Dad？〃
〃I've got to help； Bells。 People are disappearing。〃
My voice shot up again； almost hysterical now。 〃No！ No； don't go。 It's too
dangerous！〃
〃I've got to do my job； kid。 Don't be such a pessimist—I'll be fine。〃 He
turned for the door； and held it
open。 〃You leaving？〃
I hesitated； my stomach still spinning in unfortable loops。 What could I
say to stop him？ I was too
dizzy to think o