ees； and the fallen leaves rattled up the
deserted walks and around the hubcaps of parked cars。 It was a faint and
sorrowful sound； and the boy thought that he might be the only one in Boulder
awake enough to hear it。 The only human being； at least。 There was no way of
knowing what else might be out in the night； slinking hungrily through the
shadows； watching and scenting the breeze。
I'll find you！ I'll find you！
〃Tony？〃 he whispered again； but without much hope。
Only the wind spoke back； gusting more strongly this time； scattering leaves
across the sloping roof below his window。 Some of them slipped into the
raingutter and came to rest there like tired dancers。
Danny 。。。 Danneee 。。。
He started at the sound of that familiar voice and craned out the window； his
small hands on the sill。 With the sound of Tony's voice the whole night seemed
to have e silently and secretly alive； whispering even when the wind quieted
again and the leaves were still and the shadows had stopped moving。 He thought
he saw a darker shadow standing by the bus stop a block down； but it was hard to
tell if it was a real thing or an eye…trick。
Don't go； Danny 。 。
Then the wind gusted again； making him squint； and the shadow by the bus stop
was gone 。。。 if it had ever been there at all。 He stood by his window for
（a minute？ an hour？）
some time longer； but there was no more。 At last he crept back into his bed
and pulled the blankets up and watched the shadows thrown by the alien
streetlight turn into a sinuous jungle filled with flesh…eating plants that
wanted only to slip around him； squeeze the life out of him； and drag him do