She watches Blink’s capture from high in the branches of a white pine. She sees the big one moving in on the boy and wants to yell out, only stopping herself when she realizes that giving away her position won’t help anyone. So she lies flat on a thick branch, like a large cat, and takes it all in, feeling as though it is she who is being dragged, kicking and screaming.

They empty the boy’s pockets, and then the short one is sent off for the ATV. She wonders how tough Blink is. Do they know about her yet? They haven’t had much time. Is the little one heading after her? All the more reason to stay put. All the more reason for this bird’s-eye view. She sees the one who is clearly the boss and knows now, for sure, what she had suspected all along. It was a trap, and Blink has walked right into it.

She tried to stop him, didn’t she? But did she try hard enough? Why does it all seem like fate, as if it were meant to happen? But there isn’t time for such speculation now.

The ATV flies up the road, passing underneath her and out toward Tumble Road. The sound diminishes to nothing, but she is not sure whether the little one — what did Blink call him? Tank. Yes, that was it — whether Tank has stopped the machine, or whether he has driven out of her range of hearing.

The Jeep. That’s where he must have gone. It won’t be where he expects it to be. There may be a chance he’ll miss it. Right: a yellow Jeep. Damn!

They turn out Blink’s pockets and don’t find a key, because it is safe in her pocket. The doors of the Jeep are locked. What will they make of that? Will that give them more reason to suspect an accomplice? Or will Blink think of something? If they do manage to pry the information out of him, then she will need to make herself scarce. It disturbs her that she has seen only three people. She’s sure Blink said there were four in all.

And now there is a shout. He’s gotten away! He’s heading toward the dock. As she watches, clinging to her branch, he jumps onto a boat that’s there, waiting. And suddenly a part of her cracks wide open, letting out an animal cry of pain and sadness all wrapped up together that she can’t begin to understand. She presses her face against the bough of the tree, shaking, holding on for dear life.