Full dark now just before seven o’clock, and Jared was glad to have the night. Bats skittered around the security lights. Jared saw Steve reinstalling the refuge gate, using his truck headlights to see, and he heard a jumble of voices from his kitchen. More volunteers had shown up: chubby Darren, his face flushed with excitement and exertion, sturdy Camille, Brian, all legs and freckles, and a half dozen others. Jared went around to the back of his trailer and climbed with care over his broken deck. He slipped through the shattered sliding-glass doors. He was in the bathroom, washing his face, when he heard Peter’s voice from his bedroom.
“Are you okay?” Peter had leaned against the door. Jared could feel his soft words through the hollow-core wood.
“I’m hanging on, thanks.”
Jared looke
