The next time Court opened his eyes, sunlight filtered through the canvas tent. He lay with his eyes opened, staring at the radio, listening. Leaves rustled outside, and somewhere someone coughed, but there was no gunfire. No screams, either, and no growling. The episode that had woken him hours earlier seemed dreamlike in the early morning light. Even the memory of Ronnie’s arms around him felt ghostly now that his friend’s touch was gone.
He heard movement behind him—Ronnie already up. Court ducked his head down to his chest and turned ever so slightly, until he saw his friend out of the corner of his eye. Hunched over, Ronnie stood amid his bedding, his side to Court as he dressed. He had pulled on a long-sleeve shirt, but his briefs were around his ankles, his jeans still on the groun
