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trail. Without looking back, Tao hurdled over the ground, dodging between the trees and bushes. The wolf dog followed close behind as Tao ran into the night. Branches whipped across his face, tree roots caught at his feet, holding him back. But if he could run fast enough, long enough, he knew he would outrun the hunters and save Ram.
    Breathing hard, he pushed his way through the underbrush, listening to the grunts and shouts of the angry men as they came after him. He ran faster and faster, twisting and turning through the trees and brush, trying to throw them off the track.
    But they kept up the pace, crashing through the forest not far behind him.
    He stumbled on blindly through the blackness, vaulting along on the shaft of his spear. His arms grew heavy, his legs were like stones. The trees, the shadows, the night itself became a tangled wall, holding him back as he plunged into the darkness.
    How long he ran Tao did not know, but little by little the shouts and footsteps began to fade. He continued on until he was sure it was safe. Panting and out of breath, he had almost reached the river. He stopped and looked around. The wolf dog was not behind him. “Ram,” he whispered, searching the darkness. “Where are you?”
    He waited, listening. Nothing moved. He wondered if Ram had been caught. Maybe the wolf dog had been killed and the hunters had turned back. But he had heard nothing. Silence and darkness added to his gloom. His head throbbed and he turned to go back. Then once again he saw Ram slink out of the shadows, whimpering, creeping up to him on his belly.
    With a wave of relief Tao stooped down and threw his arms around the animal’s shoulder. He spoke to him firmly. “You cannot come into the camp of the clan people,” he said. “They have no love for the wolves. They will kill you.” Tao pushed the little animal away. “Go,” he said, sharply. “Go back and wait in the Slough.”
    Ram looked up, panting, his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.
    Tao reached down to pick up a stone. Immediately the wolf dog turned. He looked back once or twice, then disappeared into the darkness. Tao grinned. At last he had found a way to make the wolf dog understand.
    Tao walked lightly as he returned to camp, but he put on an angry face. “I could not catch him,” he said to the hunters who had gathered by the fire. “But he is far gone. He will not return.”
    Volt grunted, slamming his fist into the palm of his hand. “It is an evil sign,” he said, rubbing his scarred cheek with the back of his hand, his dark shaggy head nodding. “It is an evil sign.”
    â€œWe must watch for him and kill him,” said Garth. Sometimes Garth sounded more like Volt than Volt himself. “We will not let him get away again.” Tao felt his stomach turn.
    The next morning, after he had banked the fires with three other younger boys of the clan, Tao walked out along the foot of the limestone cliffs, far away from camp. The ash-gray walls loomed high over his head and he came to a spot with many caves. This is a good place, he thought. Here I can make images away from the eyes of Volt and the hunters. Yet it is close enough to visit Kala and bring back food to her and the clan people.
    He looked up at the steep rocky ledges and started to climb. It was not easy, but he was able to cling to the crevices and stunted pine shrubs growing out of the cliff wall.
    The first two caves he saw were not to his liking. One was too small and the walls were rough and uneven. The second had an animal smell. Tao did not wish to share his home with a leopard or a bear. About halfway up he found a third one. It looked out over the flat valley. He saw no pugmarks and he was sure it was deserted. It was about ten spear lengths long and opened into a small cavern. The walls were smooth with only a few breaks or cracks.
    This is what I am looking for, he thought. This