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mean … I didn’t mean to assume. I would love to watch, but I’m not sure if that’s allowed. I actually don’t know what the Blessing Way ceremony is, so forgive me if I just sort of stepped on your toes there, I feel really stupid if that makes you feel any better, and— «
    Chischilly raised a hand to stop her stream of apologies and gave a shrug. » Hey, it’s okay with me if it’s okay with Mr. Benally. «
    Before I could ask who Mr. Benally was, Coyote said, » It’s okay with me. «
    Interesting. Granuaile and I pivoted on our heels to face Coyote with our eyebrows raised, and Oberon said, › Hey, if everyone around here is going to use a fake name, then I should have one too! ‹
    » Thank you, Mr. Benally , « I said, emphasizing the name.
    › I want to be introduced to these people as Snugglepumpkin. You have to say it seriously too, Atticus; you can’t laugh. ‹
    Sophie Betsuie chose that moment to ask, » Is this your dog? What’s his name? «
    » Snugglepumpkin, « I said.
    Sophie snorted in disbelief but recovered rapidly, wiping a nascent grin off her face. » Oh. That’s really his name? «
    › Tell her yes! Play it straight. ‹
    But why?
    › Just do it! ‹
    I nodded somberly. » That’s his name. «
    » Oh. Well, that’s … simply … adorable . « Sophie put her hands flat on her thighs and bent her knees a bit as she looked at Oberon. Her voice took on that saccharine-sweet tone people use when they talk to something they think is cute. » Yes, you’re adorable, aren’t you? Are you a good boy, Snugglepumpkin? «
    Oberon wagged his tail and came over within petting distance.
    » Oh, yes, you are a good boy, yes, you are . « She stopped making sense and instead made high-pitched squeals of delight as she scratched Oberon’s giant head; the rest of us stood and watched as a woman with an advanced degree completely lost her mind.
    Okay, explain to me what you’re doing , I said.
    › I’m testing a hypothesis, and so far it’s working. It states that any human female who can be classified as a » dog person, « when confronted with a friendly-looking dog of any breed bearing a ridiculously cute name, will begin to make sounds at least two octaves above her normal register within thirty seconds of meeting said dog. She went there in less than ten seconds. ‹ He sounded particularly smug about that last part.
    Oberon, you shouldn’t have done this .
    › I am Snugglepumpkin. Hear me roar. ‹
    When she snaps out of it she’s going to be embarrassed, and we just met her .
    › Bacon is the Way and the Truth! But I’m beginning to have my doubts. These noises she’s making are kind of annoying. ‹
    Bark once and she’ll stop out of surprise .
    Oberon barked.
    » Oh! You’re getting excited, aren’t you, Snugglepumpkin? I’d better stop, then. «
    › Hey, good call, Atticus. ‹
    » So how long you think it’s gonna take you to get that road graded for us up to the top of the mesa? « Coyote said, redirecting us back to business. » I wanna start buildin’ that hogan as soon as possible. «
    » Should be good to go by tomorrow morning, « I replied.
    Sophie frowned. » I beg your pardon? You’re going to have a functional road built to the top of that mesa by tomorrow morning? «
    This was also news to Darren Yazzie, whose workers would presumably be accomplishing all this. » Wait, how are we gonna do that? We don’t have the right equipment out here. «
    Whoops. Coyote had already clued me in that these people weren’t aware of his true nature—or mine—but I’d answered him without adjusting for » normal « ears. I covered brilliantly: » Uh— «
    » I think we’re talkin’ ’bout two differ’nt things, « Coyote interrupted, a sly smile on his face and a glint in his eye that told me he was enjoying my mistake. » Don’t mind Mr. Collins here. He’s just a geologist. Completely worthless when it comes to buildin’ shit. He can ’splain the fuck outuva