They rode back in silence but for Mebane giving directions. Still, Foster did not mind—he knew the old man had not run out of words and so knew the silence was for him, some small token. He decided he needed to pay attention to such things.

Coming into town Mebane spoke up. “What I was thinking was you should eat some dinner with me. There’s not a place open to eat this time of day as it is. At least, no place you’d want to eat at.”

Foster said, “I’m all right.”

“No you’re not. I know a hungry boy when I see one. And more than that, I think you should stay at the house as long as you’re here. It’s not like there’s not room.”

Foster had let the car slow way down. It was full dark, the windows still open, the air still warm. He said, “Well, sir. I appreciate it. But it’d be better, I think, I was to stay elsewhere.”

Mebane had the cane planted on the floorboards, his hand capped over it. He twisted it a little bit but did not look over. “You’re sixteen years old, is that right?”

“Yes sir.”

Mebane nodded. “What you think, some boy like yourself he tries to get hisself a room? What you think those people going to do? With this great old fancy car? And that Yankee speech of yours. You think they’re just going to leave you be? You think that?”

“I’ve got the money to pay. So far that’s been enough.”

“What about those dogs? You going to turn this car into a kennel?”

Foster let the car drift slow along the curb to a stop under the live oaks. Small electric streetlights at great distances threw poor pods of sifted light. He looked over at Mebane. Who was looking at him now. Foster said, “They’re happy enough in the car.”

Mebane said nothing.

The cicadas were up singing. There was no other place to go. After a time Foster said, “I’d be grateful for some supper. As far as spending the night, what I’d be comfortable with, is if me and the dogs were to stay out in that little cabin. Be out of your way.”

“The slave cabin.”

“Yes sir.”

“We’d have to haul out a mattress for you. There’s a feather tick or two could be spared. And you’d want a pillow.”

“I don’t need anything. There’s a bedroll in the trunk of the car. And a pillow too. I camped my way down here.”

Mebane nodded. “You’ll need light. A lantern at least. Go on then, pull off from here. I’m about starved I don’t know about you. What you want to do is go all the way past the house until there’s a little opening off to the right, a little alley. You want to pull up there and that’ll put us right behind the house. Now, that’s a good place to park.”