“Whats going on? the man said, his smile fading as he took in Liams uniform. He looked from Liam to Wy, who couldnt meet his eyes and looked ashamed of it. He killed the engine and dismounted. “Wheres Opal?

“Who are you, sir? Liam said.

“This is Leonard Nunapitchuk, Wy said. “Opals husband.

Liam removed his hat and took a deep breath. “Mr. Nunapitchuk, there is no easy way to say this. Ms. Chouinard flew in this afternoon to deliver the mail, and she found your wife.

Leonard Nunapitchuks skin paled beneath its ruddy tan. “Is she hurt? Opal? Opal! He stepped forward, only to halt when Liam held up a hand.

“Im afraid shes dead, Mr. Nunapitchuk. Im very sorry for your loss.

Leonard Nunapitchuk stared at him without comprehension. “Opal is dead?

“Yes.

“No. Opals husband shook his head decidedly. “No, she isnt. I was just here, last weekend. We were all here. He waved a hand, and Liam looked beyond him, across the airstrip where the trees parted for a path. The moon had risen as the sun had set and painted a stepstone path of silver across the ripples of Kagati Lake. The breeze paused, and in the momentary lull Liam heard the murmur of voices, punctuated by a laugh.

There was a sudden shaft of light from the open door of the house as Prince lit the large Aladdin lantern sitting on the hutch next to the door, and Liam looked at Leonard Nunapitchuk, who was about five feet four inches tall and whose belly was just barely restrained by a wide, worn leather belt. There was a hunting knife in a stained leather sheath hanging from the belt. He had a rifle, a Remington .30-30, it looked like, hanging over his shoulder.

His clothes, a fatigue jacket over a cotton shirt in faded blue plaid and jeans, were grubby. His boots were shiny with fish scales. He smelled like woodsmoke, sweat and salmon, like Moses did when he came back from Old Man Creek.

It looked like fish camp had been a success and that Leonard wanted to tell his wife all about it. “Opal? Opal, where are you?

“Sir, Liam said, and something in the single, forceful syllable got through the way nothing else had before.

Realization came hard to Leonard Nunapitchuks eyes, but it came, followed by shock and the awful need to know, to see, to make sure there hadnt been some dreadful mistake, because of course there must have been some mistake, this couldnt be happening, not to him. Liam had seen the reaction before, and he stepped to one side so that Leonard could go through the door.

Prince looked around from lighting the Coleman lantern hanging from a bracket next to the kitchen door and saw Leonard. “Sir, I

Liam held up a hand and she stopped.

Leonard saw Opal in the same moment, and a terrible groan ripped out of his chest. “No, he said. “No, Opal, no. He dropped to his knees. “Opal. My Opal.