The shed was small for four men and a potbellied stove. There was a hanging bulb. On the walls were a clock, map, telephone, a yellowed silhouette guide to German planes, clipboards with old orders of the day, license lists, sign-in and sign-out sheets. Joe suspected that the only names signed out and not back in were his and Anna’s.

Augustino paused to let the general discomfort grow. “You missed the excitement, Sergeant.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Absolutely, Sergeant. Why, we had a regular posse out, a dragnet looking for an Indian friend of yours. You know, your friend who assaulted one of our guests with a shotgun. The same friend whose place you took at the dance. Weren’t you supposed to be driving the Director?”

“He wanted to know the identities of the dancers, sir, so I joined the dance.”

“Just like that. Did you determine any identities?”

“No, sir. They didn’t take their masks or paint off around me.”

Al snorted. “You didn’t know the dancer whose place you took was about to be arrested?”

“How would I know that?”

“Excellent question, Sergeant,” Augustino said. “That’s just so excellent it’s what we’ve been asking all day. These gentlemen suspect some kind of informer, but it’s my belief that they’re dumb and you’re smart. Who’s right, do you think?”

“I wouldn’t know that either, sir.”

“Well, I have an intimate and high regard for you, Sergeant, I do.” He smoothed the map with his hands. “Now, we have spent a vigorous day on every dirt road and arroyo around Santiago Pueblo. We did find some rattlesnakes. I think it was Corporal Gruber who had a nasty spill. Your friend, however, seems to have vanished.”

“He must be pretty fast, sir.”

“And blind at that, Sergeant. Both shocking and remarkable. And how was your day, Sergeant? Was it a full one?”

“Yes, sir, I was trying to carry out the Director’s request. Unfortunately, I was not successful.”

“Wherever he was, that’s where we’ll find his blind friend,” Billy told Augustino, “and we won’t have to scramble into every pisshole Indian ruin again.”

“Were you alone, Sergeant?” Augustino looked out at the Plymouth. “Alone on this quest?” The captain took the sign-out sheet off its hook. “Don’t answer. Don’t do anything until I’m back.”

Then he was out the door and striding eagerly to the Plymouth’s headlights. Joe could make out Anna’s silhouette inside the car.

“Tossed me like a sack of shit, huh?” Billy asked.

“It was the captain’s expression,” Joe murmured as he watched Augustino lean in the Plymouth’s window.