Paul kept his voice low like he did sometimes when he was angry. He never yelled when he got mad. Not in all the years Vern had known him. He always made his voice quiet just before he lost his mind and lost every temper he ever had.

“We just built you a barn,” said Paul. “Without a crew, without a crane, without the two men you promised us, without proper tools. Took us ten days to finish setting those posts, just the two of us.”

“I still think a man oughta stand by his word,” said Dreyfus. “You said you’d finish on the eighteenth; it’s the thirtieth.”

“And without no food, neither,” Vern added. “We run outta food two nights ago.”

Paul waved his hands at Vern. This meant to hush. Vern knew this from lots of experience.

Dreyfus went on. “How can a buyer expect to pay full price when the terms of his contract have been rendered inexplicably null?”

Paul Foldger seemed to be letting those words sit in his mind for a little while. So did Vern.

Vern wasn’t sure what “rendered inexplicably null” meant, but he knew ugly when he heard it. And he could tell Paul felt it too, because his forehead went from tense to relaxed. Paul let a smile go across his face, and his ears moved backward like a dog’s.

“You know what?” said Paul. “You’re absolutely right. Ain’t he right, Vern?”

Vern nodded slowly. “I think.”

“Inexplicably right,” said Paul.

Vern wasn’t sure what to say. So he adjusted the baby and said, “I’m real sorry about the baby, Mister Dreyfus, but I couldn’t leave her. She all alone when I found her. Couldn’t leave no baby.”

“Quit your sorryin’, Vern,” said Paul. “Besides, ain’t nothing to be sorry for. Mister Dreyfus is right about us, and that’s all there is to it. I know when I’m licked.”

Paul searched in a toolbox, laughing to himself softly. Finally he removed a rag. He uncorked the can of thinner and poured it on the cloth.

“What’re you doing?” said Dreyfus.

Paul removed his pocket lighter. He lit a cigarette first, then touched the glowing end to the rag. It turned into fire.

“Yessir,” said Paul. “Let’s just pretend this whole thing never happened. You’ll just have to get someone else to build you another barn.” Paul walked toward the barn.

“Hey!” shouted Dreyfus. “Are you outta your mind?”

“Say what?” said Paul, cupping a hand over his ear. “Gotta speak up—this is my good ear.”

“You’ve lost your mind!”

Paul grinned, showing teeth that were a little crooked. He tossed the rag toward the wet paint beside the barn door. He put his thumbs behind the straps of his coveralls and watched the barn catch fire.

“Dreyfus,” said Paul, touching the brim of his hat. “Have a nice day, sir.”