"Because I'm smart?" I choked, not really thinking this was the case.
The lumpy red head moved from right to left and back to center again.
"Then what?" I demanded.
It looked about, suddenly, then pointed to the ground and shook its head again.
"Not here, you mean?"
The sugarfoot nodded, then raised a hand and beckoned.
"You want me to come with you; is that it?" I said.
It nodded, with less patience, and moved off a few paces. When I didn't go with it, it turned to face me again, and gave its head a questioning tilt.
"Because," I answered its unspoken question, "I don't know if I can trust you, that's why."
It stared at me with its wide-set eyes for a second, then pointed to the empty space in the street, then to the collapser, and nodded.