"Jodie, it's too late to do a thing! Don't you go up close! All them cartons of shotgun shells could go off."
"They've done exploded. That's what Bandershanks heard. Nannie, I've gotta go close enough to see if I can tell how and where that low-down fool set the fire."
"What'd you say, Papa?"
"Nothing of any consequence, son. You hitch the mules for me. Here, hold the reins."
Papa leaped from the wagon and ran up the slope, straight toward the fire.
"Take care, Jodie!"
"Mama, soon's I hitch the mules, lem'me go find out what it looks like on the other side! I ain't never seen such a fire in my whole life! I'll run way around. I won't get no closer'n we are right now."
"Lemme go too, Mama."
"If Mierd goes, can I go, Mama?"
"Now, now, children, Papa said for y'all to stay with me. I tell you what we'll do. I'll walk with you, and we'll make our way up toward the schoolhouse spring. But now y'all have got to keep close to me and close to the branch."