Maybe Prodd and his wife had not been alone. He wouldn’t have any way of knowing about that. But there was nothing like Lone anywhere in the world except right here inside him. The whole world threw Lone away, you know that? Even the Prodds did, when they got around to it. Janie got thrown out, the twins too, so Janie said.
Well, in a funny way it helps to know you’re alone, thought Lone.
The night was sun-stained by the time he got home. He kneed the door open and came in. Janie was making pictures on an old china plate with spit and mud. The twins as usual were sitting on one of the high rock niches, whispering to one another.
Janie jumped up. ‘What’s that? What’d you bring?’
Lone put it down carefully on the floor. The twins appeared, one on each side of it. ‘It’s a baby,’ said Janie. She looked up at Lone. ‘ It is a baby?’
Lone nodded. Janie looked again. ‘Nastiest one I ever saw.’
Lone said, ‘Well never mind that. Give him something to eat.’
‘What?’
‘I don’t know,’ said Lone. ‘You’re a baby, almost. You should know.’
‘Where’d you get him?’