istened to Pa that way； considering his words real serious； maybe arguing a little； but knowing that what he said was important。 And Reverend Thrower； with his highfalutin educated way of talking； shouting from his pulpit about death and resurrection and the fires of hell and the rewards of heaven； everybody listened to him； too。 It was different from the way they listened to Armor； cause it was always about religion and so it didn't have nothing to do with little stuff like farming and chores and how folks lived。 But respect。
When Pa talked； other folks listened to him； all right； but they just scoffed sometimes。 〃Oh； Alvin Miller； you just go on； don't you！〃 Al noticed that； and it made him mad at first。 But then he realized that when folks was in trouble and needed help； they didn't go to Reverend Thrower； no sir； and they didn't go to Armor…of…God； cause neither of them knew all that much about how to solve the kind of problems folks had from time to time。 Thrower might tell them how to stay out of hell； but that wasn't till they was dead； and Armor might tell them how to keep peace with the Reds； but that was politics except when it was war。 When they had a quarrel about a boundary line； or didn't know what to do about a boy that always sassed his ma no matter how many lickings he got； or when the weevils got their seed corn and they didn't have nothing to plant； they e to Al Miller。 And he'd say his piece； just a few words usually； and they'd go off shaking their heads and saying； 〃Oh； Alvin Miller； you just go on； don't you！〃 But then they'd go ahead and settle that boundary line and build them a stone fence there； and they'd let their smart…mouth boy move on out of the house and take up as a hired man on a neighbor's farm； and e planting time a half…dozen folks'd e by with sacks of 〃spare〃 seed cause Al Miller mentioned they might be a little shy。
When Al Junior pared his pa to other men； he knew Pa was strange； knew Pa did things for reasons known only to himself。 But he also knew that Pa could be trusted。 Folks might give their respect to Armor…of…God and Reverend Philadelphia Thrower； but they trusted Al Miller。
So did Al Junior。 Trusted his pa。 Even though he didn't want to leave home； even though having been so close to death he felt like apprenticing and suchlike was a waste of time what did it matter what his trade was； would there be smiths in heaven？ still he knew that if Pa said it was right for him to go； then Al would go。 The way folks always knew that if Al Miller said； 〃Just do this and it'll work out；〃 why； they should do the thing he said； and it'd work out like he said。
He had told Pa he didn't want to go； Pa had said； Go anyway； it's for your own good。 That's all Alvin Junior needed to hear。 He nodded his head and did what Pa said； not cause he had no spunk； not cause he was scared of his pa like other boys he knew。 He just knew his pa well enough to trust his judgment。 Simple as that。
〃I'll miss you； Pa。〃 And then he did a crazy fool thing； which if he stopped to think about it he never would've done。 He reached down and tousled his father's hair。 Even while he was doing it； he thought； Pa's going to slap me silly for treating him like a boy！ Pa's eyebrows did go up； and he reached up and caught Al Junior's hand by the wrist。 But then he got him a twinkle in his eye and laughed loud and said； 〃I reckon you can do that once； Son； and live。〃
Pa was still laughing when he stepped back to give Ma space to say her good…bye。 She had tears running down her face； but she didn't have no last…minute list of dos and don'ts for him； the way she had for Measure。 She just kissed his hand and clung on； to it； and looked him in the eye and said； 〃If I let you go today； I'll never see you with my natural eyes again； as long as I live。〃
〃No； Ma； don't say that；〃 he told her。 〃Nothing bad's going to happen to me。〃
〃You just remember me；〃 she said。 〃And you keep that amulet I gave you。 You wear that all the time。〃
〃What's it do？〃 he asked； taking it from his pocket again。 〃I don't know this kind。〃
〃Never you mind； you just keep it close to you all the time。〃
〃I will； Ma。〃
Measure walked his horse up beside Al Junior's。 〃We best be going now；〃 he said。 〃We want to get to country we don't see every day before we bed down tonight。〃
〃Don't you do that；〃 said Pa sternly。 〃We arranged for you to stay with the Peachee family tonight。 That's as far as you need to get in one day。 Don't want you to spend a night in the open when you don't have to。〃
〃All right； all right；〃 said Measure； 〃but we at least ought to get there before supper。〃
〃Go on then；〃 said Ma。 〃Go on then； boys。〃
They only got a rod or so on the way before Pa came running out and caught Measure's horse by the bridle； and Al Junior's； too。 〃Boys； you remember！ Cross rivers at the bridges。 You hear me？ Only at the bridges！ There's bridges at every river on this road； between here and Hatrack River。 〃
〃I know； Pa；〃 said Measure。 〃I helped build them all； you know。〃
〃Use them！ That's all I'm saying。 And if it rains； you stop； you find a house and stop； you hear me？ I don't want you out in the water。〃
They both pledged most solemnly not to get near anything wet。 〃Won't even stand downstream from the horses when they spurt；〃 said Measure。
Pa shook a finger at him。 〃Don't you make light；〃 he said。
Finally they got on their way； not looking back cause that was awful luck； and knowing that Ma and Pa went back into the house well before they was out of sight； cause it was calling for a long separation if you watched a long time when folks were leaving； and if you watched them clear out of sight it was a good chance somebody'd die before you ever saw them again。 Ma took that real serious。 Going inside quick like that was the last thing she'd be able to do to help protect her boys on their way。
Al and Measure stopped in a stretch of woods between Hatchs' and Bjornsons' farms； where the last storm knocked down a tree half onto the road。 They could get by all right； being on horseback as they were； but you don't leave a thing like that for somebody else to find。 Maybe somebody in a wagon； hurrying to make home before dark on a stormy night； maybe that's who'd e by next； and find the road blocked。 So they stopped and ate the lunch Ma packed for them； and then set to work with their hatchets； cutting it free from the few taut strands of wood that clung to the ragged stump。 They were wishing for a saw long before they were done； but you don't carry a saw with you on a three…hundred…mile trip on horseback。 A change of clothes； a hatchet； a knife； a musket for hunting； powder and lead； a length of rope； a blanket； and a few odd tokens and amulets for wardings and fendings。 Much more than that and you'd have to bring a wagon or a pack horse。
After the trunk was free； they tied both horses to it and pulled it out of the way。 Hard work； sweaty work； cause the horses weren't used to pulling as a team and they bothered each other。 Tree kept snagging up on them； too； and they had to keep rolling it and chopping away branches。 Now； Al knew he could've used his knack to change the wood of that tree inside； to make it split apart in all the right places。 But that wouldn't have been right； he knew。 The Shining Man wouldn't've stood for that it would've been pure selfishness； pure laziness； and no good to anybody。 So he hacked and tugged and sweated right alongside Measure。 And it wasn't so bad。 It was good work； and when it was all done it was no more than an hour。 It was time well spent。
They talked somewhat during the work； of course。 Some of the conversation turned on the stones about Red massacres down south。 Measure was pretty skeptical。 〃Oh； I hear those stories； but the bloody ones are all things somebody heard from somebody else about somebody else。 The folks who actually lived down there and got run out； all they ever say is that Ta…Kumsaw e and run off their pigs and chickens； that's all。 Not a one ever said nothing about no arrows flying or folks getting killed。〃
Al； being ten years old； was more inclined to believe the stories； the bloodier the better。 〃Maybe whe