"I understand," said Officer Delinko. "What's your estimate of the monetary damage?"

"Damage?"

"Yes. So I can put it in my report." The policeman picked up the survey stake and examined it. "It's not really broken, is it?"

"Well, no-"

"Were any of them destroyed?" asked Officer Delinko. "How much does one of these things cost-a buck or two?"

The man called Curly was losing his patience. "They didn't break none of the stakes," he said gruffly.

"Not even one?" The policeman frowned. He was trying to figure out what to put in his report. You can't have vandalism without monetary damages, and if nothing on the property was broken or defaced…

"What I'm tryin' to explain," Curly said irritably, "it's not that they messed up the survey stakes, it's them screwing up our whole construction schedule. That's where it'll cost some serious bucks."

Officer Delinko took off his cap and scratched his head. "Let me think on this," he said.

Walking back toward the patrol car, the policeman stumbled and fell down. Curly grabbed him under one arm and hoisted him to his feet. Both men were mildly embarrassed.

"Stupid owls," said Curly.

The policeman brushed the dirt and grass burs off his uniform. "You say owls?"

Curly gestured at a hole in the ground. It was as big around as one of Mother Paula's famous buttermilk flapjacks. A mound of loose white sand was visible at the entrance.

"That's what you tripped over," Curly informed Officer Delinko.

"An owl lives down there?" The policeman bent over and studied the hole. "How big are they?"

"'Bout as tall as a beer can."

"No kidding?" said Officer Delinko.

"But I ain't never seen one, officially speakin'."

Back at the patrol car, the patrolman took out his clipboard and started writing the report. It turned out that Curly's real name was Leroy Branitt, and he was the "supervising engineer" of the construction project. He scowled when he saw the policeman write down "foreman" instead.