"OK,” I said, “we had our fun, now let's go. Watch closely. I'm throwing out a pathfinder, don't take your eyes off it."

So we got around the mosquito mange spot and got up on the hillock. It was so small that it looked like a cat turd. I had never even noticed it before. We hovered over the hillock. The asphalt was less than twenty feet away. It was clear. I could see every blade of grass, every crack. It looked like a snap. Just throw the nut and be on with it.

I couldn't throw the nut.

I didn't understand what was happening to me, but I just couldn't make up my mind to throw that nut.

"What's the matter?” asked Kirill. “Why are we just standing here?"

"Wait,” I said. “Just shut up."

I thought I'd toss the nut and then we'll quietly move along, like coasting on melted butter, without disturbing a blade of grass. Thirty seconds and we're on the asphalt. And suddenly I broke out in a sweat! My eyes were blinded by it. And I knew that I wouldn't be throwing the nut there. To the left, as many as you want. The road was longer that way, and there was a bunch of pebbles that didn't seem too cozy, but I was ready to throw in that direction. But not straight ahead. Not for anything. So I threw the nut to the left. Kirill said nothing, turned the boot, and drove up to the nut. Then he looked over at me. I must have looked pretty bad because he looked away immediately.

"It's all right,” I said. “The path around is faster.” I tossed the last nut onto the asphalt.

It was a lot simpler after that. I found the crack, and it was still clean, not overgrown with any garbage, and unchanged in color. I just looked at it and rejoiced in silence. It led us to the garage door better than any pylons or signposts.

I ordered Kirill to descend to four feet. I lay flat on my belly and looked into the open doors. At first I couldn't see anything because of the bright sunlight.