"Don't get too close," he said. "I think I'm catching a cold."

"Then you shouldn't be out in this night air. I'll bet my folks would put you up."

"Thanks, but I have an appointment."

"This is my _larick_." He tugged on the leash. "His name is Chan. Sit up, Chan."

The lizard opened its mouth, squatted, curled into a ball.

"He doesn't always do it. Not when he doesn't feel like it, anyway," the boy explained. "When he wants to, though, he's real good at it. He stabilizes himself with his tail. --Come on, Chan! Sit up for Mr. H."

He yanked on the leash.

"That's all right, son," said Heidel. "Maybe he's tired. --Look, I have to be going. Maybe I'll meet you again before I leave town. Okay?"

"Okay. Sure glad I got to meet you. G'night."

"Good night."

Heidel crossed the street and hurried on.

A vehicle drew up beside him.

"Hey! You're Dr. H, aren't you?" a man called.

He turned.

"That's right."

"I thought I saw you at the corner back that way. Went round the block so I could get a good look."

Heidel drew back, away from the vehicle.

"Can I give you a lift to wherever you're going?"

"No thanks. I'm almost there."

"You're sure now?"

"Positive. I appreciate the offer."

"Well, okay. --My name's Wiley."

The man extended his hand out through the window.

"I have grease on my hand. I'll get you dirty," said Heidel; and the man leaned forward, seized his left hand, squeezed it briefly, then drew back into the car.

"Okay. Take it easy, then," he said, and he drove off.

Heidel felt like screaming at the world, telling it to go away and stop touching him.

He ran for the next two blocks. Minutes later, another vehicle slowed when its lights fell upon him, but he averted his face and it passed him by. A man sitting on a porch smoking a pipe waved at him and rose to his feet. He said something, but Heidel ran again and did not hear the words.