But Kit s attention was on the boy behind him. Visible only to Kit andPonch , the locator halo clung to him. He was, perhaps, eleven years old, an African American kid with a handsome, sharp little face. He was slender, and was dressed in jeans and a bright T-shirt and beat-up sneakers. Handsome his face was, but also expressionless, flat and as still as a mask, his eyes looking only at the ground. He held his body tilted slightly forward, and he went past Kit fast, breaking almost into a run as he headed through the doors out into the cold, gray day.

Kit turned and followed him back outside. The teachers helped the other kids into the van: Darryl was the last one in. One of the teachers was helping him with his seat belt. This took some moments. And while the teachers were sitting down, while the van driver came back to let the school door close again, Darryl began, very slowly and steadily, to bang his head against the window of the van.

Kit s heart seized. Next to him,Ponch stood looking. The driver started up the van, and slowly drove away.

That was him,Ponch said.

 That was him,  Kit said softly.But what s the matter with him   Though he thought perhaps he had a clue. The manual would be able to confirm it  now that Kit knew what kinds of questions he needed to ask.

 Did you get a scent on him   Kit said.

Yes. I can find him again, wherever he goes. Even when he s not here, like a few moments ago,Ponch added.

Kit gave his dog a look.  What  He was right in front of us.

Some of him.Not all.

Ponchwasn t given to making cryptic statements without reason: He was still developing the language skills to tell Kit what hewas perceiving , and there were sometimes misunderstandings as a result.  Okay,  Kit said.  We ll figure out what that means later. For the moment, at least we know what he looks like  and we can start making a plan to find a way to talk to him.