"Fungus-light," Sol saidsolemnly.

      "Just imagine that it is poisonous,that it will make you sick if it touches your skin. At night you can avoid it,but in the day you're in trouble. You can't see it or feel it... that's whatradiation is, except that it fills up everything where it exists. The ground,the trees, the air."

      "Then how do we know it's gone?' Solademanded. There was an edge to her voice which Sos put down to fear andfatigue. She had gradually lost the air of sweet naïveté she had affected thefirst evening at the hostel.

      "Because it affects the plants andanimals, too. They get at the fringe, and everything is dead at the center. Aslong as they look all right, we should, be safe. There should be several milesclear of it beyond the markers now. It's a risk-but a worthwhile one, in thecircumstances."

      "And no cabins?" she asked alittle forlornly.

      "I doubt it. The crazies don't likeradiation any better than we do, so they'd have no reason to build here untilthey survey it. We'll have to forage and sleep out."

      "We'd better pick up bows and tents, then,"Sol said.

      They left Sola to watch Sol's barrow whilethey backtracked three miles to the last hostel. They entered its heatpumpinterior comfort and selected two sturdy bows and arrow-packs from its armory.They donned camping gear: light plastic leggings, helmets and traveling packs.Each man placed three swift shots in the standing target near the battlecircle, feeling out the instruments, then shouldered them and returned to thetrail.

      Sola was asleep against a tree, hikingskirt hitched up indecorously. Sos looked away; the sight of her body stirredhim in spite of what he knew of her bad temper. He had always taken his womenas they came and formed no lasting relationships; this continued proximity toanother man's wife acted upon him in a way he did not like.