第8部分(第4/8 頁)

rted　spying。

It's　not　really　necessary　to　look　over　the　Bakers'　fence。　You　can　see　almost　as　well　looking

through　it。　But　Garrett　kept　sticking　his　head　up；　so　I

figured　I　should　too；　although　in　the　back　of　my　mind　I　was　aware　that　Garrett　didn't　have　to

live　in　this　neighborhood　—　I　did。

The　backyard　was　a　mess。　Big　surprise。　The　bushes　were　out　of　control；　there　was　some

kind　of　hodgepodge　wood…and…wire　coop　off　to　one

side；　and　the　yard　wasn't　grass；　it　was　highly　fertilized　dirt。

Garrett　was　the　first　to　notice　their　dog；　sacked　out　on　the　patio　between　two　sorry…looking

folding　chairs。　He　points　at　him　and　says；　“You　think

he's　going　to　give　us　trouble？”

“We're　not　going　to　be　here　long　enough　to　get　in　trouble！　Where　are　those　stupid　chickens？”

“Probably　in　the　coop；”　he　says；　then　picks　up　a　rock　and　throws　it　at　the　mess　of　plywood

and　chicken　wire。

At　first　all　we　hear　is　a　bunch　of　feathers　flapping；　but　then　one　of　the　birds　es　fluttering

out。　Not　very　far；　but　enough　so　we　can　see　it's　got

feathers　and　rubbery　red　stuff。

“So？”　I　ask　him。　“Is　that　a　rooster？”

He　shrugs。　“Looks　like　a　chicken　to　me。”

“How　can　you　tell？”

He　shrugs　again。　“Just　does。”

We　watch　it　scratching　at　the　dirt　for　a　minute；　and　then　I　ask；　“What's　a　hen；　anyway？”

“A　hen？”

“Yeah。　You　got　roosters；　you　got　chickens；　and　then　there's　he