Mark Spragg - Bone Fire

“Are you out there?” he called.

“I’m over here.”

The boy was passing in front of the wolf-headed figure.

“How about a rooster?” he asked. “Can you get an echo out of one of them?”

The boy sat down beside him. “I only know about ducks.” He smiled, his eyes shining with the last of the flames.

Water ran from their faces.

“You think you can get me and that old horse back to the house?”

“Yes, sir.” He stood and stabbed the shovel into the ground. “I know I can.”

My wife, Virginia, has been unwavering in her willingness to review drafts of this book, discuss the narrative and the motivations of the characters, sweetly courageous in challenging every line she felt might be improved. Her contributions are immeasurable, as are my thanks to her.

I wish to thank Richard Spragg, Kent and Cathy Haruf, Maggy Rozycki Hiltner, Laura Bell, Allison Smith-Estelle and Steve Estelle, Mitzi Vorachek, Gary Ferguson, Pete Fromm and Betsy Burton for their thoughtful comments.

My thanks also to Katie Wilson and Fay Bloom, John and Kari Clayton, Joanna Wilson and Peter Choi for suffering my questions about NGOs and degrees in public health, Becky Keene for her father’s story, David Hiltner and Stephanie Lanter for all things clay. Darrell Steward and Gene Plambeck were helpful with information concerning law-enforcement procedure, and my thanks to Dr. Renée Crichlow for her advice about the diagnosis and treatment of the characters’ various illnesses.

My thanks to Emily Milder; Kate Norris and Lydia Buechler; Robert Olsson, Jason Booher and Carol Devine Carson; and Gabrielle Brooks.

Nancy Stauffer owns my gratitude and affection for her friendship, her counsel and care for my work.

Finally, I wish to express my admiration for my editor, Gary Fisketjon, for the devotion, intelligence and precision he brings to his work. His imprimatur has become fundamental to me, as has his friendship.