Doctor's orders, Louis thinks absurdly, as people sometimes do when faced with harrowing circumstances. He wraps his scarf appropriately and follows him into the inferno. The sopping snow is cold, but it'll warm up. It's lucky he favors wool in this climate, which burns less readily. If he were in his New Orleans cottons, he'd be done for.

Louis is agile, but even so, out of his element. Around here he always looks like a gentleman too civilized for the wilderness. He ducks sparks while flinging up his arm.

"I understand. No more seeds, the whole food chain starves. But—I don't eat grain. I can't. I need animals."