He was not particularly interested in his quest,
but he was in the mood for purposeless action; he still did not
want to think.
He climbed negligently, scattering loose rocks down the hill
behind him. He had no expectation of coming upon
Peppajee--unless Peppajee deliberately put himself in his
way--and so there was no need of caution. He stopped once, and
stood long minutes with his head turned to catch the faint sound
of high-keyed laughter and talk which drifted up to him. If he
went higher, he thought, he might get a glimpse of them--of her,
to tell his thought honestly. Whereupon he forgot all about
finding and expostulating with Peppajee, and thought only a point
of the ridge which would give him a clear view downstream.
To be sure, he might as easily have retraced his steps and joined
the group, and seen every changing look in her face. But he did
not want to be near her when others were by; he wanted her to
himself, or not at all. So he went on, while the sun beat hotly
down upon him and the rocks sent up dry waves of heat like an
oven.
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