Holman drank the hot coffee fast. "And, really, Nancy, I don't see how
we could keep something like Shandy in the settlement."
"Come and have dinner with me tonight and we'll talk then."
Putting down his empty cup, Holman said, "I'll go set up my tent at a
safe distance."
Outside it was nearly night. A few yards from the ship, the lion was
rolling on his back in a patch of yellow flowers and growling to
himself.
Holman kept his back to the lion while he assembled his tent. And when
he had it finished he went inside and didn't come out until Nancy
called him for dinner.
* * * * *
The sky, up through the yellow-green leaves, was clear. The afternoon
was warm, with a slight feel of coming rain. Holman locked his hands
behind his head and half-closed his eyes. "And living alone by the
woods is dangerous," he said.