Wolf walked through the wasteland that used to be the downtown. Like an ancient willow the city looked healthy from the outside, but its heart decayed. Wolf felt eyes on his back. He didn't slow his pace or turn his head, but his ears sorted out the sounds around him. Three sets of footsteps paralleled his course. They were uneven, uncertain; no risk to him.

Wolf came to a spot where the road widened. People scurried away from him. He stopped and turned around. He spotted two ...